Virtual camera interface and other user interaction paradigms for a flying digital assistant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for providing an aerial view of a physical environment using a flying digital assistant (FDA) and a portable multifunction device (PMD), the method comprising:
- detecting, by a processor, a first position and orientation of a PMD relative to a first point of reference in a physical environment;
wherein, the first position and orientation of the PMD is detected based in part on sensor data gathered from sensors associated with the PMD;
transforming, by the processor, the detected first position and orientation of the PMD relative to first point of reference into a second position and orientation relative to a second point of reference in the physical environment;
wherein, the transforming includes applying a scale factor to the first position;
generating, by the processor, control commands configured to cause the FDA to autonomously fly to the second position and orientation relative to the second point of reference in the physical environment; and
causing display, by the processor, via a display of the PMD, of a representation of a field of view of the physical environment from the FDA as the FDA autonomously flies to the second position and orientation relative to the second point of reference;
wherein the representation of the field of view is generated based in part on sensor data gathered by sensors associated with the FDA in autonomous flight over the physical environment.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are described for new paradigms for user interaction with an unmanned aerial vehicle (referred to as a flying digital assistant or FDA) using a portable multifunction device (PMD) such as smart phone. In some embodiments, a user may control image capture from an FDA by adjusting the position and orientation of a PMD. In other embodiments, a user may input a touch gesture via a touch display of a PMD that corresponds with a flight path to be autonomously flown by the FDA.
70 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for providing an aerial view of a physical environment using a flying digital assistant (FDA) and a portable multifunction device (PMD), the method comprising:
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detecting, by a processor, a first position and orientation of a PMD relative to a first point of reference in a physical environment; wherein, the first position and orientation of the PMD is detected based in part on sensor data gathered from sensors associated with the PMD; transforming, by the processor, the detected first position and orientation of the PMD relative to first point of reference into a second position and orientation relative to a second point of reference in the physical environment; wherein, the transforming includes applying a scale factor to the first position; generating, by the processor, control commands configured to cause the FDA to autonomously fly to the second position and orientation relative to the second point of reference in the physical environment; and causing display, by the processor, via a display of the PMD, of a representation of a field of view of the physical environment from the FDA as the FDA autonomously flies to the second position and orientation relative to the second point of reference; wherein the representation of the field of view is generated based in part on sensor data gathered by sensors associated with the FDA in autonomous flight over the physical environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for providing an aerial view of a physical environment using a flying digital assistant (FDA) and a portable multifunction device (PMD), the system comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more memory units having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to; detect a first position and orientation of a PMD relative to a first point of reference in the physical environment; wherein, the detected first position and orientation of a PMD is based in part on sensor data gathered from sensors associated with the PMD; transform the detected first position and orientation of the PMD relative to first point of reference into a second position and orientation relative to a second point of reference in the physical environment; wherein, the transforming includes applying a scale factor to the first position; generate control commands configured to cause the FDA to autonomously fly to the second position and orientation relative to the second point of reference in the physical environment; and cause display, via a display of the PMD, of a field of view of the physical environment from the FDA as the FDA autonomously flies to the second position and orientation relative to the second point of reference; wherein the representation of the field of view is generated based in part on sensor data gathered by sensors associated with the FDA in autonomous flight over the physical environment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-implemented method for providing an aerial view of a physical environment using a flying digital assistant (FDA) and a portable multifunction device (PMD), the method comprising:
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causing display, by a processor, via a touch display of the PMD, of a visual representation of a field of view of the physical environment from the FDA in autonomous flight over the physical environment; wherein the visual representation of the field of view is generated based in part on sensor data gathered by sensors associated with the FDA; receiving, by the processor, via the touch display of the PMD, a touch gesture, the touch gesture indicative of a selection, by a user of the PMD, of a point or area in the visual representation of the field of view of the physical environment; identifying, by the processor, a point of reference in the physical environment corresponding to the selected point or area in the visual representation; generating, by the processor, a flight path relative to the identified point of reference based on the touch gesture; generating, by the processor, control commands configured to cause the FDA to autonomously fly along the generated flight path; and dynamically updating, by the processor, display of the visual representation of the field of view of the physical environment from the FDA as the FDA autonomously flies along the generated flight path. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for providing an aerial view of a physical environment using a flying digital assistant (FDA) and a portable multifunction device (PMD), the system comprising:
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one or more processors; and one or more memory units, the one or more memory units having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to; cause display, via a touch display of the PMD, of a visual representation of a field of view of the physical environment from the FDA in autonomous flight over the physical environment; wherein the visual representation of the field of view is generated based in part on sensor data gathered by sensors associated with the FDA; receive, via the touch display of the PMD, a touch gesture, the touch gesture indicative of a selection, by a use of the FDA, of a point or area in the visual representation of the field of view of the physical environment; identify a point of reference in the physical environment corresponding to the selected point or area in the visual representation; generate a flight path relative to the identified point of reference based on the touch gesture; generate control commands configured to cause the FDA to autonomously fly along the generated flight path; and dynamically update display of the visual representation of the field of view of the physical environment from the FDA as the FDA autonomously flies along the generated flight path. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A computer-implemented method for controlling image capture by a flying digital assistant (FDA) in autonomous flight over a physical environment using a portable multifunction device (PMD), the method comprising:
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receiving, by a processor, images captured by an image capture device associated with the FDA in autonomous flight over the physical environment, the images characterized by a line of sight of the image capture device; tracking, by the processor, an orientation of the PMD based on data received from sensors associated with the PMD; adjusting, by the processor, the line of sight of the image capture device mounted to the FDA to correspond to the tracked orientation of the PMD; and causing display, by the processor, via a display device of the PMD, of images captured by the image capture device as the line of sight of the image capture device is adjusted. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification