UAV Gimbal Control for Decoupled Flight and Camera Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial vehicle technologies, such as UAVs, have limitations in the QuickShot function, including restricted gimbal actions that are bound to the flight trajectory, lack of flexibility in camera orientation and gimbal actions during flight, poor user experience when viewing horizontally photographed content on vertical screens, inadequate contrast between subjects and environments in photographs, and insufficient solutions for image transmission and display suitable for horizontal-vertical switching of the gimbal.
Innovation Solution
A control method for an aerial vehicle that decouples the control operations between the preliminary-flight trajectory and the gimbal orientation or action, allowing users to freely match flight trajectories with gimbal orientations and actions. This method includes obtaining user-set preliminary-flight trajectories and gimbal control information, automatically controlling the aerial vehicle and gimbal to photograph targets according to the set parameters, and providing an image display method that ensures a mobile-friendly viewing experience by rotating the image when switching between horizontal and vertical formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the gimbal direction is kept static during aerial vehicle flight, then the control system is simple, but the photographing flexibility and richness are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into independent modules: flight trajectory control and gimbal action control are separated, allowing each to be optimized independently. The gimbal control is further divided into pan, tilt, and roll axes, enabling flexible combination of different photographing actions without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The gimbal system transitions from static to dynamic control, allowing real-time adjustment of camera orientation during flight. The control terminal enables users to set different gimbal actions (panning, tilting, rolling) that can be executed dynamically throughout the flight trajectory, enhancing photographing flexibility
2Ease of operation
If horizontal photographing mode is used, then the camera captures wide scenes, but the user experience on vertical screens is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The gimbal system dynamically switches between horizontal and vertical photographing modes based on the target object and desired composition. Users can control the gimbal to rotate 90 degrees, switching the camera orientation mid-flight to capture content optimized for vertical screen display, thereby improving user experience on mobile devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the photographing parameter (camera orientation angle) from fixed horizontal to variable, allowing switching between 0 degrees (horizontal) and 90 degrees (vertical). This parameter change enables the same aerial vehicle to produce content suitable for both landscape and portrait screen formats
3Adaptability or versatility
If the gimbal action is bound to the flight trajectory, then the control is simplified, but the flexibility in matching trajectories with gimbal actions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface segments trajectory selection and gimbal action configuration into separate operations. Users first select a flight trajectory, then independently configure gimbal actions to match the trajectory characteristics. This segmentation allows flexible matching without requiring complex coupled control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration of gimbal actions based on the selected trajectory type. The control terminal pre-processes the trajectory data and provides recommended gimbal action sequences, allowing users to quickly match appropriate actions without manual trial-and-error, thus reducing operational complexity while maintaining flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
A control method of an aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle includes a gimbal carrying an image acquisition device. The method includes obtaining a preliminary-flight trajectory of the aerial vehicle and control information of the gimbal that are set by a user, automatically controlling the aerial vehicle to move according to the preliminary-flight trajectory, and automatically controlling the gimbal and the image acquisition device to photograph a target object according to the control information of the gimbal.