Return path configuration for remote controlled aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10185318-B2
Application number	US-201615391730-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2016
Priority date	Apr 21, 2015
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed is a configuration to control automatic return of an aerial vehicle. The configuration stores a return location in a storage device of the aerial vehicle. The return location may correspond to a location where the aerial vehicle is to return. One or more sensors of the aerial vehicle are monitored during flight for detection of a predefined condition. When a predetermined condition is met a return path program may be loaded for execution to provide a return flight path for the aerial vehicle to automatically navigate to the return location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling an aerial vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processor of a remote controller of the aerial vehicle and from the aerial vehicle, a video data stream captured by a camera of the aerial vehicle while the aerial vehicle is executing a flight path, at least a portion of the video data stream corresponding to an avoidance of one or more obstacles detected by the aerial vehicle at a location along the flight path;
synchronizing, by the processor of the remote controller, telemetric data and a video data stream captured by the camera of the aerial vehicle while the aerial vehicle is executing a modified return path generated by the aerial vehicle based on a provided return path, the modified return path differing from the provided return path based on the location of the one or more obstacles detected by the aerial vehicle along the flight path and based on one or more redundant routes, included in the provided return path, that trace around the one or more obstacles; and
displaying, by the processor of the remote controller and on a user interface of the remote controller, the synchronized video data stream, the synchronized telemetric data, and one or more applications associated with data of the aerial vehicle, the user interface including a selectable option to interface with any of the synchronized video data stream, the synchronized telemetric data, and the one or more applications.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured based on a predefined template for displaying the synchronized video data stream, the synchronized telemetric data, and the one or more applications.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the synchronized telemetric data is displayed on at least one application of the one or more applications included on the predefined template, the at least one application comprising at least one gauge.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the synchronized video data stream captured while the aerial vehicle is executing the modified return path is displayed according to the predefined template.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the predefined template includes the selectable option to share any of the synchronized video data stream, the synchronized telemetric data, and the data associated with the aerial vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processor of the remote controller, an indication that one or more sensors of the aerial vehicle has detected a predefined condition,
the predefined condition comprising a structural condition of a mechanical component.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predefined condition comprises an operational condition of an electronic component.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a return location associated with the provided return path comprises an initial location in the flight path.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising stored instructions, to control automatic return of an aerial vehicle, the stored instructions when executed by a processor of a remote controller, causes the processor to:
receive, by the remote controller and from the aerial vehicle, a video data stream captured by a camera of the aerial vehicle while the aerial vehicle is executing a flight path, at least a portion of the video data stream corresponding to an avoidance of one or more obstacles detected by the aerial vehicle at a location along the flight path;
synchronize, by the remote controller, telemetric data and a video data stream captured by the camera of the aerial vehicle while the aerial vehicle is executing a modified return path generated by the aerial vehicle based on a provided return path, the modified return path differing from the provided return path based on the location of the one or more obstacles detected by the aerial vehicle along the flight path and based on one or more redundant routes, included in the provided return path, that trace around the one or more obstacles; and
display, by the remote controller and on a user interface of the remote controller, the synchronized video data stream, the synchronized telemetric data, and one or more applications associated with data of the aerial vehicle, the user interface including a selectable option to interface with any of the synchronized video data stream, the synchronized telemetric data, and the one or more applications.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
configure the user interface based on a predefined template for displaying the synchronized video data stream, the synchronized telemetric data, and the one or more applications.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of 10 , wherein the synchronized telemetric data is displayed on at least one application of the one or more applications included on the predefined template, the at least one application comprising at least one gauge.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the synchronized video data stream captured while the aerial vehicle is executing the modified return path is displayed according to the predefined template.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the predefined template includes the selectable option to share any of the synchronized video data stream, the synchronized telemetric data, and the data associated with the aerial vehicle.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive, by the remote controller, an indication that one or more sensors of the aerial vehicle has detected a predefined condition,
the predefined condition comprising a structural condition of a mechanical component.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the predefined condition comprises an operational condition of an electronic component.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein a return location associated with the provided return path comprises an initial location in the flight path.

Assignees

• Gopro Inc

Inventors

• Enke Joseph Anthony

Classifications

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U70/83

  using parachutes, balloons or the like · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title

• B64U2201/104

  using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS · CPC title