Smartphone Drone with Autonomous Camera Framing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for taking selfies with smartphones are inconvenient, often resulting in poorly centered and blurry images due to the need for assistance or manual operation, which limits autonomy and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A drone system integrated with a smartphone, equipped with elevation motors, a camera holder, and sensors, that can autonomously take pictures or videos of a user by elevating, orienting, and controlling the camera for optimal framing, while being waterproof and lightweight, with optional features like obstacle detection and geolocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user takes selfies with a smartphone by holding it far away or using a timer, then the user can take pictures autonomously, but the pictures are poorly centered or blurry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a drone as an intermediary device between the user and the camera. The drone carries the camera and positions itself optimally to capture the user, eliminating the need for the user to hold the camera at awkward distances or angles. This mediator (drone) performs the precise positioning and framing that would be difficult for the user to achieve manually.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone is equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities including sensors (ultrasonic, infrared, laser, GPS) and processing units that enable it to self-position, self-frame the user, and self-adjust for optimal picture taking. The system can autonomously track the user, maintain proper distance, and capture images without continuous manual intervention, thereby serving itself while improving image quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If a user asks another person to take the picture, then the picture can be well-centered and focused, but the user loses autonomy and must find this other person
Solution Approach 1:
The drone system performs the function of a photographer assistant autonomously. It uses its onboard sensors and processing capabilities to detect the user, calculate optimal positioning, frame the subject correctly, and capture the image at the right moment. This eliminates the need for another person while maintaining high image quality through automated precision control.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone incorporates multiple sensors (ultrasonic distance sensors, infrared sensors, laser range finders, GPS) that continuously provide feedback about the user's position, distance, and environmental conditions. This feedback loop enables the drone to autonomously adjust its position and camera angle to achieve proper framing and focus, mimicking the judgment of a skilled photographer without human intervention.
3Extent of automation
If the drone is equipped with multiple sensors and autonomous navigation capabilities, then the image quality and autonomy are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The various sensors on the drone serve multiple functions: ultrasonic sensors assist with both collision avoidance and distance measurement for framing; GPS provides both location tracking and positioning information; the processing unit handles navigation, image timing, and sensor data integration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while maintaining high automation capability.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
The invention relates to drone (14) configured to communicate with a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone, and being further adapted to take pictures or videos of a user, the drone (14) being an accessory of the electronic device, the drone (14) being movable between a first configuration secured to the electronic device and a second configuration detached from the electronic device, the drone (14) being equipped with a camera (50).