Radio Beacon Camera Tracking With Pan-Tilt Alignment Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems lack the ability to efficiently and accurately track and align a camera's field of view with a radio beacon, limiting their effectiveness in capturing and transmitting visual data.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical structure comprising a tracking structure, a tracking circuit, a radio beacon, a tripod, and an image sensor, where the tracking circuit rotates the image sensor to align it with the radio beacon, using electromagnetic radiation to calculate the directional vector and adjust the camera's position for optimal viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera system uses a fixed mounting structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to track and align with the radio beacon is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming the fixed camera mounting into a movable system. The camera is mounted on a pan-tilt mechanism that can dynamically adjust its orientation based on the radio beacon's position. The pan motor rotates the camera horizontally and the tilt motor adjusts vertical angle, enabling the system to track moving beacons while maintaining manageable complexity through modular motorized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the tracking circuit that continuously receives radio beacon signals, calculates the directional vector, and sends control commands to the pan-tilt motors. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the camera remains accurately aligned with the beacon, resolving the contradiction between tracking reliability and system complexity by using intelligent control to manage the added mechanical components.
2Measurement precision
If the camera system adds tracking components, then the ability to align with the radio beacon improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment systems with an electromechanical approach. Instead of using elaborate mechanical gimbals or manual adjustment mechanisms, the system uses motorized pan-tilt components controlled by electronic tracking circuits that calculate directional vectors from radio beacon signals. This substitution achieves high alignment precision while keeping the system complexity manageable through electronic control rather than purely mechanical solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking circuit serves multiple functions: it receives radio beacon signals, calculates the directional vector, controls the pan motor for horizontal alignment, and controls the tilt motor for vertical alignment. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require separate components for each function, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Productivity
If the camera system remains stationary, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the productivity of capturing visual data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system performs self-service through automated tracking. The tracking circuit automatically detects the radio beacon's position, calculates the required directional vector, and the pan-tilt mechanism autonomously adjusts the camera orientation without manual intervention. This self-service capability dramatically improves productivity by enabling continuous automatic tracking and data capture, while the operation remains simple as users only need to initiate the tracking process rather than manually control each adjustment.
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 precise alignment of the camera's field of view with the radio beacon, enhancing the camera's ability to capture and transmit visual data effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The tracking circuit identifies the location of the radio beacon relative to the image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
The camera tracking system is an electromechanical structure. The camera tracking system incorporates a tracking structure, a tracking circuit, a radio beacon, a tripod, and an image sensor. The tracking structure attaches to the tripod. The image sensor and the tracking circuit mount on the tracking structure. The tracking circuit rotates the image sensor relative to, and within the physical structure of, the tracking structure. The tracking circuit identifies the location of the radio beacon relative to the image sensor. The tracking circuit aims the image sensor at the location of the radio beacon.