UAV Control Eyewear Using Head and Eye Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable eyewear devices and UAVs lack intuitive and efficient control mechanisms, limiting their integration and usability in coordinated operations.
Innovation Solution
Eyewear devices equipped with visible light cameras, inertial measurement units, and eye scanners enable natural user interactions, such as head and eye movements, to control UAVs, allowing for intuitive flight path adjustments and image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional control mechanisms are used for UAVs, then control precision can be maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex control interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical control interfaces (buttons, joysticks, switches) with optical and biological detection systems. Eye scanners detect user gaze direction and head movement trackers capture head orientation to generate control signals, substituting physical mechanical interaction with optical field-based control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary devices including see-through displays that overlay control interfaces on the user's field of view, and processors that translate natural head and eye movements into UAV control commands. These intermediaries bridge the gap between intuitive user gestures and precise UAV control actions.
2Ease of operation
If natural interaction methods are implemented, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to difficulty in accurately detecting head and eye movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical detection systems including eye scanners that use light reflection patterns to detect eye position and gaze direction, and head movement trackers that utilize inertial sensors and optical flow detection. These optical and electromagnetic field-based systems replace mechanical measurement methods with higher precision capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple redundant measurement copies by using both eye scanners and head movement trackers simultaneously, and by capturing data from multiple sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers). This redundant copying of measurement information allows for cross-validation and enhanced precision through data fusion algorithms.
3Productivity
If integrated control systems are implemented, then productivity improves through seamless coordination, but device complexity worsens due to multiple integrated components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components into an integrated eyewear device: eye scanners, head movement trackers, see-through displays, wireless communication modules, and processors are combined into a single wearable unit. This consolidation enables seamless coordination between detection, processing, and control functions while improving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the eyewear device to perform multiple functions simultaneously: detecting eye gaze, tracking head movement, displaying information, wireless communication with UAV, and processing control signals. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple separate systems, improving productivity through unified operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Eyewear configured to control an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In one example, a user interacts with the eyewear to generate control signals that are transmitted to the UAV to control the flight path, speed, orientation, and to communicate other instructions to the UAV. An input of the eyewear is controlled by the user to control the UAV, such as a touchpad, a microphone, a head movement tracker and a camera. The user is also able to configure and customize the eyewear to send specific control signals to the UAV as a function of user actions. This includes specific head movements and head gestures of the user as a method of controlling the UAV. This allows the user to control the UAV in a more natural and convenient way.