US 10,703,508 B1Granted

Stereoscopic flight simulator with data acquisition

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsHerbert Mehnert, Benjamin Griffin Novak, Barry James O'Brien, Jason Leonard Peacock

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Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods provide simulations to vehicles, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with stereoscopic cameras. The system can include a plurality of screens set at predetermined angles to provide proper parallax to the stereoscopic cameras. The system can also include a test computer to update the screens based on the actions and travel time of the UAV. The test computer can also monitor the load on the computing systems of the UAV due to the camera and other inputs. The system can enable the testing and configuration of cameras and sensors without requiring actual flight. The test computer can provide navigational information to the UAV, receive actions taken by the UAV, update the screens based on these actions and the travel speed and direction of the UAV, and monitor the effects of the cameras and other sensors on the internal components of the UAV during use.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);
a test stand, with a substantially horizontal, planar upper surface, configured to secure the UAV in a stationary position;
screens, attached to respective mounts, disposed at a predetermined angle and a predetermined distance from the UAV;
and
a test computer in electronic communication with the screens and the UAV, the test computer including one or more processors and non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations during a simulated flight of the UAV comprising:
receiving control inputs from the UAV secured to the test stand;
determining a first group of images representing a first perspective from the UAV during the simulated flight for a first screen of the screens based at least in part on the control inputs;
determining a second group of images representing a second perspective from the UAV during the simulated flight for a second screen of the screens based at least in part on the control inputs, wherein the predetermined angle and predetermined distance are determined based at least in part on a parallax angle for a pair of cameras on the UAV;
and
causing simultaneous display of the determined first group of images on the first screen and display of the determined second group of images on the second screen, each display at the predetermined angle and distance.

7 more elements

A method comprising:

providing screens attached to respective mounts at a predetermined angle and a predetermined distance from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) secured to a test stand in a stationary position based at least in part on a parallax angle for a pair of cameras on the UAV by adjusting angle and position of each mount;
providing a test computer in electronic communication with the screens and the UAV, the test computer including one or more processors and non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions;
receiving, by the one or more processors during a simulated flight of the UAV, control inputs from the UAV;
determining, by the one or more processors, a first group of images representing a first perspective from the UAV during the simulated flight for a first screen of the screens based at least in part on the control inputs;
determining, by the one or more processors during a simulated flight of the UAV, a second group of images representing a second perspective from the UAV during the simulated flight for a second screen of the screens based at least in part on the control inputs;
and
causing, by the one or more processors during a simulated flight of the UAV, simultaneous display of the determined first group of images on the first screen and display of the determined second group of images on the second screen.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.