Systems and methods for tracking and controlling a mobile camera to image objects of interest

Abstract

A mobile camera system includes a camera affixed to a drone, a video transmitter that wirelessly transmits a video feed outputted by the camera, and At least one tracking tag that wirelessly transmits a location signal receivable by a tracking system to determine a drone position and a drone orientation of the drone. A local controller, also affixed to the drone, is configured to (a) wireless receive, from a camera controller, movement instructions derived from the drone position and the drone orientation, and (b) control the drone position and the drone orientation, based on the movement instructions, such that the camera maintains a perspective view of an object. The tracking system receives location signals to determine the drone position and object position. The camera controller determines movement instructions, based on the drone and object positions, and wirelessly communicates the movement instructions to the mobile camera system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile camera system comprising:
 a camera affixed to a drone;   a video transmitter affixed to the drone and configured to wirelessly transmit a video feed outputted by the camera;   at least one tracking tag affixed to the drone and configured to wirelessly transmit a location signal receivable by a tracking system to determine a drone position and a drone orientation of the drone; and   a local controller affixed to the drone and configured to (a) wireless receive, from a camera controller, movement instructions derived from the drone position and the drone orientation, and (b) control the drone position and the drone orientation, based on the movement instructions, such that the camera maintains a perspective view of an object as at least an orientation of the object changes.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile camera system of  claim 1 , the local controller being configured to control the drone position and the drone orientation, based on the wirelessly received movement instructions, such that the camera maintains the perspective view as both the orientation of the object and a position of the object change. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile camera system of  claim 1 , further comprising a camera angle controller affixed to the drone and configured to tilt the camera. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile camera system of  claim 1 , further comprising a zoom lens controller affixed to the drone and configured to control a zoom lens of the camera to change a magnification of the camera. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile camera system of  claim 1 , the local controller being configured to limit the position of the drone to within an operational area. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile camera system of  claim 5 , further comprising a GPS receiver affixed to the drone and configured to determine the drone location. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile camera system of  claim 5 , the local controller being configured to wirelessly receive the drone location from the tracking system. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile camera system of  claim 1 , the at least one tracking tag comprising first and second tracking tags configured to wirelessly transmit corresponding first and second location signals, the first and second tracking tags being spatially separated such that the tracking system can determine the drone orientation based on the first and second location signals. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile camera system of  claim 1 , further configured to continue movement of the drone, while radio contact with the camera controller is lost, according to movement instructions received prior to losing the radio contact. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile camera system of  claim 9 , further configured to maintain, while the radio contact with the camera controller is lost, an adjustment rate of an angle of the camera according to movement instructions received prior to losing the radio contact. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile camera system of  claim 9 , further configured to decrease magnification of the camera while the radio contact is lost. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile camera system of  claim 9 ,
 further comprising a GPS receiver and a timeout timer configured to start when the radio contact is lost;   the mobile camera system being further configured to autonomously control the drone, when the timeout timer has expired and based on the drone location determined by the GPS receiver, to return to and land at a site within an operational area of the tracking system.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile camera system of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual tracking module affixed to the drone and configured to autonomously control the drone position and the drone orientation, based on the video feed and while radio contact with the camera controller is lost, such that the camera continues maintaining the perspective view of the object as at least the orientation of the object changes while the radio contact is lost. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile camera system of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual tracking module affixed to the drone and configured to autonomously control the drone position and the drone orientation, based on the video feed and while radio contact with the camera controller is lost, such that the camera continues maintaining the perspective view of the object as both the orientation of the object and a position of the object change while the radio contact is lost. 
     
     
         15 . A mobile camera method, comprising:
 generating a video feed with a camera affixed to a drone;   wirelessly transmitting, by at least one tracking tag affixed to the drone, a location signal receivable by a tracking system to determine a drone position and a drone orientation of the drone;   wirelessly receiving, from a camera controller, movement instructions derived from the drone position and the drone orientation; and   controlling the drone position and the drone orientation, based on the movement instructions, such that the camera maintains a perspective view of an object as at least an orientation of the object changes.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said controlling includes controlling the drone position and the drone orientation such that the camera maintains the perspective view of the object as both the orientation of the object and a position of the object change. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising autonomously controlling the drone position and the drone orientation, based on the video feed and while radio contact with the camera controller is lost, such that the camera continues maintaining the perspective view of the object as at least the orientation of the object changes while the radio contact is lost. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising autonomously controlling the drone position and the drone orientation, based on the video feed and while radio contact with the camera controller is lost, such that the camera continues maintaining the perspective view of the object as both the orientation of the object and a position of the object change while the radio contact is lost. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising tilting the camera. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising controlling a zoom lens of the camera to change a magnification of the camera. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising limiting the position of the drone to within an operational area.