Method and system for controlling a movable object using machine-readable code

Abstract

A method for controlling a movable object includes obtaining, by one or more processors of the movable object, an image including a machine-readable code configured to store a set of operation data for controlling the movable object; processing the image to retrieve the machine-readable code and the set of operation data; and adjusting one or more operation parameters of the movable object based on the set of operation data to control an operation of the movable object. The set of operation data includes navigation data including one or more data items selected from a group consisting of one or more waypoints, a longitude, a latitude, an altitude, one or more waypoints of a path, and one or more points of interest

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a movable object, comprising:
 obtaining, by one or more processors of the movable object, an image including a machine-readable code configured to store a set of operation data for controlling the movable object, the set of operation data including navigation data including one or more data items selected from a group consisting of one or more waypoints, a longitude, a latitude, an altitude, one or more waypoints of a path, and one or more points of interest;   processing the image to retrieve the machine-readable code and the set of operation data; and   adjusting one or more operation parameters of the movable object based on the set of operation data to control an operation of the movable object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the image includes capturing the image using an imaging device of the movable object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the image is displayed on or projected by a projector onto an object, the object including at least one of a sign, a billboard, or ground. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable code includes a two-dimensional quick response (QR) code. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the image includes receiving the image from a computing device in communication with the movable object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the image is captured by an imaging device associated with the computing device, or the image is obtained by a first user of the computing device from a second user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the machine-readable code is generated by the computing device based on user interactions received at the computing device, the user interactions indicating one or more items selected from a group consisting of a destination position, a change to the navigation data, a change to a control parameter of the movable object, a change to a gimbal parameter, and a change to an imaging device parameter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more operation parameters of the movable object are generated based on an initial set of operation data for controlling the movable object; and   one or more data items in the set of operation data from the machine-readable code have higher resolutions than one or more data items in the initial set of operation data.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more operation parameters are generated based on an initial set of navigation data for navigating the movable object; and   the initial set of navigation data and the navigation data in the set of operation data from the machine-readable code correspond to distinct locations.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assessing a validity of the set of operation data, the set of operation data including data in one or more data fields; and   validating the set of operation data in response to determining that data in each of the one or more data fields has a valid format and is within a valid range;   wherein adjusting the one or more operation parameters includes adjusting, in response to the set of operation data having been validated, the one or more operation parameters based on the set of operation data to control an operation of the movable object.   
     
     
         11 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
 a propulsion system;   one or more sensors;   an imaging device comprising an image sensor and an optical device; and   one or more processors coupled to the propulsion system, the one or more sensors, and the imaging device, the one or more processors being configured to:
 obtain an image including a machine-readable code configured to store a set of operation data for controlling the UAV, the set of operation data including navigation data including one or more data items selected from a group consisting of one or more waypoints, a longitude, a latitude, an altitude, one or more waypoints of a path, and one or more points of interest; 
 process the image to retrieve the machine-readable code and the set of operation data; and 
 adjust one or more operation parameters of the UAV based on the set of operation data to control an operation of the UAV. 
   
     
     
         12 . The UAV of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the imaging device is configured to capture the image; and   the one or more processors are further configured to obtain the image from the image sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The UAV of  claim 12 , wherein the imaging device is further configured to capture the image that is displayed on or projected by a projector onto an object, the object including at least one of a sign, a billboard, or ground. 
     
     
         14 . The UAV of  claim 11 , wherein the machine-readable code includes a two-dimensional quick response (QR) code. 
     
     
         15 . The UAV of  claim 11 , wherein one or more processors are further configured to receive the image from a computing device in communication with the UAV. 
     
     
         16 . The UAV of  claim 15 , wherein the image is captured by an imaging device associated with the computing device, or the image is obtained by a first user of the computing device from a second user. 
     
     
         17 . The UAV of  claim 15 , wherein the machine-readable code is generated by the computing device based on user interactions received at the computing device, the user interactions indicating one or more items selected from a group consisting of a destination position, a change to the navigation data, a change to a control parameter of the UAV, a change to a gimbal parameter, and a change to an imaging device parameter. 
     
     
         18 . The UAV of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the one or more processors are further configured to generate the one or more operation parameters of the UAV based on an initial set of operation data for controlling the UAV; and   one or more data items in the set of operation data from the machine-readable code have higher resolutions than one or more data items in the initial set of operation data.   
     
     
         19 . The UAV of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the one or more processors are further configured to generate the one or more operation parameters of the UAV based on an initial set of navigation data for navigating the UAV; and   the initial set of navigation data and the navigation data in the set of operation data from the machine-readable code correspond to distinct locations.   
     
     
         20 . The UAV of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 assess a validity of the set of operation data, the set of operation data including data in one or more data fields;   validate the set of operation data in response to determining that data in each of the one or more data fields has a valid format and is within a valid range; and   adjust, in response to the set of operation data having been validated, the one or more operation parameters based on the set of operation data to control an operation of the UAV.