Self-Stabilizing Aerial Camera Hovering With Counter-Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Selfie drones require significant user interaction and maneuvering to hover and capture photos or videos, making the process cumbersome and requiring attention to counteract camera movement.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous aerial system with a propeller and motor configuration that allows it to hover in a fixed pose, equipped with a camera and processing system for minimal user interaction, using counter-rotation or coaxial propellers for stabilization, enabling automatic photo and video capture and controlled landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drone uses traditional hovering control, then the user can maintain control of the drone, but the user requires significant attention and manual maneuvering to keep the drone stable
Solution Approach 1:
The drone is equipped with self-stabilization technology that enables it to automatically maintain its hovering position and orientation without continuous user input. The processing system analyzes sensor data and adjusts motor speeds autonomously to counteract disturbances, allowing the drone to serve itself in maintaining stability while the user focuses on composition and capture timing.
2Ease of operation
If the drone requires manual camera stabilization, then the user can control camera positioning, but the user must counteract camera movement during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The drone incorporates an autonomous camera stabilization system that automatically compensates for camera movements during operation. The processing system monitors camera position and drone orientation, then adjusts motor speeds to counteract unwanted movements and maintain optimal framing, allowing the camera to capture stable images without requiring manual stabilization effort from the user.
3Ease of manufacture
If the drone uses fixed propeller configuration, then the structure is simple, but the drone cannot be easily stored or transported
Solution Approach 1:
The drone features foldable propeller blades that can transition between extended and retracted positions. The propeller assembly is designed with hinges or joints that allow the blades to fold parallel to the drone body, reducing the overall footprint for storage and transportation while maintaining structural integrity and aerodynamic performance when deployed for flight operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the drone to operate autonomously, capturing images and videos with minimal user input, maintaining stability and allowing for convenient storage and transportation with foldable propellers.
Implementation Method 1
a propeller coupled to the body, and a motor coupled to the propeller. The motor is configured to rotate the propeller
Implementation Method 2
The motor is configured to rotate the propeller in a first direction, wherein an other portion of the aerial system rotates in an opposing second direction
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial system includes a body, a propeller coupled to the body, and a motor coupled to the propeller. The motor is configured to rotate the propeller in a first direction, wherein an other portion of the aerial system rotates in an opposing second direction. The other portion of the aerial system that rotation in the opposing second direction may be the body or a second propeller. The aerial system also includes a processing system configured to control the motor to cause the aerial system to hover in a substantially fixed pose, and a camera configured to obtain images of an environment proximate the aerial system while the aerial system is hovering.