Robotic camera system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A camera robot for capturing image frames comprising:
- a base having a transport mechanism that controllably imparts motion and positions the robot along a support surface;
a robot head;
a camera mounted to the robot head;
a vertical positioning mechanism that couples the robot head to the base, the vertical positioning mechanism controllably adjusts a vertical distance between the robot head and the support surface;
a controller configured to control;
image capture of the camera;
the transport mechanism to thereby determine lateral positioning and rotation about a vertical axis; and
the vertical positioning mechanism to thereby determine a distance between the robot head and the base;
wherein the vertical positioning mechanism includes a scissor mechanism including a plurality of connected scissor links coupled to a link drive mechanism, wherein the link drive mechanism controllably causes scissor links of said plurality of connected scissor links to rotate relative to one another, and wherein a relative angular rotation of the scissor links determines the vertical distance between the robot head and the base.
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Abstract
A robot for capturing image frames of subjects in response to a request includes a base, a robot head, a camera, a vertical positioning mechanism, and a control system. The base has a transport mechanism for controllably positioning the robot along a lateral surface. The vertical positioning mechanism couples the robot head to the base and adjusts a vertical distance between the robot head and the support surface. The control system controls image capture of the camera, the transport mechanism, and the vertical positioning mechanism.
26 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A camera robot for capturing image frames comprising:
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a base having a transport mechanism that controllably imparts motion and positions the robot along a support surface; a robot head; a camera mounted to the robot head; a vertical positioning mechanism that couples the robot head to the base, the vertical positioning mechanism controllably adjusts a vertical distance between the robot head and the support surface; a controller configured to control; image capture of the camera; the transport mechanism to thereby determine lateral positioning and rotation about a vertical axis; and the vertical positioning mechanism to thereby determine a distance between the robot head and the base; wherein the vertical positioning mechanism includes a scissor mechanism including a plurality of connected scissor links coupled to a link drive mechanism, wherein the link drive mechanism controllably causes scissor links of said plurality of connected scissor links to rotate relative to one another, and wherein a relative angular rotation of the scissor links determines the vertical distance between the robot head and the base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A camera robot for capturing image frames during a photo session in response to a request initiated by a user comprising:
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a base having a transport mechanism; a robot head; a camera mounted to the robot head; and a controller including a processor and a non-transient medium storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor perform a method including; receiving a request from the user for a photo session; operating the transport mechanism to make a lateral adjustment with respect to a support surface and operate the vertical positioning apparatus to adjust a vertical position of the robot head in relation to the base, to frame the user in an image frame of the camera; determining a position and orientation of the user, said determining comprising estimating a distance between said user and said camera robot; moving the camera robot to within a specified distance of the user; and operating the camera to capture an image of the user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing a providing images to a user of a subject comprising:
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providing a camera robot including; a base having a transport mechanism; a robot head; a camera mounted to the robot head; and a vertical positioning mechanism that couples the robot head to the base, the vertical positioning mechanism controllably adjusts a vertical distance between the robot head and the support surface, wherein the vertical positioning mechanism includes a scissor mechanism including a plurality of connected scissor links coupled to a link drive mechanism, wherein the link drive mechanism controllably causes scissor links of said plurality of connected scissor links to rotate relative to one another, and wherein a relative angular rotation of the scissor links determines the vertical distance between the robot head and the base; receiving a request for a photo session from the user; operating the transport mechanism to laterally position the camera robot relative to a subject; operating the vertical positioning apparatus to adjust a vertical position of the robot head in relation to the base; and operating the camera to capture an image of the subject, the image includes one or more images that define one or more of a still frame and a video sequence of images. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification