Mobile, wearable, automated target tracking system
The mobile, wearable, automated target tracking system is designed to enable an image and/or sound recording device, such as a video camera or directional microphone, to automatically follow a subject (or target) in order to keep that subject within the image frame or sound range that is being recorded. The automated target tracking system makes it possible to capture both the action and subject simultaneously without requiring a cameraman to manually operate the equipment. The indoor/outdoor, automated tracking system is designed to be independent of the video/sound recording device and may utilize a smartphone for location sensing and control. Both the target (or subject) and the tracking device may be moving, so the tracking device is designed to adjust position on 3 axes, azimuth (pan), elevation (tilt) and horizon (roll). Since the compact, battery-operated tracking device is mobile and wearable, it enables the user to capture the subject and all the action while also participating in the activity at the same time.
1. A system for recording a subject, the system comprising:
a target device proximal to the subject, the target device comprising:
one or more target sensors sensing the position and/or motion of the target device and generating target trajectory data therefrom;
a target transceiver communicatively coupled to the wireless network, the target transceiver transmitting the target trajectory data via the wireless network;
a recording device having a recording range, the recording device displaced from the subject and recording the subject within the recording range; and
a tracking device operatively coupled to the recording device, the tracking device comprising:
one or more tracking sensors sensing the position and/or motion of the tracking device and generating tracking trajectory data therefrom;
a tracking transceiver communicatively coupled to the wireless network, the tracking transceiver receiving the target trajectory data transmitted by the target device;
a recording range sensor for sensing the recording range of the recording device and generating recording range data therefrom;
an orienting apparatus for adjusting the recording range of the recording device based on the received target trajectory data, the generated tracking trajectory data, and the sensed recording range.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orienting apparatus generates an anticipated target trajectory based on the received target trajectory and the sensed tracking trajectory, and wherein the orienting apparatus adjusts the recording range based on the anticipated target and tracking device trajectories, and the recording range.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the anticipated target trajectory is a relative trajectory between the tracking device and the target device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking trajectory data includes position and motion data.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target trajectory data includes position and motion data.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking device and the recording device are positioned at a stationary location.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking device and the recording device are positioned at a non-stationary location.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the recording range data includes data indicating the orientation of the recording device.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orienting apparatus comprises at least one of: a tilt mechanism for adjusting the tilt of the recording device, a pan mechanism for adjusting the pan of the recording device, and a roll mechanism for adjusting the roll of the recording device.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orienting apparatus adjusts the recording range by changing one or more of the following orientations of the recording device: tilt, pan, roll, zoom, focus, and activation.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein trajectory data includes stationary trajectory data.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a radio-frequency network.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target device comprises a smart phone.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking device comprises a smart phone.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the recording device comprises a smart phone.
16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface device communicatively coupled to and operable to permit a user to interface with one or more of: the tracking device, the target device, and the recording device.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the user interface device is a smart phone executing a computer application whose execution causes the smart phone to permit the user to interface with one or more of: the tracking device, the target device, and the recording device.