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Path-based flight maneuvering system

  • US 10,474,152 B2
  • Filed: 03/23/2016
  • Issued: 11/12/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for maneuvering an aircraft using an autopilot, a camera coupled to the aircraft, and a display configured to display an image captured by the camera, the method comprising:

  • detecting a first position of the camera;

    determining a first direction from the first position of the camera directed towards a first target point, wherein the first target point corresponds to an image point within the image displayed by the display;

    if a flight mode of the aircraft comprises a locked path flight mode;

    maneuvering the aircraft according to a speed control signal and substantially along a locked flight path, wherein the locked flight path is defined, at least in part, by the detected first position and the determined first direction, andallowing the camera to tilt and/or pan freely substantially without disrupting the maneuvering of the aircraft along the locked flight path; and

    if the flight mode of the aircraft comprises a camera tracking flight mode;

    maneuvering the aircraft according to the speed control signal and substantially along a dynamic flight path starting substantially at the first position and defined, at least in part, by subsequent detected positions of the camera and/or corresponding determined directions and/or target points.

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