Method and device for controlling and monitoring the surrounding areas of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
A method and a remote control for controlling and monitoring surrounding areas of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by an operator with a remote control comprising a flight display are provided. The method and remote control provide an advantageously effect for the purposes of controlling and monitoring the surroundings of a UAV by combining the image captured by a UAV camera with a transparently overlaid positional and navigation map providing a perception enabling the operator to have a complete overall view of the situation, utilizing a common screen section of a flight display and thereby not having to shift eye view. Viewing images and positional and navigation information should not interfere with each other.
1. A method for controlling, and monitoring surrounding areas of, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by an Operator with a remote control, comprising:
providing a flight display, and a UAV equipped with a camera and a positioning device providing an image of surrounding areas and positioning data of an operating field of the UAV, wirelessly transmitted to a remote control;
displaying the image captured by the camera on the flight display;
providing a transparent layer upon the image comprising a cardinal-oriented map of a range of the operating field including at least a cardinal point, a UAV symbol oriented on the flight display relative to the cardinal point corresponding to a real compass direction of the UAV provided by the positioning device, the cardinal-oriented map including an Operator position symbol;
a waypoint symbol positioned relative to the UAV symbol corresponding in distance and direction to a real geographical relation between the UAV and the waypoint;
displaying one or more rings indicating a scale of the cardinal-oriented map, the one or more rings being centered around the Operator position symbol which coincides with a center of the flight display.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Operator position symbol is positioned relative to the UAV symbol and the waypoint symbol corresponding in distance and direction to a real geographical relation between the Operator and the UAV and the waypoint, respectively.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more rings are marked with a radius stating the scale of the cardinal-oriented map.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising when the UAV passes a predefined distance from the Operator position, then switching the scale of the cardinal-oriented map, and changing the one or more rings in terms of size and scale indication.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising when the UAV passes a predefined distance to the waypoint position, then switching the scale of the cardinal-oriented map and coinciding a center of the one or more rings with the waypoint symbol.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the image is a video image or one or more snapshots.
7. A remote control adjusted to control, and monitor surrounding areas of, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by an Operator, the remote control comprising:
a flight display in communication with the remote control, the remote control being in communication with an UAV that is equipped with a camera and a positioning device providing an image, live or still a series of snapshots, of the surrounding areas and positioning data of the operating field of the UAV, wirelessly transmitted to the remote control, the flight display being:
adjusted to display the image captured by the camera on the flight display;
provide a transparent layer upon the image comprising a cardinal-oriented map of a range of the operating field including at least a cardinal point, a UAV symbol oriented on the flight display relative to the cardinal point corresponding to a real compass direction of the UAV provided by the positioning device, and a waypoint symbol positioned relative to the UAV symbol corresponding in distance and direction to a real geographical relation between the UAV and the waypoint, the cardinal-oriented map including an Operator position symbol; and
display one or more rings indicating a scale of the cardinal-oriented map, the one or more rings being centered around the Operator position symbol which coincides with a center of the flight display.
8. A method for controlling, and monitoring surrounding areas of, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by an Operator with a remote control, comprising:
providing a flight display, and a UAV equipped with a camera and a positioning device providing an image of surrounding areas and positioning data of an operating field of the UAV, wirelessly transmitted to a remote control;
displaying the image captured by the camera on the flight display;
providing a transparent layer upon the image comprising a cardinal-oriented map of a range of the operating field including at least a cardinal point, a UAV symbol oriented on the flight display relative to the cardinal point corresponding to a real compass direction of the UAV provided by the positioning device;
a waypoint symbol positioned relative to the UAV symbol corresponding in distance and direction to a real geographical relation between the UAV and the waypoint;
displaying one or more rings indicating a scale of the cardinal-oriented map; and
when the UAV passes a predefined distance to the waypoint position, then switching the scale of the cardinal-oriented map and coinciding a center of the one or more rings with the waypoint symbol.