Carrier-Assisted Payload Tracking for Fast-Moving Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern mobile devices face challenges in tracking fast-moving objects, requiring skilled operators to manually adjust the device's position to maintain the object in view, which can be cumbersome and imprecise.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a payload, such as a smartphone, is coupled to a carrier that can adjust its pose relative to the carrier, using image sensor data to detect deviations and generate control signals to maintain the target in view, allowing for automatic adjustment of the payload's position and focal length to track objects effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operation is used to track moving objects, then the operator can adjust the device position, but the tracking speed and precision are limited by human skill
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service tracking by equipping the payload with an image sensor and processor that automatically detect target position and generate control signals. The payload independently identifies targets and adjusts its pose without requiring manual operation, thereby increasing tracking speed and eliminating dependence on operator skill.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously capturing images, detecting target position deviations, and generating control signals based on the detected deviation. The control signals adjust the payload's pose to reduce the deviation in subsequent images, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains accurate tracking.
2Measurement precision
If the payload manually adjusts its position to track fast-moving objects, then the target can be kept in view, but the response time and tracking precision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated control system. The image sensor optically detects target position, the processor electronically calculates deviations and generates control signals, and the carrier automatically adjusts the payload's pose. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with sensor-processor-actuator systems dramatically improves both precision and response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous tracking by continuously capturing images, processing the image data to detect target position, generating control signals without interruption, and continuously adjusting the payload's pose. This uninterrupted continuous action ensures the target remains tracked without loss of time or precision.
3Productivity
If automatic tracking is implemented using image sensor data, then tracking precision and speed improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The payload serves multiple functions: it captures images using its image sensor, processes the image data to detect target position, generates control signals based on detected deviations, and communicates with the carrier. By making the payload multi-functional, the system achieves automatic tracking without adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the image sensing, image processing, target detection, and control signal generation functions into an integrated payload unit. The processor within the payload combines multiple computational tasks, and the wireless communication module integrates data transmission and control signal sending. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving selection of a target within an image captured by an image sensor of a payload and displayed on a user interface of the payload, detecting a deviation of the target from an expected target state within the image, generating, based at least partly on the deviation, a payload control signal including a first angular velocity for rotating the payload about an axis of the carrier to reduce the deviation about the axis in a subsequent image, and generating a base support control signal including a second angular velocity for rotating the payload with respect to the axis. When the first and second angular velocities are received, the carrier is controlled to rotate the payload at a third angular velocity about the axis. The third angular velocity is the first angular velocity, the second angular velocity, or a combination of both.