System and method for data recording and analysis

• US 9,652,904 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• 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: Shi, Renli, Song, Jianyu, Chen, Xi
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/885,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20160093124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2, 700245
• 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. 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. 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 operational data collected by a sensor positioned on a moving platform, comprising:

analyzing, by a processor, the recorded operational data of a platform operator of the moving platform collected by the sensor, including;

establishing an operator profile for the 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, by the processor, the operating parameter of the moving platform in response to said analyzing.

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

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

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

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

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

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the recorded operational data to at least one secondary ground based apparatus controlled by a second operator of the moving platform.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the recorded operational data comprises analyzing selected operational data associated with a geographic position of the moving platform, an altitude of the moving platform, an acceleration of the moving platform, a speed of the moving platform, a controller input received by the moving platform, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing the recorded operational data comprises recording still images or video from a camera mounted on the moving platform, recording audio from a microphone mounted on the moving platform, determining a cause of an accident involving the moving platform, or a combination thereof.

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

retrieving selected recorded operational data from a plurality of prior events;

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

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

either;

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

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

or

a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

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

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said enabling the different level functions comprises limiting a height, a distance or a velocity of the moving platform, or a combination thereof.

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

analyzing, by a processor, the recorded operational data of a platform operator of the moving platform collected by the sensor by;

establishing an operator profile for the platform operator;

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

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

updating, by the processor, the operating parameter in response to said analyzing by;

retrieving selected recorded operational data from a plurality of prior events;

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

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

either;

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

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

or

a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

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

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said enabling the different level functions comprises limiting a height, a distance and a velocity of the moving platform, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising recording the operational data in a data storage unit.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising transferring the recorded operational data to a ground based apparatus during operation of the moving platform.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the recorded operational data to at least one secondary ground based apparatus controlled by a second operator of the moving platform.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said analyzing the recorded operational data comprises analyzing the recorded operational data associated with a geographic position of the moving platform, an altitude of the moving platform, an acceleration of the moving platform, a speed of the moving platform, a controller input received by the moving platform, or a combination thereof.

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

said operational sensor; and

a data recorder comprising;

a processor configured to;

analyze the recorded operational data of a platform operator of the moving platform collected by said operational sensor,

update an operating parameter of the moving platform in response to the analyzing, and

retrieve selected recorded operational data from a plurality of prior events and analyze the selected recorded operational data to determine an experience level of the platform operator; and

a data storage unit for storing the recorded operational data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor performs a statistical analysis of the selected recorded operational data and modifies a performance characteristic of the moving platform in response to the statistical analysis.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the statistical analysis comprises learning operator habit, learning user experience, or learning user skills of a platform operator, or a combination thereof.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said operational sensor comprises a geolocation sensor for determining a real time position of the moving platform, an accelerometer, a controller input sensor, an inertial measurement unit for detecting an attitude and an angular rate of the moving platform, an ultrasound sensor, a binocular camera, or a combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising an imaging device mounted on the moving platform for recording still images or video to the data storage unit, a microphone mounted on the moving platform for recording audio to the data storage unit, or a combination thereof.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising a transmitter coupled with said data recorder for transmitting the recorded operational data to a ground station.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the ground station comprises a smart phone, a tablet, a wearable electronic device, a personal computer, or a combination thereof.

25. The system of claim 23, 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.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

establish an operator profile for the platform operator;

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

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

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to:

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

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

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

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

either;

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

decrease the platform performance characteristics when the moving platform is operated by a novice platform operator as determined by said characterizing of the experience level of the platform operator;

or

a combination thereof.

29. A data recorder configured to receive operational data of a platform operator of a moving platform from an operational sensor positioned on the moving platform, comprising:

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

a data storage unit for recording the operational data,

wherein said processor characterizes an experience level of the platform operator based on the analyzed operational data and either;

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

decreases the platform performance characteristics when the moving platform is operated by a novice platform operator as determined by the characterization of the experience level of the platform operator;

or

a combination thereof.

30. The data recorder of claim 29, wherein said processor enables different level functions of the moving platform based on the characterization of the experience level of the platform operator, the different level functions comprising limiting a height, a distance, or a velocity of the moving platform, or a combination thereof.