Touch control of unmanned aerial vehicles

Computer implemented UAV control method while surveying a surveying target, comprising, in a target selection mode, the steps of:

• displaying on a touch sensitive display a 3D-view of an environment of a UAV, the UAV having a distance measuring module that has a measuring field of view, is embodied as a LIDAR module, and is configured for surveying the surveying target,
• overlaying a moveable surveying target indicating symbol to the 3D-view of the environment,
• while moving the surveying target indicating symbol in the 3D-view by a touch input:
• continuously determine a location of the surveying target indicating symbol in the 3D-view, and
• provide visual feedback on the location of the surveying target indicating symbol by dynamically changing the appearance of the surveying target indicating symbol such that the appearance creates an impression of the surveying target indicating symbol being displayed in an orientation matching an orientation of a face over which the surveying target indicating symbol is located, the orientation of the face being derived from stored 3D-data or from the 3D-view, and dynamically changing the appearance of the surveying target indicating symbol such that the appearance of the surveying target indicating symbol further changes its shape and/or color based on a texture of the face over which the surveying target indicating symbol is located,
• selecting the surveying target to be surveyed with the distance measuring module based on a location of the surveying target indicating symbol, wherein selecting the surveying target based on the location of the surveying target indicating symbol refers to selecting a face over which the surveying target indicating symbol is located as the surveying target,
• determining a flight path running along the selected face and at a predefined distance to the selected face, and
• further instructing the UAV to fly, while the measuring field of view is facing the selected face, along the flight path.