Autonomous Camera Tracking Stand Using Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for recording moving subjects during video conferencing or photography require either stationary camera setups or manual handling, which limits user mobility and convenience, and often requires specific apps or dongles that compromise privacy and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A standalone device, the Movement Tracking Device Stand (MTDS), autonomously positions one or more camera devices by using movement tracking technology and motor control, allowing for hands-free operation without the need for specific apps or dongles, and maintaining user privacy by operating offline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a stationary camera setup is used, then the camera remains stable and fixed, but the user cannot move freely and the subject may go out of frame
Solution Approach 1:
The stand incorporates pan and tilt mechanisms that enable dynamic adjustment of the camera's orientation. The stand can rotate horizontally (pan) and vertically (tilt) to follow the user's movements, transforming the static camera setup into a dynamic system that maintains the subject in frame while allowing user mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect the user's position and movement, providing real-time feedback to the pan and tilt mechanisms. This feedback loop enables the stand to automatically adjust the camera orientation to track the user, ensuring continuous subject visibility without manual intervention.
2Reliability
If a second person manually holds and follows the subject, then the subject can be tracked, but it requires additional personnel and manual focus on recording rather than presentation
Solution Approach 1:
The stand system performs subject tracking autonomously using sensors and automated pan/tilt mechanisms. The system serves itself by detecting user movement and automatically adjusting the camera without requiring manual operation or a second person, enabling hands-free recording while maintaining reliable subject tracking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tracking applications are combined with video conferencing apps, then tracking functionality is available, but it limits the user's ability to choose different conference apps
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the tracking functionality into a standalone stand unit with dedicated sensors and control mechanisms, independent of the video conferencing application. This segmentation allows the tracking hardware to operate autonomously and work with any video conferencing app without requiring deep software integration or combining multiple applications.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a dongle-based tracking device is used, then tracking is enabled, but the dongle may be lost, broken, or provide poor communication limiting accurate tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The stand uses sensors (such as cameras or depth sensors) as intermediaries to detect the user's position and movement. These sensors provide reliable tracking data without requiring a wearable dongle, eliminating the risks of loss, damage, or poor communication associated with dongle-based systems.
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
The MTDS enables continuous and accurate tracking of moving subjects, allowing users to move freely during video conferences or photography sessions, while ensuring privacy and flexibility in choosing camera devices and apps.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor integrated to a top end of the device holder; an x-axis motor which is in a geared connection to the vertical stem housing and rotates the vertical stem housing
Implementation Method 2
an x-axis motor which is in a geared connection to the vertical stem housing and rotates the vertical stem housing
Implementation Method 3
a y-axis motor which is in a geared connection to the extension arm housing and moves the extension arm housing relative to the vertical stem housing
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a positioning system that autonomously and continuously positions interchangeable camera devices on the subject as they move allowing the camera device to leverage its native functionality without modification or connectivity to the MTDS. The embodiments of the MTDS are configured to attach and align varying size of digital cameras, video cameras, mobile devices with a camera, or smart assistants with an embedded camera, action camera, webcam or laptop with embedded camera to the stand. The MTDS tracks the movements of the user during any video conference, photography or videography session. The MTDS includes a sensor, separate from the camera on the camera device, that sends the sensor data stream to a microcontroller in the stand and a machine learning co-processor detects the presence of a person. As the speaker or subject (user) moves, the MTDS tracks their movements and directs motors in the stand to pan or tilt the stand to orient the camera device's camera at the user. Through movement of the stand, the speaker or user stays centered in the camera frame. No data connections or software integrations are required to operate the MTDS.