Method and Device for Controlling a Remote Vehicle

• US 20090232506A1
• Filed: 05/10/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Detection, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Hudson, Edison, Pack, Robert Todd
• Granted Patent: US 8,019,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/00 Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a remote vehicle comprises a hand-held controller including a laser generator for generating a laser beam. The hand-held controller is manipulable to aim and actuate the laser beam to designate a destination for the remote vehicle. The remote vehicle senses a reflection of the laser beam and moves toward the designated destination. The hand-held controller allows single-handed control of the remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads. A method for controlling a remote vehicle via a laser beam comprises encoding control signals for a remote vehicle into a laser beam that is aimed and sent to a designated destination for the remote vehicle, and sensing a reflection of the laser beam, decoding the control signals for the remote vehicle, and moving toward the designated destination.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a remote vehicle, the system comprising:

a hand-held controller including a laser generator for generating a laser beam comprising an embedded unique code corresponding to the remote vehicle, the hand-held controller being manipulable to aim and actuate the laser beam to designate a destination for the remote vehicle,

wherein the remote vehicle senses a reflection of the laser beam, verifies the embedded unique code, computes a trajectory to the designated destination, and moves toward the designated destination.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand-held controller allows single-handed control of the remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand-held controller includes a hand grip.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a least one input device is located on the hand grip.

6. The system of claim 5, including additional input devices located on the hand-held controller, the input devices comprising at least a joystick or puck.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand grip is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the input device location is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand-held controller includes a replaceable hand grip selected to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

2. (canceled)

10. A system for controlling a remote vehicle, the system comprising:

a hand-held controller allowing single-handed control of a remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads, the hand-held controller comprising a laser generator for generating a laser beam and being manipulable to aim and actuate the laser beam to designate a destination; and

a remote vehicle comprising a sensor for sensing a reflection of the laser beam, and a processor for calculating a vector angle to the destination and computing a trajectory to the destination.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a unique code corresponding to the remote vehicle is embedded in laser beam.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the hand-held controller includes a hand grip.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a least one input device is located on the hand grip.

15. The system of claim 14, including additional input devices located on the hand-held controller the input devices comprising at least a joystick or puck.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the hand grip is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the input device location is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the hand-held controller includes a replaceable hand grip selected to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

11. (canceled)

19. A hand-held controller being manipulable to aim and actuate a laser beam to designate a destination for a remote vehicle, the hand-held controller comprising:

a laser generator configured to generate a laser beam comprising an embedded unique code corresponding to the remote vehicle;

a hand grip configured to be adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand; and

a least one input device located on the hand grip.

21. The hand-held controller of claim 19, wherein the hand-held controller allows single-handed control of the remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads.

24. The hand-held controller of claim 19, including additional input devices comprising at least a joystick or puck.

27. The system of claim 19, including a replaceable hand grip selected to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

20. (canceled)

22-23. -23. (canceled)

25-26. -26. (canceled)

28-29. -29. (canceled)