Navigating a UAV having an on-board digital camera to capture desired geographic area

• US 7,546,187 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wildcat Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bodin, William K., Thorson, Derral C., Redman, Jerry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Shelley
• Application Number:
  US12/170,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 701/26
• US Class Current: 701/26
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products for navigating a UAV having an on-board digital camera are provided. Embodiments include identifying a geographic area not captured by the digital camera while the UAV is flying in a current flying pattern, and modifying the current flying pattern to capture an image of the identified geographic area. Identifying a geographic area not captured by the digital camera while the UAV is flying in a current flying pattern may be carried out by determining an area captured by the onboard camera, extrapolating the area captured by the onboard camera along the flying pattern to determine a perimeter of uncaptured geographic area, and determining the area of the uncaptured geographic area in dependence upon the perimeter.

Claims

1. A system for navigating a UAV having an on-board digital camera, the system comprising:

means for piloting the UAV in a current flying pattern;

wherein means for piloting the UAV in a current flying pattern comprises;

means for receiving from a GPS receiver a current position of the UAV;

means for calculating a heading in dependence upon a flying pattern algorithm; and

means for flying on the heading;

means for identifying a geographic area not captured by the digital camera while the UAV is flying in a the current flying pattern;

wherein means for identifying a geographic area not captured by the digital camera while the UAV is flying in a current flying pattern further comprises;

means for determining an area captured by the onboard camera;

means for extrapolating the area captured by the onboard camera along the flying pattern to determine a perimeter of uncaptured geographic area; and

means for determining the area of the uncaptured geographic area in dependence upon the perimeter; and

means for modifying the current flying pattern to capture an image of the identified geographic area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein means for identifying a geographic area not captured by the digital camera while the UAV is flying in a current flying pattern further comprises means for determining a gap in camera coverage between the camera coverage of the on-board camera of the UAV in the current flying pattern and a camera coverage of another on-board camera of another UAV in another flying pattern.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein means for modifying the current flying pattern to capture an image of the identified geographic area further comprises means for identifying flight control instructions for changing the altitude of the UAV.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein means for modifying the current flying pattern to capture an image of the identified geographic area further comprises means for identifying flight control instructions for changing the shape of the current flying pattern of the UAV.

5. A computer program product for navigating a UAV having an on-board digital camera, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for piloting the UAV in a current flying pattern;

wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for piloting the UAV in a current flying pattern comprises;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving from a GPS receiver a current position of the UAV;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for calculating a heading in dependence upon a flying pattern algorithm; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for flying on the heading;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a geographic area not captured by the digital camera while the UAV is flying in the current flying pattern;

wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a geographic area not captured by the digital camera while the UAV is flying in a current flying pattern further comprises;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining an area captured by the onboard camera;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for extrapolating the area captured by the onboard camera along the flying pattern to determine a perimeter of uncaptured geographic area; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining the area of the uncaptured geographic area in dependence upon the perimeter; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for modifying the current flying pattern to capture an image of the identified geographic area.

6. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a geographic area not captured by the digital camera while the UAV is flying in a current flying pattern further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for determining a gap in camera coverage between the camera coverage of the on-board camera of the UAV in the current flying pattern and a camera coverage of another on-board camera of another UAV in another flying pattern.

7. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for modifying the current flying pattern to capture an image of the identified geographic area further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying flight control instructions for changing the altitude of the UAV.

8. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for modifying the current flying pattern to capture an image of the identified geographic area further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying flight control instructions for changing the shape of the current flying pattern of the UAV.