Drone Control via Image-Derived Path Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in precisely controlling unmanned photography devices, such as drones, to capture desired images or videos due to the complexity of determining movement directions and altitudes using traditional control methods like joysticks or smartphone touch buttons.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device that displays images and derives photography information from selected images to set and transmit a moving path to the unmanned photography device, allowing users to easily control the device's movement and capture images with the desired composition without requiring intricate handling skills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional control methods like joysticks or smartphone touch buttons are used to control unmanned photography devices, then the user can manually operate the device, but the user has difficulty in precisely determining movement direction and altitude to capture desired images
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the unmanned photography device to automatically determine its own movement path and photography parameters by analyzing images captured by its own camera. The device processes the captured image to identify landmarks, calculate position, and determine the optimal flight path autonomously, eliminating the need for complex manual control inputs from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control (joystick operations) with an automated image processing and recognition system. The control device captures an image, processes it to extract position and direction information, and automatically generates control commands, substituting the mechanical control system with an optical-electronic-information system.
2Ease of operation
If the user manually controls the unmanned photography device to achieve desired image composition, then the user can capture images, but the control process becomes complex and requires intricate handling skills
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned photography device autonomously performs image analysis, position calculation, and flight path planning. The system automatically identifies landmarks in captured images, calculates the device's current position and orientation, determines the desired photography position, and generates the complete movement sequence without requiring complex user input or manual manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary image capture and analysis before executing the movement. By capturing an image first and processing it to determine the optimal flight path and photography parameters in advance, the system prepares all necessary control information beforehand, simplifying the subsequent execution phase and reducing real-time control complexity.
3Extent of automation
If the unmanned photography device autonomously determines movement path based on captured images, then the user can take images with desired composition through simple control, but the device requires automated image processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned photography device integrates multiple functions into a single system: the camera serves both as a photography device and as a navigation/sensing device. The same camera that captures photographs is used to identify landmarks and determine position, eliminating the need for separate sensors and reducing overall system complexity while enabling autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses its own captured images for self-positioning and self-navigation. By processing images that it captures itself to determine its location and plan its movement path, the system creates a closed-loop autonomous control mechanism that reduces complexity compared to systems requiring external guidance infrastructure.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
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AI summary
An electronic device for controlling an unmanned photography device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The electronic device includes a display for displaying one or more images, a memory, and at least one processor electrically connected to the display and the memory. The at least one processor is configured to display a first image on the display, derive photography information contained in the first image, selected based on a signal input for selecting the first image, and select information on the location, at which the first image is taken, contained in the photography information as at least one point of a moving path of the unmanned photography device.