SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA RECORDING AND ANALYSIS

• US 20160093124A1
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: CHEN, Xi, SHI, Renli, SONG, Jianyu
• Granted Patent: US 9,652,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system and apparatus for data recording and analyzing operational data and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The apparatus can monitor and record data generated by a plurality of operational and extended sensors each positioned on a moving platform. The data recording and analysis system can analyze the sensor data during movement and, by performing a statistical analysis of the operational data, can advantageously adjust one or more selected performance capabilities of the platform. For example, the performance envelope of a platform can be increased or decreased according to the experience of an operator. The recorded data can be transmitted at any suitable time, including during and/or after travel. The apparatus provides redundant storage capability and the ability to store information on removable media to enable sharing of data. Thereby, the system, apparatus and method advantageously can optimize the operator'"'"'s overall experience controlling a platform.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing recorded data collected by a sensor positioned on a moving platform, comprising:

analyzing recorded operational data collected by the sensor; and

updating the operating parameter of the platform in response to said analyzing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the recorded operational data includes:

establishing an operator profile for a platform operator;

establishing an initial value for an operating parameter based on the operator profile; and

determining whether the operational data is outside the initial value of the operating parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said updating includes:

altering the operating parameter of the platform if the operational data is outside the initial value; and

maintaining the operating parameter of the platform if the operational data is within the initial value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording the operational data in a data storage unit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring the recorded operational data to a ground based apparatus during operation of the platform.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the recorded operational data to at least one secondary ground based apparatus controlled by another operator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the recorded operational data comprises analyzing operational data associated with at least one of a geographic position of the platform, an altitude of the platform, an acceleration of the platform, a speed of the platform, and a controller input received by the platform.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the recorded operational data comprises at least one of recording still images or video from a camera mounted on the platform, recording audio from a microphone mounted on the platform, and determining a cause of an accident involving the platform.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving recorded operational data from a plurality of prior events;

analyzing the recorded operational data to determine an experience level of a platform operator;

characterizing the experience level of the platform operator based on said analyzing the recorded operational data; and

at least one of;

increasing platform performance characteristics when the platform is operated by an experienced platform operator as determined by said characterizing of the experience level of the platform operator; and

decreasing platform performance characteristics when the platform is operated by a novice platform operator as determined by said characterizing of the experience level of the platform operator.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

characterizing the experience of the platform operator based on the recorded operational data; and

enabling different level functions of the platform based on said characterizing of the experience of the operator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said enabling the different level functions comprises limiting at least one of height, distance and velocity of the moving platform.

12. A method for analyzing recorded data collected by a sensor positioned on a moving platform, comprising:

analyzing the recorded operational data collected by the sensor by;

establishing an operator profile for a platform operator;

establishing an initial value for an operating parameter based on the operator profile; and

determining whether the operational data is outside the initial value of the operating parameter; and

updating an operating parameter of the platform in response to said analyzing by;

retrieving recorded operational data from a plurality of prior events;

analyzing the recorded operational data to determine an experience level of a platform operator;

characterizing the experience level of the platform operator based on said analyzing the recorded operational data; and

at least one of;

increasing platform performance characteristics when the platform is operated by an experienced platform operator as determined by said characterizing of the experience level of the platform operator; and

decreasing platform performance characteristics when the platform is operated by a novice platform operator as determined by said characterizing of the experience level of the platform operator.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

characterizing the experience of the platform operator based on the recorded operational data; and

enabling different level functions of the platform based on said characterizing of the experience of the operator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said enabling the different level functions comprises limiting at least one of height, distance and velocity of the moving platform.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising recording the operational data in a data storage unit.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising transferring the recorded operational data to a ground based apparatus during operation of the platform.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the recorded operational data to at least one secondary ground based apparatus controlled by another operator.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said analyzing the recorded operational data comprises analyzing operational data associated with at least one of a geographic position of the platform, an altitude of the platform, an acceleration of the platform, a speed of the platform, and a controller input received by the platform.

19. A system for analyzing recorded data collected by an operational sensor positioned on a moving platform, comprising:

an operational sensor;

a data recorder comprising;

a processor for analyzing recorded operational data collected by the operational sensor, and configured to update an operating parameter of the moving platform in response to the analyzing; and

a data storage unit for storing the recorded data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said processor retrieves recorded operational data from a plurality of prior events and analyzes the recorded operational data to determine an experience level of a platform operator.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said processor performs a statistical analysis of the operational data and modifies a performance characteristic of the platform in response to the statistical analysis.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the statistical analysis comprises at least one of learning user habit, learning user experience, and learning user skills of a platform operator.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the operational sensor comprises at least one of a geolocation sensor for determining the real time position of the platform, an accelerometer, a controller input sensor, an inertial measurement unit for detecting attitude and angular rate, an ultrasound sensor, and a binocular camera.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising at least one of an imaging device mounted on the moving platform for recording still images or video to the data storage unit and a microphone mounted on the moving platform for recording audio to the data storage unit.

25. The system of claim 19, further comprising a transmitter coupled with said data recorder for transmitting the recorded operational data to a ground station.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the ground station comprises at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, a wearable electronic device, and a personal computer.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the ground station comprises a recharging station for recharging batteries that power the moving platform, the recharging station being configured for automatic docking of the moving platform.

28. A data recorder configured to receive data from a sensor positioned on a moving platform, comprising:

a processor for analyzing operational data provided by the operational sensor; and

a data storage unit for recording the operational data.

29. The data recorder of claim 28, wherein the processor characterizes the experience level of the platform operator based on the analyzing the recorded operational data and the processor performs

at least one of:

increasing platform performance characteristics when the platform is operated by an experienced platform operator as determined by the characterization of the experience level of the platform operator; and

decreasing platform performance characteristics when the platform is operated by a novice platform operator as determined by the characterization of the experience level of the platform operator.

30. The data recorder of claim 28, wherein the processor enables different level functions of the moving platform based on the characterization of the experience of the operator and the different level functions comprise limiting at least one of a height, a distance, and a velocity of the moving platform.