Signal strength representation and automatic connection and control upon a self-propelled device

1. A method of connecting to a self-propelled device, the method performed by one or more processors of a mobile computing device and comprising:

detecting a radio signal emitted from the self-propelled device;

providing an accurate signal strength measurement, wherein providing the accurate signal strength measurement comprises stabilizing a received signal strength indicator associated with the radio signal;

generating a stabilized signal strength indicator;

based on the stabilized signal strength indicator, generating a dynamic representation of a signal strength of the radio signal;

displaying the dynamic representation of the signal strength on a touch-sensitive display of the mobile computing device; and

when the signal strength crosses a predetermined threshold, automatically connecting to the self-propelled device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

when the signal strength crosses a predetermined threshold, automatically initiating a control application to establish a connection with the self-propelled device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein initiating the control application comprises displaying virtual interactive controls on the touch-sensitive display, the method further comprising:

receiving user interactions on the virtual interactive controls; and

based on the user interactions, transmitting control commands to the self-propelled device to cause the self-propelled device to maneuver in accordance with the user interactions.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio signal emitted from the self-propelled device comprises a BLUETOOTH low energy beacon.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

in response to detecting the BLUETOOTH low energy beacon, stabilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) corresponding to the BLUETOOTH low energy beacon.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein stabilizing the RSSI comprises inputting individually received RSSI values into a linear regression model to output the stabilized RSSI.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically connecting awakens an internal main processor on the self-propelled device.

8. A mobile computing device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile computing device to:

detect a radio signal emitted from the self-propelled device;

provide an accurate signal strength measurement, wherein providing the accurate signal strength measurement comprises stabilizing a received signal strength indicator associated with the radio signal;

generate a stabilized signal strength indicator;

based on the stabilized signal strength indicator, generate a dynamic representation of a signal strength of the radio signal;

display the dynamic representation of the signal strength on the touch-sensitive display; and

when the signal strength crosses a predetermined threshold, automatically connect to the self-propelled device.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the mobile computing device to:

when the signal strength crosses a predetermined threshold, automatically initiating a control application to establish a connection with the self-propelled device.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9 , wherein initiating the control application comprises displaying virtual interactive controls on the touch-sensitive display, and wherein the executed instructions further cause the mobile computing device to:

receive user interactions on the virtual interactive controls; and

based on the user interactions, transmit control commands to the self-propelled device to cause the self-propelled device to maneuver in accordance with the user interactions.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the radio signal emitted from the self-propelled device comprises a BLUETOOTH low energy beacon.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the mobile computing device to:

in response to detecting the BLUETOOTH low energy beacon, stabilize a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) corresponding to the BLUETOOTH low energy beacon.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12 , wherein stabilizing the RSSI comprises inputting individually received RSSI values into a linear regression model to output the stabilized RSSI.

14. The mobile device of claim 8 , causing the mobile computing device to automatically connect awakens an internal main processor on the self-propelled device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a mobile computing device, cause the one or more processors to:

detect a radio signal emitted from a self-propelled device;

provide an accurate signal strength measurement, wherein providing the accurate signal strength measurement comprises stabilizing a received signal strength indicator associated with the radio signal;

generate a stabilized signal strength indicator;

based on the stabilized signal strength indicator, generate a dynamic representation of a signal strength of the radio signal;

display the dynamic representation of the signal strength on a touch-sensitive display of the mobile computing device; and

when the signal strength crosses a predetermined threshold, automatically connect to the self-propelled device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

when the signal strength crosses a predetermined threshold, automatically initiating a control application to establish a connection with the self-propelled device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein initiating the control application comprises displaying virtual interactive controls on the touch-sensitive display, and wherein the executed instructions further cause the mobile computing device to:

receive user interactions on the virtual interactive controls; and

based on the user interactions, transmit control commands to the self-propelled device to cause the self-propelled device to maneuver in accordance with the user interactions.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein automatically connecting awakens an internal main processor on the self-propelled device.