UAV Camera Click Control With No-Click Obstacle Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are difficult to control when they are out of the user's sight, leading to inconvenience and potential flight accidents due to the lack of visual feedback and intuitive control methods.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that display prompt information in a photographed picture sent by the UAV, allowing users to divide the image into portions representing different flight directions, obtain the location of a click operation on the picture, and control the UAV's flight direction based on this information, even when the UAV is out of sight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional rocker or button control is used, then the control method is simple, but the user cannot intuitively control the UAV when it is out of sight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintuitive controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a photographed picture (optical copy) of the UAV's field of view displayed on a screen as the control interface. Instead of abstract buttons, the user interacts directly with the visual representation of the UAV's environment, making control intuitive even when the UAV is out of direct sight. The click position on the picture corresponds to the desired flight direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The photographed picture serves as an intermediary between the user and the UAV control. It translates the complex spatial and directional information into a visual format that the user can easily interpret and interact with by clicking on the desired location in the picture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the user controls the UAV without visual feedback, then the UAV can fly out of sight, but the user experiences inconvenience and safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight operation capabilityVSAvoidflight safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides continuous visual feedback by displaying the photographed picture taken by the UAV's camera on the user's screen. This allows the user to see the UAV's current field of view and environment in real-time, enabling informed control decisions while maintaining flight safety even when the UAV is physically out of the user's direct line of sight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11613354B2Method and device for controlling flight, control terminal, flight system and processor

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 SZ DJI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A method for controlling flight includes displaying, in a real-time manner, a picture photographed and sent by a photographing device carried by an aerial vehicle; determining a no-clicking area in the picture based on a position of an obstacle or a no-fly zone; receiving a click operation of a user on the picture; and controlling a flight of the aerial vehicle based on the click operation. Controlling the flight of the aerial vehicle based on the click operation includes invalidating the click operation in response to determining a click location of the click operation being in the no-clicking area; and controlling the flight of the aerial vehicle based on a position of the click location in response to determining the click location being not in the no-clicking area.