UAV Spline Flight Interface for In-Flight Path Recalculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems lack the ability for real-time, dynamic adjustments during automated flights, limiting pilot creativity and flexibility, especially in capturing complex cinematic shots, as they require manual intervention to modify flight paths or camera operations.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) on a computing device allows users to define keyframes, generating a computed spline flight path that can be modified in real-time, enabling pilots to adjust the UAV's position, orientation, speed, and camera operations without terminating automated flights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a drone operates under a programmed set of flight instructions, then the flight path and sensor operation are automated and consistent, but the pilot loses the ability to make minor adjustments to the flight path or sensor operation on the fly
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static programmed flight plan to a dynamic hybrid mode where the automated spline flight path can be modified in real-time. The pilot can interact with the flight path during execution, adding, removing, or modifying keyframes that define the spline, allowing the system to adapt dynamically while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-computes a complete spline flight path based on a set of keyframes before flight execution. This preliminary computation provides a structured automated flight plan that can then be executed with or without real-time modifications, giving the pilot options for intervention before and during flight.
2Ease of operation
If the pilot terminates automated flight operation to make adjustments, then the pilot can modify the flight path, but the opportunity to capture potentially important data is lost during reprogramming
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic modification of the flight path during execution rather than requiring termination and reprogramming. The pilot can add, remove, or modify keyframes while the drone is flying, and the spline is recomputed in real-time to accommodate changes, eliminating reprogramming delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated flight operation continues uninterrupted while the pilot makes modifications to the flight path. The system maintains continuous flight execution while allowing incremental adjustments to the spline definition, ensuring no data capture opportunities are lost during modification.
3Manufacturing precision
If teams of world-class drone pilots are employed to create dynamic aerial shots, then high-quality cinematic videos can be produced, but the cost and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses keyframes to define critical positions and orientations in the flight path, then automatically generates the complete spline flight path that connects these keyframes. This copying approach allows less experienced pilots to achieve professional-quality shots by setting a few key reference points rather than manually piloting the entire complex maneuver.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the complex skill of manual dynamic aerial cinematography into a simplified parameter-setting process. Instead of requiring skilled piloting, the user defines keyframe parameters (position, orientation), and the system automatically computes the intermediate flight path parameters, dramatically reducing the skill barrier while maintaining shot quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Technology for generating and displaying a graphical user interface for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed herein that generates and updates a representation of a spline flight path. In various implementations, a graphical user interface detects user interactions with a remote control device directing the flight control subsystem of the UAV to record keyframes and to compute a spline based on the keyframes during flight. The graphical user interface displays a real-time perspective of the UAV with a representation of the spline and the keyframes overlaying the view. The graphical user interface continually updates the representation as the UAV flies and when the spline is updated as the keyframes are updated.