Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.

Abstract: A remote control device, method, and system for controlling a stabilized camera remotely are disclosed. The remote control device includes a steering member rotatable around a pan axis, a tilt axis, and/or a roll axis of the remote control device, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on the steering member and configured to measure a pointing direction of the steering member in relation to the pan axis, the tilt axis, and/or the roll axis, a controller configured to derive a pointing direction update based on the measurements obtained by the IMU, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to a stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing direction, the derived pointing direction update as the commanded pointing direction to effectuate adjustment of a pointing direction of the camera to follow a rotational movement of the steering member.

Abstract: A stabilization system or gimbal having a mounting arrangement (3) for a camera providing for rotation about pan, roll, and tilt axes (210, 230, 220) where tilt and roll axis (220, 230) position can be independently adjusted is described. The arrangement can be configured so that when adjusting the stabilization frame relative to the roll axis, adjustment of the camera COG relative to the tilt axis is inhibited. The system can further be arranged such that when adjusting the roll axis, adjustment relative to the tilt axis is inhibited. Similarly, when adjusting the pan axis, adjustment to the tilt or roll axes may be inhibited.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.

Abstract: A method for introducing controlled disturbance into a video being captured by a camera housed by an active stabilization system executing a stabilization process to stabilize a pointing angle of a camera housed by the active stabilization system in accordance with a commanded angle is provided. The method comprises acquiring a measurement associated with a movement of the active stabilization system, determining a noise value based on the acquired measurement, and injecting the noise value into the stabilization process causing the process to adjusting adjust the pointing angle of the camera in a direction away from the a commanded pointing angle of the camera using the noise value.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing direction of a camera housed by an active stabilization system is disclosed. The active stabilization system executes a stabilization process to stabilize the pointing direction of the camera. The method comprises: detecting an externally applied force, disabling the stabilization process upon detecting a manual adjustment condition, adjusting the pointing angle of the camera in a direction of the externally applied force, measuring a current pointing angle of the camera; and re-enabling the stabilization process to stabilize the pointing direction of the camera based on the measured pointing angle of the camera in response to detecting that the detected manual adjustment condition failed.

Abstract: A active stabilization system and a method for correcting a pointing direction of a camera to compensate for translational movements of the camera are described. The system actively stabilizes a pointing direction of the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. A distance from the camera to a filming target is determined and one or more translational measurements associated with a translational movement of the camera are derived. A correction update is calculated as a function of at least the distance and the one or more translational measurements. The commanded pointing angle of the camera is adjusted based on the correction update to retain the filming target within a field of view of the camera.

Abstract: A method for introducing controlled disturbance into a video being captured by a camera housed by an active stabilization system executing a stabilization process to stabilize a pointing angle of a camera housed by the active stabilization system in accordance with a commanded angle is provided. The method comprises acquiring a measurement associated with a movement of the active stabilization system, determining a noise value based on the acquired measurement, and injecting the noise value into the stabilization process causing the process to adjusting adjust the pointing angle of the camera in a direction away from the a commanded pointing angle of the camera using the noise value.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing direction of a camera housed by an active stabilization system is disclosed. The active stabilization system executes a stabilization process to stabilize the pointing direction of the camera. The method comprises: detecting an externally applied force, disabling the stabilization process upon detecting a manual adjustment condition, adjusting the pointing angle of the camera in a direction of the externally applied force, measuring a current pointing angle of the camera; and re-enabling the stabilization process to stabilize the pointing direction of the camera based on the measured pointing angle of the camera in response to detecting that the detected manual adjustment condition failed.

Abstract: A active stabilization system and a method for correcting a pointing direction of a camera to compensate for translational movements of the camera are described. The system actively stabilizes a pointing direction of the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. A distance from the camera to a filming target is determined and one or more translational measurements associated with a translational movement of the camera are derived. A correction update is calculated as a function of at least the distance and the one or more translational measurements. The commanded pointing angle of the camera is adjusted based on the correction update to retain the filming target within a field of view of the camera.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling a gimbal and other displacement systems are disclosed herein. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a pointing angle of a camera attached to a gimbal may be controlled based, at least in part, on one or more control signals provided by a controller. The control signals may be used to compensate for displacement of the camera, to add perceived displacement of the camera, to selectively align a pointing angle of the camera and/or to allow a pointing angle to be manually determined.

Abstract: An adjustable vibration reduction device is provided to dampen and reduce vibration in order to maintain performance of equipment attached to a system. The vibration reduction device includes at least one resilient vibration dampener coupling an upper assembly to a lower assembly. The upper assembly is attached to an equipment mount frame via a pair of stop members extending through a pair of stop apertures in the lower assembly to control movement of the lower assembly relative to the upper assembly. The lower assembly is attached to a structure frame via a pair of fastening devices. The vibration reduction device may be adjusted by selectively including at least one resilient vibration dampener, such as an o-ring, having predetermined characteristics to maximize vibration reduction or isolation. A plurality of vibration reduction devices are provided in a system that causes or transfers vibration, such as a vehicle, having electronic equipment attached thereto.