Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A method includes capturing a raw video stream input using one or more camera sensors of the UAV. The method includes quantifying characteristics of motion of the UAV as commanded by a user of the UAV. The method includes quantifying characteristics of total motion of the one or more camera sensors including the motion commanded by the user. The method includes subtracting the characteristics of the motion commanded by the user from the characteristics of the total motion to generate a residual. The method includes applying electronic image stabilization to the raw video stream based on the residual to generate a stabilized video stream output. Accounting for unintended UAV motion in EIS separate and apart from the total motion being experienced by the UAV can significantly enhance a UAV user's video viewing experience.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A method includes capturing a video stream using one or more camera sensors of the UAV. The method includes transmitting data representative of the video stream to a ground station communicably coupled to the UAV. The method includes determining one or more performance characteristics of a communications link between the UAV and the ground station. The method includes adjusting a resolution of the video stream according to the one or more performance characteristics of the communication link. Embodiments of the present technology provide continuity of video quality for viewing by UAV users at ground stations responsive to variations in video data transmission capacity during flight operations with minimal, or no, detrimental impact on user experience.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A method includes capturing a raw video stream input using one or more camera sensors of the UAV. The method includes determining a zoom level for the raw video stream input. For the zoom level being determined to be greater than 3×, the method includes: first zooming the raw video stream input to a first field of view (FOV) at 3× to generate a 3× zoomed video stream; second zooming the 3× zoomed video stream to a second FOV at a second zoom level to generate a fully zoomed video stream at greater than 3×; and applying electronic image stabilization (EIS) to the fully zoomed video stream to generate a zoomed and stabilized video stream. Embodiments of the present technology provide a hybrid zoom approach with improved EIS performance to enhance the UAV user experience.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A method includes capturing a video stream using one or more camera sensors of the UAV. The method includes transmitting data representative of the video stream to a ground station communicably coupled to the UAV. The method includes determining one or more performance characteristics of a communications link between the UAV and the ground station. The method includes adjusting a resolution of the video stream according to the one or more performance characteristics of the communication link. Embodiments of the present technology provide continuity of video quality for viewing by UAV users at ground stations responsive to variations in video data transmission capacity during flight operations with minimal, or no, detrimental impact on user experience.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods using a security key for an unmanned aerial vehicle. For example, some methods include during flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle, encrypting, using a public key stored by the unmanned aerial vehicle, a symmetric key that is used to encrypt media data captured using one or more sensors of the unmanned aerial vehicle to obtain encrypted media data; landing the unmanned aerial vehicle; connecting a key device to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a serial port connector of the key device and a serial port connector of the unmanned aerial vehicle; while the key device is connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle, decrypting, using a private key stored on the key device, the encrypted symmetric key, which in turn is used to decrypt a portion of the encrypted media data to obtain decrypted media data; and transmitting a portion of the decrypted media data.

Abstract: Described herein are systems for the production, communication, routing, service, authentication, and consumption of cryptographically authenticable contextual content produced by cryptographically authenticable devices; example implementations of the architecture for a Trusted Contextual Content Device which produces Trusted Contextual Content; and example implementations of the architecture for a Trusted Drone Device which produces Trusted Contextual Content. For example, some of the methods used may include accessing a first set of sensor data from one or more sensors; receiving, a first trusted contextual content that includes a first digital signature; generating a data structure including the first trusted contextual content and data based on the first set of sensor data; signing the data structure using a signing key to generate a second trusted contextual content including a second digital signature; and storing or transmitting the second trusted contextual content.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods using a security key for an unmanned aerial vehicle. For example, some methods include during flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle, encrypting, using a public key stored by the unmanned aerial vehicle, a symmetric key that is used to encrypt media data captured using one or more sensors of the unmanned aerial vehicle to obtain encrypted media data; landing the unmanned aerial vehicle; connecting a key device to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a serial port connector of the key device and a serial port connector of the unmanned aerial vehicle; while the key device is connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle, decrypting, using a private key stored on the key device, the encrypted symmetric key, which in turn is used to decrypt a portion of the encrypted media data to obtain decrypted media data; and transmitting a portion of the decrypted media data.

Abstract: A device includes a mechanical stabilization system is used in image signal processing. The mechanical image stabilization system has an operating bandwidth and includes a motor to control an orientation of an image sensor. A processing apparatus of the device determines a temperature of the motor and adjusts a cutoff frequency of the operating bandwidth based on the temperature of the motor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to an electronic device including a display device and an image sensor. The device may include a processor configured to cause the display device to output an illumination image in response to a command to capture one or more digital images of a scene. The processor can also be configured to cause the image sensor to receive the one or more digital images of the scene while the illumination image is displayed.

Abstract: A method, including receiving a first set of ultrasonic responses to first ultrasonic signals transmitted using one or more transducers; generating a confidence value based on a detection of a target value using the first set of ultrasonic responses; receiving a second set of ultrasonic responses to second ultrasonic signals transmitted using the one or more transducers; and updating the confidence value using the second set of ultrasonic responses.

Abstract: Ultrasonic ranging state management for a UAV is described. A transducer transmits an ultrasonic signal and receives an ultrasonic response thereto using a gain value. A noise floor estimation mechanism determines a noise floor estimate. A state mechanism sets an ultrasonic ranging state used by the transducer to a first ultrasonic ranging state. The transducer transmits an ultrasonic signal and responsively receive an ultrasonic response to the ultrasonic signal using a gain value according to the noise floor estimate. The state mechanism processes the ultrasonic response to determine whether to determine a new noise floor estimate, adjust the gain value used by the transducer, or change the ultrasonic ranging state of the UAV to a second ultrasonic ranging state. The configurations of the first and second ultrasonic ranging states differ as to, for example, power and gain levels used by the transducer to receive ultrasonic responses.

Abstract: Described herein are systems for the production, communication, routing, service, authentication, and consumption of cryptographically authenticable contextual content produced by cryptographically authenticable devices; example implementations of the architecture for a Trusted Contextual Content Device which produces Trusted Contextual Content; and example implementations of the architecture for a Trusted Drone Device which produces Trusted Contextual Content. For example, some of the methods used may include accessing a first set of sensor data from one or more sensors; receiving, a first trusted contextual content that includes a first digital signature; generating a data structure including the first trusted contextual content and data based on the first set of sensor data; signing the data structure using a signing key to generate a second trusted contextual content including a second digital signature; and storing or transmitting the second trusted contextual content.

Abstract: A device includes a mechanical stabilization system is used in image signal processing. The mechanical image stabilization system has an operating bandwidth and includes a motor to control an orientation of an image sensor. A processing apparatus of the device determines a temperature of the motor and adjusts a cutoff frequency of the operating bandwidth based on the temperature of the motor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for image signal processing. For example, methods may include, receiving an image from an image sensor; storing a sequence of images captured after the image in a buffer; determining an orientation error between the orientation of the image sensor and an orientation setpoint during capture of the image; determining a rotation corresponding to the orientation error based on orientation estimates from the sequence of orientation estimates corresponding to the sequence of images; and invoking an electronic image stabilization module to correct the image to obtain a stabilized image, in which the electronic image stabilization module corrects the image for the rotation corresponding to the orientation error.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for image signal processing. For example, methods may include, based on a sequence of orientation estimates for an image sensor and an orientation setpoint, invoking a mechanical stabilization system to adjust an orientation of the image sensor toward the orientation setpoint; receiving an image from the image sensor; determining an orientation error between the orientation of the image sensor and the orientation setpoint during capture of the image; and, based on the orientation error, invoking an electronic image stabilization module to correct the image for a rotation corresponding to the orientation error to obtain a stabilized image.

Abstract: A device includes a mechanical stabilization system is used in image signal processing. The mechanical image stabilization system has an operating bandwidth and includes a motor to control an orientation of an image sensor. A processing apparatus of the device determines a temperature of the motor and adjusts a cutoff frequency of the operating bandwidth based on the temperature of the motor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to an electronic device including a display device and an image sensor. The device may include a processor configured to cause the display device to output an illumination image in response to a command to capture one or more digital images of a scene. The processor can also be configured to cause the image sensor to receive the one or more digital images of the scene while the illumination image is displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A method includes capturing a raw video stream input using one or more camera sensors of the UAV. The method includes quantifying characteristics of motion of the UAV as commanded by a user of the UAV. The method includes quantifying characteristics of total motion of the one or more camera sensors including the motion commanded by the user. The method includes subtracting the characteristics of the motion commanded by the user from the characteristics of the total motion to generate a residual. The method includes applying electronic image stabilization to the raw video stream based on the residual to generate a stabilized video stream output. Accounting for unintended UAV motion in EIS separate and apart from the total motion being experienced by the UAV can significantly enhance a UAV user's video viewing experience.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A method includes capturing a raw video stream input using one or more camera sensors of the UAV. The method includes determining a zoom level for the raw video stream input. For the zoom level being determined to be greater than 3×, the method includes: first zooming the raw video stream input to a first field of view (FOV) at 3× to generate a 3× zoomed video stream; second zooming the 3× zoomed video stream to a second FOV at a second zoom level to generate a fully zoomed video stream at greater than 3×; and applying electronic image stabilization (EIS) to the fully zoomed video stream to generate a zoomed and stabilized video stream. Embodiments of the present technology provide a hybrid zoom approach with improved EIS performance to enhance the UAV user experience.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having one or more camera sensors. A method includes capturing a video stream using the camera sensor(s) of the UAV. The method includes determining a capability of a ground station communicably coupled to the UAV to annotate the video stream. In response to determining that the ground station is capable to annotate the video stream, the method includes transmitting the video stream to the ground station without annotations. Alternatively, in response to determining that the ground station is incapable to annotate the video stream, drawing annotations on the video stream to generate an annotated video stream, and transmitting the annotated video stream to the ground station. Embodiments of the present technology provide enhanced interoperability between UAVs and different types of ground stations to improve streamlining and quality of user experiences as compared to conventional systems and techniques.