Redundant remote camera system
A control system and a method for providing redundancy for a flying camera assembly that monitors interface quality for discrete power and communication interfaces between the flying camera system and a ground-based control system, and automatically switches to an alternate interface should quality of a then-active interface become degraded or unavailable.
1 . A remote camera system comprising:
a flying camera assembly having a camera and an onboard controller, the onboard controller having a microprocessor, a memory device, at least one input/output interface, and an onboard selector;
a ground-based data system having a ground-based controller, the ground-based controller having a microprocessor, a memory device, at least one input/output interface, and a ground-based selector;
a first interface comprising a first data cable connection, a second data cable connection and one or more power conductors; and
a second interface comprising a wireless data interface and an onboard power supply;
wherein the first and second interfaces convey data between the flying camera assembly and a ground-based data system;
wherein the onboard controller is configured to monitor functionality of the first interface and the second interface in real time and operably connect one or both of power or signal of the first interface or the second interface to the flying camera assembly based on interface functionality; and the onboard controller and the ground-based data systems are each configured to monitor data communication between the onboard controller and the ground-based data system in real time and operably connect the first data cable connection or a second data cable connection of the first interface based on the signal quality of the data communications to provide uninterrupted camera operation.
2 . The remote camera system of claim 1 , wherein the first interface provides motive power from a ground-based power supply to the flying camera assembly.
3 . The remote cameras system of claim 2 , wherein the second interface includes an onboard battery power supply disposed on the flying camera assembly.
4 . The remote camera system of claim 3 , wherein the onboard battery power supply comprises at least one battery and a charging circuit configured to provide charging energy to the at least one battery from the first interface.
5 . The remote camera system of claim 4 , wherein the battery power supply comprises at least two batteries and a switching circuit configured to enabling either battery to operably power the second interface.
6 . The remote camera system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sensors operably coupled to the onboard controller configured to determine power availability in the first interface and the second interface.
7 . The remote camera system of claim 6 , further comprising a power loss detection circuit operably coupled to the onboard controller.
8 . The remote camera system of claim 7 , wherein the onboard controller operably couples the power detection circuit and the onboard selector to the onboard controller, the controller executing software to manage the onboard selector to select the first interface or the second interface.
9 . The remote camera system of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises camera control data and a video feed signal.
10 . The remote camera system of claim 9 , wherein the onboard controller may select the first interface and the second interface to be concurrently active.
11 . The remote camera system of claim 1 , wherein the onboard controller may select the first interface and the second interface to be concurrently active.
12 . The remote camera system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of sensors operably coupled to the onboard controller configured to determine operability of the first interface and the second interface, the controller executing software to manage the onboard selector to select the first interface or the second interface.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the onboard controller operably couples the plurality of sensors and the onboard selector to the onboard controller, the controller executing software to manage the onboard selector to select the first interface or the second interface.
14 . A method for providing redundancy in a remote flying camera control system comprising the steps of:
providing a flying camera assembly having a camera and an onboard controller, the onboard controller having a microprocessor, a memory device, at least one input/output interface, and an onboard selector;
providing a ground-based data system having a ground-based controller, the ground-based controller having a microprocessor, a memory device, at least one input/output interface, and a ground-based selector;
providing a first interface comprising a first data cable connection, a second data cable connection and one or more power conductors;
providing a second interface comprising a wireless data interface and an onboard power supply;
providing a plurality of sensors configured to monitor functionality of the first and second interfaces, the plurality of sensors being operably coupled to the onboard controller; and
programming the onboard controller to monitor functionality of the first interface and the second interface in real time and operably connect one or both of power or signal of the first interface or the second interface to the flying camera assembly based on interface functionality and programming the onboard controller and the ground-based data systems to monitor data communication between the onboard controller and the ground-based data system in real time and operably connect the first data cable connection or a second data cable connection of the first interface based on the signal quality of the data communications to provide uninterrupted continuous camera operation.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first and second interfaces convey camera control data and a video feed signal between the flying camera assembly and the ground-based data system.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the second interface is a wireless data connection comprising a first wireless radio operably connected to the onboard controller on the flying camera assembly and a second wireless radio operably connected to the ground-based data system, the onboard controller operably managing the onboard selector to select the first interface or the second interface.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first interface provides motive power from a ground-based power supply to the flying camera assembly and the second interface is an onboard battery power supply disposed on the flying camera assembly, the onboard controller operably managing the onboard selector to select the first interface or the second interface.