Haptic UAV Control for Precise Flight and Gimbal Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of unmanned aerial devices face challenges in controlling their position and orientation due to the complexity of multi-button interfaces, requiring simultaneous actuation of multiple buttons for precise movement and camera orientation.
Innovation Solution
An aerial device equipped with haptic sensors and a processing system that generates and processes haptic data to determine intended positions and orientations, allowing for intuitive control without the need for complex button actuation, using touch sensors or touch screens to convert user inputs into target positions and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a multi-button control interface is used to control aerial device position and orientation, then precise control capability is achieved, but operator complexity and learning curve increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical button-actuation system with a haptic sensing system. Instead of requiring operators to physically press multiple buttons in specific combinations, the system uses haptic sensors to detect touch interactions on a display interface, converting tactile input into control commands for aerial device positioning and gimbal orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a haptic sensor as an intermediary between the operator and the control system. The sensor acts as a mediator that captures touch input from the display surface and translates it into meaningful control signals, eliminating the need for direct button actuation while maintaining precise control capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons are required for simultaneous actuation to control position and gimbal orientation, then control functionality is comprehensive, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions into a single haptic sensor interface. Instead of requiring separate buttons for different control functions (positioning, gimbal orientation, etc.), the system combines all control capabilities into one unified touch-sensitive display area, allowing operators to access comprehensive functionality through a single interaction point.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic sensor interface serves multiple control functions simultaneously. The same sensor area can detect different touch patterns, pressures, and locations to control various aspects of the aerial device including position, orientation, and gimbal angles, making the control system universally applicable to all operational needs.
3Reliability
If traditional button interfaces are used, then control commands are explicit, but time required for operator training and learning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the display interface itself as a control surface, copying the visual information space into a tactile interaction space. The haptic sensor detects touches on the same area where visual feedback is displayed, creating a direct mapping between what the operator sees and where they touch, eliminating the need to learn separate button layouts and command structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial device includes a body, an optical system having gimbal supporting a camera, a lift mechanism coupled to the body, a haptic sensor coupled to the body and configured to generate haptic data, and a processing system disposed in the body and in data communication with the haptic sensor. The processing system is configured to process the haptic data to understand an intended position of the aerial device and/or an intended orientation of the gimbal and convert the intended position to a target position of the aerial device and/or the intended orientation to a target orientation of the gimbal utilizing said processed data irrespective of an initial position of said aerial device and an initial orientation of said gimbal. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the aerial device.