Method and system for servicing an object

Abstract

A method for operating a mobile platform includes determining one or more service points based on a model of an object and directing the mobile platform to perform one or more tasks at the determined service points.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a mobile platform, comprising:
 determining one or more service points based on a model of an object; and   directing the mobile platform to perform one or more tasks at the determined service points.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing the mobile platform to maintain a distance from the object.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more service points includes:
 determining a selected service point of the determined service points in a relative coordinate system based on the model.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where in directing the mobile platform to perform the one or more tasks includes:
 directing the mobile platform to travel based on an absolute coordinate system.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a position of a selected service point of the determined service points.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 selecting a region of interest of the object based on the model.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining a distribution of the determined service points over the region of interest.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining coordinates of the selected service point in an absolute coordinate system based on:
 coordinates of the selected service point in a relative coordinate system according to the model; and 
 a transformation relationship between the absolute coordinate system and the relative coordinate system. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining the transformation relationship according to a position and an orientation of the object.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining the position of the object based on one or more control points each having predetermined relative coordinates; or   determining the orientation of the object based on the one or more control points each having predetermined relative coordinates.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining the position of the object based on a first control point of the control points; or   determining the orientation of the object based on the first control point and a second control point of the control points.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 selecting the control points having a spacing therebetween that is greater than a predetermined spacing limit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 obtaining coordinates of a selected control point of the control points in an absolute coordinate system by using a position tracking device onboard the mobile platform, wherein the mobile platform is located at the selected control point.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing the mobile platform to traverse the determined service points along a travel path.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing the mobile platform to capture an image of the object at a selected service point of the determined service points.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 directing the mobile platform to capture the image of the object at the selected service point in more than one perspective.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 selecting a feature of the object via feature recognition based on the captured image.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 directing the mobile platform to capture a zoom-in image for the selected feature.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 transmitting the captured image to a computer system of a third party for analysis.   
     
     
         20 . A system for operating a mobile platform, comprising:
 a task manager that operates to:
 determine one or more service points based on a model of an object; and 
 direct the mobile platform to perform one or more tasks at the determined service points.