Multi-purposed self-propelled device

Abstract

A self-propelled device can include at least a wireless interface, a housing, a propulsion mechanism, and a camera. Using the camera, the self-propelled device can generate a video feed and transmit the video feed to a controller device via the wireless interface. The self-propelled device can receive an input from the controller device indicating an object or location in the video feed. In response to the input, the self-propelled device can initiate an autonomous mode to autonomously operate the propulsion mechanism to propel the self-propelled device towards the object or location indicated in the video feed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-propelled device comprising:
 a wireless interface;   a housing;   a propulsion mechanism;   a camera; and   one or more processors to execute an instruction set, causing the self-propelled device to:
 using the camera, generate a video feed; 
 transmit the video feed to a controller device via the wireless interface; 
 receive an input from the controller device indicating an object or location in the video feed; and 
 in response to the input, initiate an autonomous mode to autonomously operate the propulsion mechanism to propel the self-propelled device towards the object or location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The self-propelled device of  claim 1 , wherein the self-propelled device comprises an aircraft. 
     
     
         3 . The self-propelled device of  claim 2 , wherein the executed instruction set causes the self-propelled device to autonomously detect and maneuver around obstacles in propelling the self-propelled device towards the object or location. 
     
     
         4 . The self-propelled device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is mounted on a gyroscope of the self-propelled device. 
     
     
         5 . The self-propelled device of  claim 1 , wherein the executed instruction set further causes the self-propelled device to:
 initiate a control mode to (i) receive command inputs from the controller device, and (ii) operate the propulsion mechanism to accelerate and maneuver the self-propelled device based on the command inputs.   
     
     
         6 . The self-propelled device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inertial measurement unit;   wherein the executed instruction set further causes the self-propelled device to:
 receive feedback from the inertial measurement unit to compensate for a dynamic instability of the self-propelled device; and 
 based on the feedback, dynamically stabilize pitch, roll, and yaw of the self-propelled device. 
   
     
     
         7 . The self-propelled device of  claim 6 , wherein the inertial measurement unit comprises at least one of a three-axis gyroscopic sensor, a three-axis accelerometer, or a three-axis magnetometer. 
     
     
         8 . The self-propelled device of  claim 6 , wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises a plurality of independent motors, and wherein the executed instruction set causes the self-propelled device to dynamically stabilize the pitch, roll, and yaw of the self-propelled device by generating correction signals for independent execution by the plurality of independent motors. 
     
     
         9 . The self-propelled device of  claim 6 , wherein the executed instruction set further causes the self-propelled device to:
 maintain an orientation awareness of the self-propelled device in relation to an initial frame of reference.   
     
     
         10 . The self-propelled device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a global positioning system (GPS) device to provide GPS data to the controller device.   
     
     
         11 . The self-propelled device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller device comprises a mobile computing device executing a software application specific to controlling the self-propelled device. 
     
     
         12 . The self-propelled device of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile computing device comprises one of a smart phone or a tablet computer. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method for operating a self-propelled device, the method being performed by one or more processors of the self-propelled device and comprising:
 using a camera of the self-propelled device, generating a video feed;   transmitting the video feed to a controller device via a wireless interface of the self-propelled device;   receiving an input from the controller device indicating an object or location in the video feed; and   in response to the input, initiating an autonomous mode to autonomously operate a propulsion mechanism of the self-propelled device to propel the self-propelled device towards the object or location.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the self-propelled device comprises an aircraft. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein in the autonomous mode, the one or more processors operate the propulsion mechanism to autonomously detect and maneuver around obstacles in propelling the self-propelled device towards the object or location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 initiating a control mode to (i) receive command inputs from the controller device, and (ii) operate the propulsion mechanism to accelerate and maneuver the self-propelled device based on the command inputs.   
     
     
         17 . A controller device comprising:
 a display screen;   one or more processors; and   one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller device to:
 receive a video feed from a self-propelled device; 
 display content corresponding to the video feed on the display screen; 
 receive a touch input on the display screen indicating an object or location in the video feed; 
 in response to the touch input, generate a command signal to command the self-propelled device to initiate an autonomous mode to autonomously accelerate and maneuver towards the object or location; and 
 transmit the command signal to the self-propelled device for execution. 
   
     
     
         18 . The controller device of  claim 17 , wherein the controller device comprises one of a smart phone or a tablet computer executing a software application specific to controlling the self-propelled device. 
     
     
         19 . The controller device of  claim 18 , wherein the self-propelled device comprises a radio-controllable aircraft. 
     
     
         20 . The controller device of  claim 17 , wherein the executed instructions cause the controller device to generate the command signal by (i) mapping a relative position of the object or location in the video feed with a position of the object or location in a frame of reference of the self-propelled device, and (ii) including instructions to maneuver the self-propelled device toward to the object or location based on the frame of reference of the self-propelled device.