Systems and methods for walking pets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861075-B2
Application number	US-201715493072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2017
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for guiding a target object with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in an environment. The UAV may be able to recognize and locate the target object. The UAV can be configured to communicate the actions and behavior of the target object to a user through a user device in communication with the UAV. The UAV can provide positive and negative stimuli to the target object to encourage an action or behavior. The UAV can be configured to recognize and manage waste generated by the target object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to guide a target, said UAV comprising:
one or more vision sensors configured to capture at least one image of the target;
one or more processors configured to, individually or collectively, recognize the target from the image of the target;
an attractor display mechanism configured to display, without human aid or intervention, an attractor to the target when the target is recognized; and
one or more propulsion units configured to permit flight of the UAV while the attractor is displayed to the target.

2. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the target is an animal.

3. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the attractor is an edible treat.

4. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the attractor emits a selected scent.

5. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the UAV displays the attractor by dangling the attractor at or near a head level of the target.

6. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the attractor comprises an image that is displayed on a screen carried by the UAV.

7. The UAV of claim 6 , wherein the image is a static image or a video.

8. The UAV of claim 7 , wherein the image is an image of an owner of the target.

9. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vision sensors are further configured to determine a location of the target relative to the UAV; and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to adjust or maintain a flight speed of the UAV to remain the UAV within a proximity of the target that is sufficiently close for the target to perceive the attractor.

10. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vision sensors further configured to determine a trajectory of motion of the target relative to the UAV; and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to adjust or maintain a flight direction of the UAV to remain the UAV within a proximity of the target that is sufficiently close for the target to perceive the attractor.

11. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein said at least one image of the target includes an image of an object wore by the target; and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, individually or collectively, recognize the target from the image of the object.

12. The UAV of claim 11 , wherein the object is a collar.

13. The UAV claim 11 , wherein the UAV further comprises an attachment mechanism configured to attach, without human aid, to the object of the target when the target is recognized.

14. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the UAV further comprises one or more speakers configured to play a voice to the target when the target is recognized.

15. The UAV claim 14 , wherein the voice is transmitted from a user device to the UAV in real-time.

16. The UAV claim 14 wherein the voice is a pre-recording.

17. A method of guiding a target using a UAV, said method comprising:
recognizing the target, with aid of one or more vision sensors on board the UAV;
displaying, without human aid or invention, an attractor to the target when the target is recognized; and
flying the UAV while the target is in motion and following the attractor.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprises determining, using the one or more vision sensors, a location of the target relative to the UAV and adjusting or maintaining a flight speed of the UAV to remain within a proximity of the target that is sufficiently close for the target to perceive the attractor.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprises determining, using the one or more vision sensors, a trajectory of the locomotion of the target relative to the UAV and adjusting or maintaining a flight direction of the UAV to remain within a proximity of the target that is sufficiently close for the target to perceive the attractor.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein recognizing the target comprises recognizing the target from an image of an object wore by the target.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shen Yu
• Liu Ang
• Zhou Guyue

Classifications

• Y10S901/01

  Mobile robot · CPC title

• A01K15/021 Primary

  Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats · CPC title

• G01S13/88

  Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00) · CPC title

• A01K15/023

  Anti-evasion devices · CPC title

• A01K27/00

  Leads or collars, e.g. for dogs · CPC title