Camera and animation controller, systems and methods

A system for moving an object, the system comprising:

• a controller configured to receive input from a user and, based on the received input, provide instructions to a movement system for moving a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system;
• a movement system configured to move the first object according to the instructions;
• and
• logic to allow the user of the controller to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system, and to translate the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system before providing the input as instructions to the movement system according to a reference coordinate system;
• wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform.

A system for moving an object, the system comprising:

• a controller configured to receive input from a user and, based on the received input, provide instructions to a movement system for moving an optical transceiver relative to at least one other object within a scene, the optical transceiver projecting and/or receiving light along an axis, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system;
• a movement system configured to move the optical transceiver according to the instructions;
• and
• logic to allow the user of the controller to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system, and to translate the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system before providing the input as instructions to the movement system according to a reference coordinate system;
• wherein the controller is further configured to receive second input from the user, and based on the received second input, provide instructions to a second movement system for orienting a view of the optical transceiver;
• and
• the system further comprises a second movement system configured to orient a view of the optical transceiver, subject to the second set of instructions from the controller.

A system for moving an object, comprising:

• a controller configured to receive input from a user and, based on the received input, provide instructions to a movement system for moving a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene;
• a movement system configured to move the first object according to the instructions;
• logic to allow the user of the controller to toggle between a reference coordinate system and an auxiliary coordinate system, such that the user input is described according to either the reference coordinate system or the auxiliary coordinate system;
• and
• logic to translate the input from the user as necessary from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system, such that the instructions are provided to the movement system according to the reference coordinate system;
• wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform.

A method of moving an object, the method comprising:

• receiving at a controller input from a user for moving a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system;
• allowing the user of the controller to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system;
• translating the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to a reference coordinate system;
• and
• providing instructions to a movement system for moving the first object, based on the translated input received from the user, wherein the instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system;
• wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform.

A method of moving an object, the method comprising:

• receiving at a controller input from a user for moving a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene;
• allowing the user of the controller to toggle between a reference coordinate system and an auxiliary coordinate system, such that when the user selects the reference coordinate system, the input is described according to the reference coordinate system, and when the user selects the auxiliary coordinate system, the input is described according to the auxiliary coordinate system;
• if necessary, translating the input received from the user from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system;
• and
• providing instructions to a movement system for moving the first object, based on the input received from the user, wherein the instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system;
• wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform.

A system for moving an object, the system comprising:

• a controller configured to receive input from a user to move a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system, and wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform;
• a movement system configured to move the first object according to movement instructions received from a computer;
• and
• a computer in communication with the controller and the movement system, the computer comprising a processor and a set instructions, the set of instructions comprising:
• a) instructions executable by the processor to receive the input from the controller;
• b) instructions executable by the processor to allow the user to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system;
• c) instructions to translate the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system;
• and
• d) instructions based on the received input, provide movement instructions to a movement system, wherein the movement instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system.

A method of moving an object, the method comprising:

• receiving at a controller input from a user for moving an optical transceiver relative to at least one other object within a scene, the optical transceiver projecting and/or receiving light along an axis, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system;
• allowing the user of the controller to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system;
• translating the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to a reference coordinate system;
• and
• providing instructions to a movement system for moving the optical transceiver, based on the translated input received from the user, wherein the instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system;
• receiving, at the controller, second input from the user;
• and
• based on the second input, providing instructions to a second movement system for orienting a view of the optical transceiver.

A method of moving an object, the method comprising:

• receiving at a controller input from a user for moving an optical transceiver relative to at least one other object within a scene, the optical transceiver projecting and/or receiving light along an axis;
• allowing the user of the controller to toggle between a reference coordinate system and an auxiliary coordinate system, such that when the user selects the reference coordinate system, the input is described according to the reference coordinate system, and when the user selects the auxiliary coordinate system, the input is described according to the auxiliary coordinate system;
• if necessary, translating the input received from the user from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system;
• and
• providing instructions to a movement system for moving the optical transceiver, based on the input received from the user, wherein the instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system;
• receiving, at the controller, second input from the user;
• and
• based on the second input, providing instructions to a second movement system for orienting a view of the optical transceiver.