Operating modes and video processing for mobile platforms

A mobile platform comprising:

• a propulsion system configured to provide motive force for the mobile platform in navigation about an environment;
• an imaging system configured to capture images of a field of view of the environment;
• and
• a logic device in communication with the propulsion system and the imaging system, the logic device configured to:
• receive, from a base station, a command comprising a selection of one of a plurality of operating modes for the mobile platform, wherein each operating mode is associated with a plurality of corresponding control operations, and
• execute the control operations associated with the selected operating mode in response to the command;
• wherein the control operations associated with the selected operating mode comprise:
• disabling a communication fail-safe for the mobile platform;
• starting to record the field of view using the imaging system, wherein the field of view captures a point of interest;
• descending, using the propulsion system, to a first altitude and adjusting the imaging system, using a gimbal system of the mobile platform, during the descent to maintain the field of view on the point of interest;
• ascending, using the propulsion system, to a second altitude;
• stopping the recording;
• and
• reenabling the communication fail-safe.

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a logic device of a mobile platform, from a base station, a command comprising a selection of one of a plurality of operating modes for the mobile platform, wherein each operating mode is associated with a plurality of corresponding control operations;
• executing, by the logic device, the control operations associated with the selected operating mode in response to the command, wherein the logic device is in communication with:
• a propulsion system of the mobile platform configured to provide motive force for the mobile platform in navigation about an environment, and
• an imaging system of the mobile platform configured to capture images of a field of view of the environment;
• receiving, by a pipeline of a video processing device of the mobile platform, image data from the imaging system;
• processing the image data at a first processing rate, by the pipeline, using a hardware-accelerated application and one or more hardware-accelerated plugins;
• and
• wherein the video processing device further comprises an additional logic device in communication with the pipeline, and wherein the method further comprises:
• receiving, by the additional logic device, the image data from the pipeline,
• processing, by the additional logic device, the image data at a second processing rate to determine telemetry information for the mobile platform, the telemetry information providing a geopoint and/or heading of the mobile platform, wherein the second processing rate is slower than the first processing rate, and
• providing, by the additional logic device, the telemetry information to the pipeline for output with the processed image data, wherein the slower processing rate of the additional logic device does not propagate to the pipeline.