UAV with manual flight mode selector
AssigneeSnap Inc.
InventorsSimon Nielsen, Russell Douglas Patton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A UAV having a manual gimbal including a camera, and a flight mode selector configured to select both a flight mode and manually establish a camera position as a function of the selected fight mode. A controller responds to a position of the gimbal or selector to establish the flight mode. The flight mode is selected from several available modes, for example, a horizontal flight mode, a 45-degree flight mode, and a vertical (aerial) flight mode. The flight mode selector is mechanically coupled to the gimbal and establishes a pitch angle of the gimbal, and thus the camera angle attached to the gimbal.
Claims20
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
- a body;
- at least one of propeller coupled to the body;
- a gimbal coupled to the body;
- and
- a camera coupled to the gimbal;
- wherein the gimbal has a plurality of settings configured to set flight modes of the UAV, wherein the gimbal is configured to be manually set without electronics, wherein a first said setting establishes a first said flight mode corresponding to a first flight path prior to flight and corresponding to a first position of the gimbal and a first camera pitch angle of the camera, and a second said setting establishes a second said flight mode corresponding to a second flight path prior to flight and corresponding to a second position of the gimbal and a second camera pitch angle of the camera, wherein the UAV does not have a receiver configured to receive flight control data.
A method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a body, at least one propeller coupled to the body, a gimbal coupled to the body, and a camera coupled to the gimbal, wherein the gimbal and has a plurality of settings configured to set flight modes of the UAV, wherein the gimbal is configured to be manually set without electronics, wherein a first said setting establishes a first said flight mode corresponding to a first flight path corresponding to a first position of the gimbal and a first camera pitch angle, and a second said setting establishes a second said flight mode UAV corresponding to a second flight path corresponding to a second position of the gimbal and a second camera pitch angle, wherein the UAV does not have a receiver configured to receive flight control data, comprising:
- establishing the gimbal in the first setting prior to flight such that the gimbal has the first position and the camera has the first camera pitch angle and the UAV operates in the first mode;
- and
- establishing the gimbal in the second setting prior to flight such that the gimbal has the second position and the camera has the second camera pitch angle and the UAV operates in the second mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.