Methods and associated systems for managing 3D flight paths

A system, comprising:

• a movable platform including an image component;
• a processor configured to:
• receive a set of 3D information associated with a virtual reality environment;
• receive a plurality of virtual locations in the virtual reality environment;
• for each one of the virtual locations, receive a corresponding action item associated with image capturing by the image component, wherein the action item at the each one of the virtual locations includes aiming an image component of a movable platform toward a same target;
• generate a 3D path in the virtual reality environment at least based on the plurality of virtual locations;
• generate a set of virtual reality images that the movable platform collects at the each one of the virtual locations along the 3D path in the virtual reality environment based on the set of 3D information, the plurality of virtual locations, and the plurality of action items;
• visually present, via a virtual reality device, the set of images to an operator;
• obtain real-world images captured by aiming the image component included in the movable platform toward the same target at each one of physical locations corresponding to the each one of the virtual locations during flying along the 3D path in a real-world environment corresponding to the virtual reality environment;
• compare the set of virtual reality images with the real-world images to identify a discrepancy between the set of virtual reality images and the real-world images;
• and
• adjust the movable platform and/or the image component so as to minimize the discrepancy between the set of virtual reality images and the real-world images.

A method for controlling a movable platform, the method comprising:

• receiving at least two virtual locations in the virtual reality environment;
• generating a 3D path in the virtual reality environment based on the at least two virtual locations;
• generating one or more virtual reality images that virtually represents the images captured along the 3D path in the virtual reality environment;
• generating a control signal to control the moveable platform to move along the 3D path in a real-world environment corresponding to the virtual reality environment;
• obtaining one or more real-world images captured by an image component included in the movable platform during moving along the 3D path in a real-world environment corresponding to the virtual reality environment;
• comparing the virtual reality images with the real-world images to identify a discrepancy between the virtual reality images and the real-world images;
• and
• adjusting the movable platform and/or the image component so as to minimize the discrepancy between the virtual reality images and the real-world images.