System and method for controlling a remote aerial device for up-close inspection

摘要

The method and system may be used to control the movement of a remote aerial device in an incremental step manner during a close inspection of an object or other subject matter. At the inspection location, a control module “stabilizes” the remote aerial device in a maintained, consistent hover while maintaining a close distance to the desired object. The control module may retrieve proximal sensor data that indicates possible nearby obstructions to the remote aerial device and may transmit the data to a remote control client. The remote control module may determine and display the possible one or more non-obstructed directions that the remote aerial device is capable of moving by an incremental distance. In response to receiving a selection of one of the directions, the remote control module may transmit the selection to the remote aerial device to indicate the next movement for the remote aerial device.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling a remote aerial device for up-close subject inspection, the method comprising:
receiving at the remote aerial device spatial position data indicating a spatial position of a remote aerial device, the spatial position data including a geographic location and an altitude of the spatial position of the remote aerial device; stabilizing the remote aerial device in a substantially stationary position at the spatial position until one or more movement instructions are received; detecting proximal sensor data indicating one or more directions toward one or more proximal obstructions, each proximal obstruction being located within a distance threshold of the remote aerial device; transmitting the proximal sensor data to a remote control module; determining at the remote control module a movement instruction indicating a selection of a target location from a plurality of potential target locations that are determined at least in part based upon the proximal sensor data to be free of the detected one or more proximal obstructions, wherein the movement instruction comprises an incremental movement direction indicating a non-obstructed fixed distance in a direction for the remote aerial device to move; receiving at the remote aerial device the movement instruction; controlling the remote aerial device to move to the target location; and stabilizing the remote aerial device in a substantially stationary position at the target location.