Flying digital assistant with passive rf subject detection and tracking

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for tracking a subject in a physical environment, the system comprising:

• a UAV including an image capture device;
• a plurality of wireless transmitters configured to emit radio frequency (RF) signals through the physical environment;
• a plurality of wireless monitors configured to detect changes in the RF signals caused by interference when the subject passes through the physical environment;
• and
• a processing unit operatively coupled to the UAV and the plurality of wireless monitors, the processing unit configured to:
• process the detected changes in the RF signals to estimate a position of the subject in the physical environment without the subject carrying a transmitting device;
• and
• generate control commands configured to cause the UAV to autonomously maneuver such that the image capture device of the UAV maintains the subject within a field of view.

A method for tracking a subject in a physical environment using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

• emitting, by a plurality of wireless transmitters, radio frequency (RF) signals through the physical environment;
• detecting, by a plurality of wireless monitors, changes in the RF signals caused by interference when the subject passes through the physical environment;
• processing, by a processing unit, the detected changes in the RF signals to estimate a position of the subject in the physical environment without the subject carrying a transmitting device;
• and
• causing, by the processing unit, a UAV to autonomously maneuver such that an image capture device of the UAV maintains the subject within a field of view.

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• program instructions stored on the memory that, when executed by one or more processors of an aerial vehicle, direct the one or more processors to at least:
• receive detected changes in radio frequency (RF) signals gathered by a plurality of wireless monitors in a physical environment;
• process the detected changes in the RF signals to estimate a position of a subject in the physical environment without the subject carrying a transmitting device;
• and
• generate control commands to autonomously maneuver the aerial vehicle such that an image capture device of the aerial vehicle maintains the subject within a field of view.