System and method for moment capturing

Abstract

An imagery method includes obtaining a plurality of images of an object and selecting one or more images related to a moment from the plurality of images based on a selection rule. The plurality of images are captured by one or more imaging devices within a period of time while the object is being tracked. A plurality of triggers each are configured to trigger at least one of a starting time or a stopping time of the period of time for capturing the plurality of images. The plurality of triggers include a detection based on motion/state estimation of the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imagery method, comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of images of an object, the plurality of images being captured by one or more imaging devices within a period of time while the object is being tracked; and   selecting one or more images related to a moment from the plurality of images based on a selection rule;   wherein a plurality of triggers each are configured to trigger at least one of a starting time or a stopping time of the period of time for capturing the plurality of images, the plurality of triggers including a detection based on motion/state estimation of the object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 controlling the one or more imaging devices to capture the plurality of images of the object from different angles simultaneously within the period of time, the plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of viewing angles relative to the object, and the plurality of viewing angles being different from each other;   wherein selecting the one or more images related to the moment from the plurality of images based on the selection rule includes:
 selecting, from the plurality of images, the one or more images related to the moment and corresponding to one or more viewing angles selected from the plurality of viewing angels. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining the plurality of images in an image buffer.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing the one or more imaging devices to start or stop capturing the plurality of images upon receiving one or more of the plurality of triggers.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of triggers further include an indicator that is detected from a previously-captured image of the object or a signal received from the object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 buffering the plurality of images at a frequency that is predetermined or dynamically configured based on a rule.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of images are a plurality of first images;   the method further comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of second images that are used to track the object; and 
 determining motion information of the object from the plurality of second images that are used to track the object. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the motion information of the object is obtained by analyzing a movement of a bounding box that is used to identify the object in the plurality of second images that are used to track the object. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of second images that are used to track the object are captured using one or more image sensors that are arranged differently from the one or more imaging devices. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more location signals from the object; and   determining motion information of the object based on the one or more location signals received from the object.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 synchronizing the motion/state estimation of the object with the plurality of images that are captured using the one or more imaging devices.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the one or more images related to the moment from the plurality of images based on the selection rule includes:
 determining a time interval based on the selection rule; and   selecting the one or more images based on the time interval.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the one or more images related to the moment from the plurality of images based on the selection rule includes:
 selecting the one or more images based on the motion/state estimation of the object.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing the selected one or more images in an image buffer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying an image from the selected one or more images based on a user input.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of images of the object are received from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). 
     
     
         17 . An imagery system, comprising:
 one or more microprocessors;   a controller running on the one or more microprocessors, wherein the controller operates to:
 obtain a plurality of images of an object, the plurality of images being captured by one or more imaging devices within a period of time while the object is being tracked; and 
 select one or more images related to a moment from the plurality of images based on a preset rule; 
 wherein a plurality of triggers each are configured to trigger at least one of a starting time or a stopping time of the period of time for capturing the plurality of images, the plurality of triggers including a detection based on motion or state estimation of the object. 
   
     
     
         18 . The imagery system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller further operates to:
 control the one or more imaging devices to capture the plurality of images of the object from different angles simultaneously within the period of time, the plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of viewing angles relative to the object, and the plurality of viewing angles being different from each other; and   select, from the plurality of images, the one or more images related to the moment and corresponding to one or more viewing angles selected from the plurality of viewing angels.   
     
     
         19 . The imagery system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller further operates to cause the one or more imaging devices to start or stop capturing the plurality of images upon receiving one or more of the plurality of triggers. 
     
     
         20 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
 a memory that stores one or more computer-executable instructions; and   one or more processors configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to perform a method comprising:
 directing the UAV to track an object; 
 obtaining a plurality of images of the object, the plurality of images being captured by one or more imaging devices within a period of time while the object is being tracked; and 
 selecting one or more images related to a moment from the plurality of images based on a selection rule; 
 wherein a plurality of triggers each are configured to trigger at least one of a starting time or a stopping time of the period of time for capturing the plurality of images, the plurality of triggers including a detection based on motion/state estimation of the object.