Drone Camera Angle Control for Moving Target Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary-wing drones face challenges in maintaining a consistent shooting angle and relative positioning while autonomously capturing moving targets, leading to changes in the angle of view and positioning during target movement.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a drone with a camera and a ground station that communicates via a wireless link, using control means to generate flight instructions to maintain a constant angle between the camera's line of sight and the target's direction, allowing the drone to autonomously track and film moving targets while keeping the target centered in the frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the drone autonomously tracks a moving target by adjusting its position and camera orientation, then the target remains centered in the frame, but the shooting angle and angle of view change during target movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the drone's position and camera orientation in real-time to track the moving target, rather than using fixed positioning. This allows the drone to maintain target centering while adapting to target movement, resolving the contradiction between keeping the target centered and maintaining consistent shooting angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from GPS coordinates and camera imaging data to continuously monitor target position and adjust drone trajectory and camera orientation accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the drone to maintain both target centering and consistent shooting angle by constantly comparing actual position with desired position and making corrective adjustments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drone follows the target's movement trajectory, then the target remains in the field of view, but the drone ends up behind or in front of the target depending on turn direction, changing the angle of view
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the desired drone position based on feedback from the target's current position and movement direction, rather than simply following the target's trajectory. This allows the drone to maintain a consistent relative position and shooting angle while still tracking the target's movement, preventing the drone from ending up behind or in front of the target during turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates the optimal drone position and camera orientation based on predicted target movement, allowing the drone to proactively adjust to maintain consistent shooting angle rather than reactively following the target's trajectory which causes angle variations.
3Reliability
If the drone adjusts its position and camera orientation to keep the target centered, then the target remains framed in images, but the relative positioning and shooting angle vary during target movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses continuous feedback from GPS and camera data to monitor both target position and shooting angle, adjusting drone trajectory and camera orientation simultaneously to maintain both target centering and consistent relative positioning, resolving the contradiction between reliable target framing and consistent positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically coordinates adjustments of both drone position and camera orientation to maintain consistent relative positioning while keeping the target centered. This coupled dynamic control ensures that target framing reliability is maintained without sacrificing positioning consistency during target movement.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a video capture system comprising a drone (D) equipped with a camera (C) and a ground station (S) communicating with the drone, the camera (C) being oriented along a viewing axis (3), the drone's movements being defined by flight instructions applied to a set of propulsion units of the drone, the drone being capable of moving autonomously to capture video of a target (T) moving with the ground station (S). The system includes control means (2) configured to generate said flight instructions so as to maintain substantially constant the angle between the camera's viewing axis and the direction of movement of the target upon activation of target tracking.The ground station includes means, controlled by at least one piloting means forming a target tracking activation button, to alternately switch the drone's piloting mode between a target tracking system activation mode and a deactivation mode.