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SonyGranted patentRobots & automationInterest 6/10

Sony patents drone control that adjusts tracking based on distance

This patent describes a method for drones to estimate their position relative to a moving object, such as a car or person. The system measures the distance between the drone and the object, then switches to a different calculation method for tracking based on how far away the object is.

Why it mattersThis could improve how drones follow moving targets by using more accurate tracking methods when they are close versus when they are far away.

In the filing’s own words

An information processing method executed by one processor or executed by a plurality of processors in cooperation, the method includes: an estimation step of estimating a relative position or a relative attitude of an aerial vehicle with respect to a moving body; an acquisition step of acquiring information related to a distance between the moving body and the aerial vehicle; and a switching step of switching an estimation method for estimating the relative position or the relative attitude of the aerial vehicle, based on the information related to the distance.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An information processing method executed by one processor or executed by a plurality of processors in cooperation, the method comprising: estimating a relative position of an aerial vehicle with respect to a moving body or a relative attitude of the aerial vehicle with respect to the moving body; acquiring information related to a distance between the moving body and the aerial vehicle; switching a process by which the relative position of the aerial vehicle with respect to the moving body or the relative attitude of the aerial vehicle with respect to the moving body is estimated based on the information related to the distance; and controlling a flight of the aerial vehicle based on the relative position or the relative attitude estimated by the switched process.

Facts

Company
Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
Official title
Information processing method, information processing device, information processing program, and information processing system
Patent number
US12741753B2
Application number
18551605
Filed
Feb 2, 2022
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
5
Claims
20

Classified under

B64D 47/08 Operations & transportB64C 39/02 Operations & transportG05D 1/46 Physics & computingG05D 1/686 Physics & computingG06T 7/70 Physics & computingG06V 10/74 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.