Patent ID: 12223671

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to make objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present disclosure more clear, the present disclosure is further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Unless otherwise defined, technical terms or scientific terms used in one embodiment or some embodiments of the present disclosure shall be understood as ordinary meanings by a person of ordinary skill in the field that the present disclosure belongs to. Terms “first”, “second” and the like used in one embodiment or some embodiments of the present disclosure are not intended to mean any order, quantity or importance, and are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms “include” or “comprise” mean that an element or item appearing before the word covers the element(s) or item(s) appearing after the word and the equivalent thereof without excluding other elements or items. Terms “connect”, “couple” or a similar word thereof are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right” and the like are only used to indicate a relative positional relationship, and when the absolute position of the described object is changed, the relative positional relationship may also be changed accordingly.

A switchable glass is often used to constitute a window of a building, a vehicle or an airplane. In actual use, multiple pieces of switchable glasses are often assembled to form a window. After assembly, since the positions of the switchable glasses are different, wires used to supply voltage to the switchable glasses are different in length, which may cause inconsistent transmittance of the switchable glasses. In addition, difference in installation environment of the switchable glasses may also lead to inconsistent transmittance. Inconsistency of transmittance of the switchable glasses affects the light transmittance of the window constituted by the switchable glasses. To solve the problem of inconsistent transmittance, it is often necessary to measure (detect) the transmittance of the switchable glass first. However, current measurement method is a manual measurement which requires workers to climb to the building. Therefore, the measurement of the transmittance of the switchable glass is time-consuming and labor-consuming.

It should be noted that, transmittance herein refers to the percentage of radiation that can pass through a switchable glass. Transmittance can be defined for different types of light or energy, e.g., visible transmittance, ultraviolet (UV) transmittance, or infrared transmittance.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a dimming system for a switchable glass. As shown inFIG.1, the dimming system100includes a master computer10, a first unmanned aerial vehicle20, a second unmanned aerial vehicle30and a dimming device40. Wireless communications connections are established between the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the master computer10, between the second unmanned aerial vehicle30and the master computer10, and between the dimming device40and the master computer10. Further, a wireless communication connection is established between the second unmanned aerial vehicle30and the dimming device40. Optionally, a wireless communication connection (not shown inFIG.1) may also be established between the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the dimming device40.

The master computer10is configured to generate a first planned route for controlling the flight of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and a second planned route for controlling the flight of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30, and send the first planned route and the second planned route to the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30, respectively. For example, the master computer10may communicate to the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30through the established communication connections with the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30.

The master computer10, also called the host computer10or the upper computer10, refers to a computer that is able to directly issue control commands. For example, the master computer10may be a personal computer (PC).

The first unmanned aerial vehicle20is configured to fly to a first side of the switchable glass50to be detected according to the first planned route, and control the emitting component206of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20to emit a detection light to a detection point after the first unmanned aerial vehicle20flies to a same height as the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected.

The second unmanned aerial vehicle30is configured to fly to a second side (i.e., the other side) of the switchable glass50according to the second planned route, and control the receiving component303of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to receive the detection light emit by the emitting component206after the second unmanned aerial vehicle30flies to the same height as the detection point. The second unmanned aerial vehicle30is further configured to obtain the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected after the receiving component303receives the detection light, and to send the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected to the dimming device40.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30are located on two opposite sides of the switchable glass50to be detected. For example, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20may be located on an indoor side of the switchable glass (i.e., the first unmanned aerial vehicle20is located indoors), the second unmanned aerial vehicle30may be located on an outdoor side of the switchable glass (i.e., the second unmanned aerial vehicle30is located outdoors). In this case, the detection light emitted by the emitting component206is emitted from the interior to the exterior, which may avoid a situation where the detection light emitted by the emitting component206is interfered by the light outdoors, and further ensure detection reliability. Of course, if necessary, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30may be located indoors, and the first unmanned aerial vehicle20may be located outdoors.

In the dimming system100for switchable glass provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20controls the emitting component206to emit a detection light, and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30controls the receiving component303to receive the detection light and obtain a transmittance of the switchable glass to be detected. The transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is measured. The measured transmittance is sent to the dimming device40, and the dimming device40adjusts the transmittance of the switchable glass50according to the measured transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected, so that the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is consistent with other switchable glasses. In addition, the transmittance is automatically detected and adjusted by using the unmanned aerial vehicles, which improves the adjustment of the transmittance of the switchable glass.

In the following embodiments, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30and the dimming device40in the dimming system100will be introduced.

FIG.2is a block diagram of a first unmanned aerial vehicle provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.2, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20includes an emitting component206disposed on the main body of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20, a first wireless communications component201and a first controller202.

For example, the first wireless communications component201may include a 4-th generation (4G™) module, a 5-th generation (5G™) module, a BLUETOOTH® module, or a WI-FI™ is a widely used technology for local area networking of radio wireless devices based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. BLUETOOTH is a widely used technology for short-range wireless communications of radio wireless devices. The first controller202, also called a flight controller, may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or a transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc.

The first wireless communications component201is configured to establish a communications connection to the master computer10and receive the first planned route sent by the master computer10.

The first controller202is configured to control the first unmanned aerial vehicle20to fly to a first side of the switchable glass50to be detected according to the first planned route, control the first unmanned aerial vehicle20to fly to a same height as the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected, and control the emitting component206to emit the detection light to the detection point.

The emitting component206may be an infrared emitting component or an ultraviolet emitting component, that is, the detection light emitted by the emitting component206may be an infrared ray or an ultraviolet ray.

It will be noted that, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, if the first unmanned aerial vehicle20is at the same height as the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected, it means that the emitting component206of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20is at a same height as the detection point. In this way, the detection light emitted by the emitting component206can be vertically irradiated to the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected, so that the receiving component303of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30can receive a certain amount of the detection light.

In an example, the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected may be any point of the switchable glass50to be detected. For example, once the first unmanned aerial vehicle20is located within an area corresponding to coordinates of the switchable glass50to be detected, a point of the switchable glass50to be detected where the first unmanned aerial vehicle20is pointing to may be taken as the detection point.

In another example, the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected may be a preset position of the switchable glass50to be detected. For example, the detection point may be a center point of the switchable glass50to be detected, or a vertex of the switchable glass50to be detected. Optionally, the master computer10may calculate and save the coordinates of the detection point in advance, and then send the coordinates to the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and/or the second unmanned aerial vehicle30during detection process. Alternatively, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20may collect an image of the switchable glass50to be detected, and calculate the coordinates of the detection point according to the collected image.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.3, the emitting component206may include three light-exit apertures2061, and the three light-exit apertures2061are configured to emit three parallel light rays.

In this case, as shown inFIG.3, the receiving component303of the second unmanned aerial vehicle may include three light-entrance apertures3021, and positions of the three light-entrance apertures3021are in a one-to-one correspondence with the positions of the three light-exit apertures2061. On this basis, when each of the three light-entrance apertures3021of the receiving component303are aligned with a respective light-exit aperture2061, each light-entrance apertures3021can receive a light ray emitted from a corresponding light-exit aperture2061. That is to say, during measurement of the light transmittance of the switchable glass, if each of the three light-entrance apertures3021of the receiving component303receives a light ray, it indicates that the receiving component303has been aligned with the emitting component206. Therefore, if the transmittance of the switchable glass is obtained after determining that the three light-entrance apertures3021all receive the detection lights, the detection accuracy may be improved.

It should be noted that, the positions of the three light-exit apertures2061are not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, as shown inFIG.3, the three light-exit apertures2061have a triangular arrangement. In another example, the three light-exit apertures2061are arranged in a line. In some other examples, the three light-exit apertures2061may have other suitable arrangements.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.4, the first unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a permanent magnet2062disposed on the emitting component206and an electromagnetic coil3022disposed on the receiving component303. After the electromagnetic coil3022is energized, it generates a magnetic field that attracts the permanent magnet2062disposed on the emitting component206. After the electromagnetic coil3022is de-energized, the magnetic field disappears accordingly.

For example, as shown inFIG.4, the permanent magnet2062may be disposed on a side of the emitting component206close to the switchable glass50to be detected. The electromagnetic coil3022may be disposed on a side of the receiving component303close to the switchable glass50to be detected. For example, the permanent magnet2062may be disposed on an entire or a portion of the surface the emitting component206close to the switchable glass50to be detected, and the electromagnetic coil3022may be disposed on an entire or a portion of the surface of the receiving component303close to the switchable glass50to be detected.

The first controller202is further configured to control the transmitting component301to move to the detection point before the emitting component206is controlled to emit the detection light to the detection point.

On the other side of the switchable glass50to be detected, after the second unmanned aerial vehicle30controls the receiving component303to move to the detection point and all the three light-entrance apertures3021have received light rays simultaneously, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30controls a power supply of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to supply current to the electromagnetic coil3022, so that the electromagnetic coil3022is energized to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field attracts the permanent magnet2062disposed on the emitting component206, and the receiving component303and the emitting component206are then attracted together firmly. In this way, the receiving component303can be continuously aligned with the emitting component206during the measurement of the transmittance, which may avoid a situation where the receiving component303is misaligned with the emitting component206, thereby ensuring the detection accuracy.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.5, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20may further include a transmission mechanism203connecting the emitting component206to the main body of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20.

In this case, the first controller202being configured to control the emitting component206to move to the detection point includes the first controller202being configured to control the transmission mechanism203to drive the emitting component206to move to the detection point.

The transmission mechanism203may be a gear transmission mechanism, a worm gear transmission mechanism, a screw transmission mechanism composed of screws and nuts, and the like. The first controller202can control a motor to drive the transmission mechanism203, and then drive the emitting component206to move to the detection point.

In some embodiments, the first wireless communications component201is further configured to establish a communications connection to the second unmanned aerial vehicle30, and send first indication information to the second unmanned aerial vehicle30after the emitting component206moves to the detection point. The first indication information is used to indicate that the emitting component206has been positioned to the detection point.

On this basis, when receiving the first indication information, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30determines that the emitting component206has been positioned to the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected, and then flies to the same height as the first unmanned aerial vehicle20to measure the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.5, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20further includes a first camera204configured to collect an image of the switchable glass50to be detected.

The first controller202is further configured to determine the coordinates of the detection point according to the image of the switchable glass50to be detected before the first unmanned aerial vehicle20is controlled to fly to the same height as the detection point.

For example, if the center point of the switchable glass50to be detected is taken as the detection point, the first controller may determine coordinates of the center point of the image according to the image corresponding to the switchable glass50to be detected, take the coordinates of the center point as the coordinates of the detection point. Referring toFIG.6, a way of calculating the coordinate of the center point of the image may be calculating an average value of the coordinates of four vertices A, B, C, and D of the image. The average value of the abscissas of the four vertices is the abscissa of the center point of the image, and the average value of the ordinates of the four vertices is the ordinate of the center point of the image. Alternatively, another way of calculating the coordinate of the center point of the image may include determining straight line equations of the two diagonal lines AC and BD firstly, and determining the coordinates of the intersection point of two straight line equations. The coordinates of the intersection point is the coordinates of the center point of the image. Of course, there may be other methods to calculate the coordinate of the center point of the image, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.5, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20may further include a laser emitter205configured to generate a laser signal after the first unmanned aerial vehicle20flies to the same height as the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected.

In this case, a corresponding laser receiver may be disposed on the second unmanned aerial vehicle30, so that the second unmanned aerial vehicle30can find the first unmanned aerial vehicle20according to the laser signal emitted by the laser emitter205on the first unmanned aerial vehicle20, and control the receiving component303to be aligned with the emitting component206.

Optionally, as shown inFIG.5, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20may further have a controller of the emitting component602electrically connected to the first controller202. In this case, the first controller202may control the emitting component206through the controller of the emitting component602.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.5, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20may further include a lithium battery used to supply power to the first controller202and the controller of the emitting component602.

FIG.7is a block diagram of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.7, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30includes a receiving component303disposed on a main body of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30, a second wireless communications component301and a second controller302.

For example, the second wireless communications component301may include a 4G™ module, a 5G™ module, a BLUETOOTH® module, or a WI-FI™ module. The second controller302may be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), any other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component.

The second wireless communications component301is configured to establish communications connections to the master computer10and the dimming device40, and receive the second planned route sent by the master computer10.

The second controller302is configured to control the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to fly to the second side (i.e., the side opposite to the first side) of the switchable glass50to be detected according to the second planned route, control the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to fly to the same height as the detection point, and obtain the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected after determining that the receiving component303receives the detection light emit by the emitting component206.

For example, according to the luminous flux of the detection light received by the receiving component303and the luminous flux of the detection light emitted by the emitting component206, the second controller302may determine the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected.

The second wireless communications component301is further configured to send the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected to the dimming device40.

It will be noted that, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, if the second unmanned aerial vehicle30and the detection point are at the same height, it means that the receiving component303of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30and the detection point are at the same height.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.3, the receiving component303may include three light-entrance apertures3021, and each receiving hole3021corresponds to one of the three transmitting holes2061of the emitting component206. The detection light includes three parallel light rays.

In this case, the second controller302being configured to obtain the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected after determining that the receiving component303receives the detection light includes the second controller302being configured to obtain the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected after determining that each of the three light-entrance apertures3021receives a corresponding light ray of the three parallel light rays.

Based on the above embodiment, when each of the three light-entrance apertures3021of the receiving component303receives a light ray emitted from a corresponding light-exit aperture2061, it indicates that the receiving component303is aligned with the emitting component206. Therefore, if the transmittance of the switchable glass is obtained after determining that the three light-entrance apertures3021all receive the detection lights, the detection accuracy may be improved.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.4, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30further includes an electromagnetic coil3022disposed on the receiving component303. The electromagnetic coil3022can generate a magnetic field that attracts the permanent magnet2062disposed on the emitting component206after energized. After the electromagnetic coil3022is de-energized, the magnetic field disappears accordingly.

The second controller302is further configured to control the receiving component303to move to the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected after the second unmanned aerial vehicle30flies to the same height as the first unmanned aerial vehicle20, to control the power supply of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to supply current to the electromagnetic coil3022after determining that each of the three light-entrance apertures3021receives the corresponding light ray of the three parallel light rays, and to control the power supply to stop supplying current to the switch of the electromagnetic coil3022after obtaining the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected.

Based on the above embodiment, after the receiving component303moves horizontally to the detection point and all the three light-entrance apertures3021have received light rays simultaneously, the power supply current to the electromagnetic coil3022to generate the magnetic field. The magnetic field attracts the permanent magnet2062disposed on the emitting component206, and the receiving component303and the emitting component206are then attracted together firmly. In this way, the receiving component303can be continuously aligned with the emitting component206during the measurement of the transmittance, which may avoid a situation where the receiving component303is misaligned with the emitting component206, thereby ensuring the detection accuracy.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.8, the receiving component303may be connected to the main body of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30through a transmission mechanism. The second controller302may control a motor to drive the transmission mechanism, and then drive the receiving component303to move to the detection point.

For example, the transmission mechanism may be a gear transmission mechanism, a worm gear transmission mechanism, a screw transmission mechanism composed of screws and nuts, and the like.

In some embodiments, the second wireless communications component301is further configured to establish a communications connection to the first unmanned aerial vehicle20, and receive the first indication information sent by the first unmanned aerial vehicle20. The first indication information is used to indicate that the emitting component206has been positioned to the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected.

The second controller302being configured to control the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to fly to the same height as the detection point includes the second controller302being configured to control the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to fly to the same height as the detection point after the second wireless communications component301receives the first indication information.

In this case, when receiving the first indication information, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30determines that the emitting component206has been positioned to the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected, and then flies to the same height as the detection point to measure the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.8, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30may further include a second camera305configured to collect an image of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20.

The second controller302is further configured to determine the position of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20according to the image of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20.

The second controller302may determine the position of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20using an existing target recognition algorithm, which is not described in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some other embodiments, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30can also obtain the position information of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20through the communications connection to the first unmanned aerial vehicle20. For example, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20can send the position information of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20to the second unmanned aerial vehicle30after the emitting component206is positioned to the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.8, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30may further include a laser receiver304configured to receive a laser signal.

The second controller302being configured to control the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to fly to the same height as the detection point includes: the second controller302being configured to: control the second unmanned aerial vehicle302to fly to the same height as the first unmanned aerial vehicle20according to the position of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20; and adjust the position of the second unmanned aerial vehicle30until the laser receiver304receives the laser signal.

Based on the above embodiment, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30can find the first unmanned aerial vehicle20according to the laser signal sent by the laser emitter205of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20, and align the receiving component303with the emitting component206.

Optionally, as shown inFIG.8, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30may further include a controller of the receiving component306electrically connected to the second controller302. In this case, the second controller302can control the receiving component303through the controller of the receiving component306. The controller of the receiving component306can calculate the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected, and send the transmittance to the second controller302.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.8, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30may further include a lithium battery used to supply power to the second controller302and the controller of the receiving component306.

FIG.9is a block diagram of a dimming device for a switchable glass provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.9, the dimming device40includes a third wireless communications component401and a third controller402.

For example, the third wireless communications component401may include a 4G™ module, a 5G™ module, a BLUETOOTH® module, a WI-FI™ module, and so on. The third controller402may be a central processing unit (CPU), or a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc

The third wireless communications component401is configured to establish communications connections to the master computer10and to the second unmanned aerial vehicle30, and receive a target transmittance sent by the master computer10and the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected sent by the second unmanned aerial vehicle30.

The third controller402is configured to adjust the voltage applied to the switchable glass50to be detected when the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is inconsistent with the target transmittance, so that the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is consistent with the target transmittance.

In some examples, according to the difference between the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected and the target transmittance, and a correspondence relationship between the voltage applied to the switchable glass and variation of the transmittance of the switchable glass, the voltage required to make the switchable glass50to be detected reach the target transmittance may be calculated. According to the calculated voltage, voltage applied to the switchable glass50to be detected is adjusted, so as to make the switchable glass50to be detected reach the target transmittance. The correspondence relationship between the voltage applied to the switchable glass and variation of the transmittance of the switchable glass may be obtained in advance through multiple experiments.

In some other examples, the voltage applied to the switchable glass50to be detected may be adjusted according to a preset voltage variation. After adjustment, the dimming device40may send indication information to the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30, so as to instruct the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30to measure transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected again. After multiple detections and adjustments, the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected can be adjusted to the target transmittance.

In some embodiments, the third wireless communications component401is further configured to send second indication information to the master computer10when the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is adjusted to be consistent with the target transmittance. The second indication information is used to indicate that the switchable glass50to be detected has been adjusted.

In this way, after receiving the second indication information, the master computer10can determine that the switchable glass50to be detected has been adjusted, and then determines to measure and adjust transmittance of other switchable glasses that have not yet been detected.

In some embodiments, the third wireless communications component401is further configured to send third indication information to the master computer10when the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is consistent with the target transmittance. The third indication information is used to indicate that the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is consistent with the target transmittance.

In this way, after receiving the third indication information, the master computer10can determine that there is no need to adjust the current switchable glass50, and then determines to measure and adjust transmittance of other switchable glasses that have not yet been detected.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.10, the dimming device40further includes a memory403. The memory403is configured to store the target transmittance and a first voltage corresponding to the target transmittance. The first voltage corresponding to the target transmittance is a voltage applied to the switchable glass50to be detected when the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is adjusted to be the target transmittance.

For example, the memory403may be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory403(EEPROM). Of course, the memory403may also be other memories, such as a random access memory403(RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

Based on the above embodiment, if the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected needs to be adjusted to the target transmittance again, the voltage applied to the switchable glass50to be detected may be directly adjusted to the stored first voltage, so that the switchable glass50reaches the target transmittance. In this way, there is no need to perform the measurement of the transmittance of the switchable glass again.

As shown inFIG.11, some embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a dimming method applied to the dimming system100as shown inFIG.1. Referring toFIG.11, the method includes S301to S326.

In S301, a self-check is performed on the unmanned aerial vehicle system after powered.

The unmanned aerial vehicle system includes the first unmanned aerial vehicle20, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30and the master computer10. After the self-check is completed, S302is performed.

In S302, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30send handshake signals to the dimming device40to establish communications connections to the dimming device40.

In S303, it is determined whether the handshake with the dimming device40is successful; if yes, S306is performed; if no, S304is performed.

In S304, if the handshake with the dimming device40is unsuccessful, it is determined whether a timer for communications establishment is expired or not; if yes, S305is performed; if no, S302is performed, and the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30resend the handshake signal.

In S305, a timeout fault is processed.

After the timeout fault is processed, the handshake signals are resent.

In S306, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20receives the first planned route sent by the master computer10and flies to a side (e.g., indoor side) of the switchable glass50to be detected, and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30receives the second planned route sent by the master computer10and flies to the other side (e.g., outdoor side) of the switchable glass50to be detected.

In S307, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30perform handshake to establish a communications connection.

In this step, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20may send a handshake signal to the second unmanned aerial vehicle30, or the second unmanned aerial vehicle30may send a handshake signal to the first unmanned aerial vehicle20.

In S308, it is determined whether the handshake between the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30is successful; if yes, S310is performed; otherwise, S309is performed.

In S309, if the handshake is unsuccessful, it is further determined whether the timer for communications establishment is expired or not; if yes, S305is performed; if no, S307is performed, and the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30perform handshake.

After the timeout fault is processed, the process may return to S307, so that the first unmanned aerial vehicle20and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30perform handshake again.

In S310, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20determines the detection point on the switchable glass50to be detected.

In S311, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20adjusts the emitting component206to align the first unmanned aerial vehicle20with the detection point of the switchable glass50to be detected.

In S312, it is determined whether the emitting component206is successfully positioned to the detection point; if yes, S314is performed; otherwise, S313is performed.

In S313, it is determined whether the timer for locating to the detection point is expired out; if yes, S305is performed to process the timeout fault; if no, S311is performed to adjust the emitting component206, so that the emitting component206is aligned with the detection point.

In S314, if the emitting component206successfully locates to the detection point, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20controls the laser emitter to generate a laser signal, and send the first indication information to the second unmanned aerial vehicle30. The first indication information is used to indicate that the emitting component206has been positioned to the detection point.

In S315, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30receives the first indication information and adjusts its position, so that the laser receiver on the second unmanned aerial vehicle30can receive the laser signal sent by the laser emitter.

In S316, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30determines whether the laser receiver receives the laser signal, if yes, S318is performed; otherwise, S317is performed.

In S317, if the laser receiver does not receive the laser signal, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30further determines whether a timer for receiving the laser signal is expired or not; if yes, S305is performed to process the timeout fault; if no, S315is performed.

In S318, if the laser receiver receives the laser signal, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30locates the receiving component303to the detection point.

In S319, the first unmanned aerial vehicle20controls the emitting component206to emit the detection light, and the second unmanned aerial vehicle30adjusts the position of the receiving component303to receive the detection light.

In S320, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30determines whether three light-entrance apertures all receive light rays, if yes, S322is performed; otherwise, S321is performed.

In S321, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30fine-tunes the receiving component so that all three light-entrance apertures can receive the corresponding light ray.

This step may also be implemented by finely adjusting the emitting component206of the first unmanned aerial vehicle20.

In S322, the second unmanned aerial vehicle30calculates the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected, and sends the transmittance to the dimming device.

In S323, the dimming device receives the transmittance and determines whether the transmittance is consistent with the target transmittance.

In S324, if the transmittance is inconsistent with the target transmittance, the dimming device adjust the voltage applied to the switchable glass50to be detected, so that the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is consistent with the target transmittance.

In S325, if the transmittance of the switchable glass50to be detected is consistent with the target transmittance, the dimming device40sends indication information to the master computer10.

In S326, the dimming system100detects and adjusts the transmittance of other switchable glasses that have not yet been detected.

With this step, the dimming method ends.

It will be noted that, the above dimming method is only a specific example provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation to the present disclosure. It will be readily understood that, there may be multiple dimming methods applied to the dimming system provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. For details, reference may be made to the foregoing description of the first unmanned aerial vehicle, the second unmanned aerial vehicle, and the dimming device.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely exemplary and is not intended to imply that the scope of the disclosure (including the claims) is limited to these examples. Within the idea of the present disclosure, technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments may also be combined, steps may be implemented in any order. There are many other variations in different aspects of the present disclosure as described above, which are not provided in the details for the sake of brevity.

In addition, in order to simplify the description and discussion, and not to obscure the present disclosure, well-known power/ground connections to integrated circuit (IC) chips and other components may or may not be shown in the provided drawings. In addition, the apparatus may be shown in a block diagram to avoid obscuring the disclosure. The fact is also taken into account that the details of the implementation of these apparatuses shown in a block diagram are highly dependent on the platform in which the disclosure will be implemented (that is, these details should be completely within the understanding of those skilled in the art). When specific details (e.g., circuits) are illustrated to describe exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosure may also be implemented without these specific details or with variations of these specific details. Therefore, these descriptions should be considered as illustrative instead of restrictive.

Although the present disclosure has been described in combination with specific embodiments thereof, many alternatives, modifications, and variations of these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art according to the foregoing description.

The embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, and the like that are made within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure shall be included in the scope of the present disclosure.