Laser-tethered vehicle
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a position control system for a remote-controlled vehicle, a vehicle operated by the control system, and a method for operating a remote-controlled vehicle. An electromagnetic energy receiver is configured to receive an electromagnetic beam. The electromagnetic energy receiver is further configured to determine a position of the remote-controlled vehicle relative to a position of the electromagnetic beam. The vehicle is directed to maneuver to track the position of the electromagnetic beam.
-
Citations
81 Claims
-
1. (canceled)
-
5. (canceled)
-
7. A control system for a remote-controlled vehicle, the system comprising:
-
an electromagnetic energy receiver configured to receive an electromagnetic beam and further configured to generate a control signal indicative of a position of the remote-controlled vehicle relative to a position of the electromagnetic beam, wherein the electromagnetic energy receiver includes an electromagnetic receiving array having a plurality of electromagnetic sensors, each of the electromagnetic sensors being configured to generate a sensor output indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic sensor;
a propulsion system; and
a positioning control system configured to receive the control signal and maneuver the remote-controlled vehicle by directing the propulsion system in response the control signal, wherein the positioning control system is configured to orient the remote-controlled vehicle such that the electromagnetic energy receiver is directed to substantially continuously receive the incoming electromagnetic beam, and is further configured to approximately equalize the sensor output of each of the electromagnetic sensors by maneuvering the remote-controlled vehicle such that the electromagnetic beam is received at a predetermined portion of the electromagnetic receiving array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. (canceled)
-
38. (canceled)
-
40. A remote-controlled vehicle comprising:
-
a vehicle housing;
an electromagnetic energy receiver mounted on the vehicle housing, the electromagnetic energy receiver being configured to receive an electromagnetic beam and further configured to generate a control signal indicative of a position of the remote-controlled vehicle relative to a position of the electromagnetic beam, wherein the electromagnetic energy receiver includes an electromagnetic receiving array having a plurality of electromagnetic sensors, each of the electromagnetic sensors being configured to generate a sensor output indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic sensor;
a propulsion system mounted on the vehicle housing; and
a positioning control system configured to receive the control signal and maneuver the remote-controlled vehicle by directing the propulsion system in response the control signal, wherein the positioning control system is configured to orient the remote-controlled vehicle such that the electromagnetic energy receiver is directed to substantially continuously receive the incoming electromagnetic beam, and is further configured to approximately equalize the sensor output of each of the electromagnetic sensors by maneuvering the remote-controlled vehicle such that the electromagnetic beam is received at a predetermined portion of the electromagnetic receiving array. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
-
-
67. (canceled)
-
72. A method for positioning a remote-controlled vehicle at a desired location, the method comprising:
-
receiving an electromagnetic beam;
detecting a position of the remote-controlled vehicle relative to a position of the electromagnetic beam with a plurality of electromagnetic sensors, each of the electromagnetic sensors being configured to generate a sensor output indicative of an intensity of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic sensor; and
maneuvering the remote-controlled vehicle to follow the electromagnetic beam to the desired location, wherein maneuvering the remote-controlled vehicle includes orienting the remote-controlled vehicle such that the electromagnetic energy receiver is directed to substantially continuously receive the incoming electromagnetic beam, and approximately equalizing the sensor output of each of the electromagnetic sensors such that the electromagnetic beam is received approximately equally by the electromagnetic sensors. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81)
-
-
79. (canceled)
Specification