Digital tethering for tracking with autonomous aerial robot

摘要

An aerial device automatically maintains a relative position with respect to a target. The aerial device can set a relative multi-dimensional position with respect to the target. The target can have an indicator (e.g., a visual marker for image capture tracking, or a radio indicator for tracking via signaling) that the aerial device reads. The aerial device can automatically adjust its flight path in response to movement of the target as indicated by the indicator. Thus, the aerial device can maintain a digital tether, moving with the target to maintain substantially the same relative position with respect to the target, tracking the target in multiple dimensions.

主权项

1. A method in an aerial robot comprising:
setting a relative position of the aerial robot with respect to a target; determining a current position of the target; determining a current position of the aerial robot; generating a prediction of a future position of the aerial robot to maintain substantially the same relative position for the future position of the aerial robot with respect to a future position of the target, wherein the future position of the aerial robot and the future position of the target are based on the determined current positions and respective previous positions and further based on a target velocity vector based on inertial measurement information generated by an accelerometer or gyroscope at the target; and automatically adjusting a flight path of the aerial robot in response to movement of the target based at least in part on the prediction of the future position of the aerial robot, to maintain substantially the same relative position of the aerial robot with respect to the target.