Drone Microphone Direction Overlay for Sound Source Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to effectively improve the quality of sound picked up by unmanned aircraft equipped with directional microphones, as the sound pickup direction is difficult to visualize and align with the sound source, leading to suboptimal sound capture.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device that calculates the sound pickup direction of a directional microphone using the positions and orientations of both the camera and the microphone, superimposes this direction on the captured image, and displays it to the user, allowing for easier alignment and improved sound quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a directional microphone is used to pick up sound from a specific direction, then sound quality is improved, but the sound pickup direction cannot be visually confirmed, making it difficult to align with the sound source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary visual indicator (arrow or line) that represents the microphone's pickup direction on the displayed image. This intermediary element bridges the gap between the invisible sound pickup direction and the visible image, allowing the operator to see where the microphone is pointing and align it with the sound source accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the microphone's pickup direction by drawing an arrow or line on the image that corresponds to the spatial orientation of the microphone. This visual copy allows the operator to perceive the invisible sound pickup direction through the displayed image, enabling proper alignment with the sound source.
2Device complexity
If only image data is provided without sound direction information, then the system is simple, but the operator cannot determine where the microphone is pointing to capture quality sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension of information visualization by overlaying directional indicators (arrows or lines) on the two-dimensional image. This additional visual layer conveys the three-dimensional spatial orientation of the microphone without complicating the basic image display system, allowing operators to perceive sound pickup direction while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller includes processor and memory. The memory stores (i) a captured image outputted from a camera in an unmanned aircraft and (ii) sound outputted from a directional microphone in the unmanned aircraft, and stores (i) a position and an orientation of the camera and (ii) a position and an orientation of the directional microphone. The processor obtains, from the memory, the captured image, the sound, the position and the orientation of the camera, and the position and the orientation of the directional microphone, calculates a sound pickup direction of the directional microphone using the position and the orientation of the camera and the position and the orientation of the directional microphone, superimposes an object indicating the sound pickup direction at a position, on the captured image, corresponding to the sound pickup direction calculated, and causes a display device to display the captured image on which the object is superimposed.