Unmanned land vehicle having universal interfaces for attachments and autonomous operation capabilities and method of operation thereof
First Claim
1. A remote operating system consisting essentially of:
- (a) a vehicle to be controlled;
(b) a network of embedded processors carried on said vehicle for sensing and control tasks;
(c) multiple sensors including Global Position System (GPS), Inertial Navigation System (INS), compasses for magnetic direction, and an acoustic range sensing array;
(d) a proximity detecting device utilizing a sensor carried by the operator and a sensing device carried on said vehicle whereby said power source is disabled when operator arrives at a predetermined proximity from said vehicle.(e) optical dual stereo short baseline cameras;
(f) multiple video cameras carried on said vehicle;
(g) a high performance embedded processor for vision computing;
(h) a signal transmission and receiving system for wirelessly transferring images captured by cameras to said remote control;
(i) an autonomous navigation system for navigational control and hazard avoidance of said vehicle through unstructured environments using a computer-based control scheme with sensors for acoustic ranging, inertial and global position, and stereo ranging;
(j) a remote control receiving and transmitting apparatus onboard and powered by said vehicle with the ability to receive and transmit wireless control signals at various individually coded signals, said receiver having the ability to receive and process signals from a plurality of portable remote control transmitters thereby providing related signals to system electronics apparatus;
(k) said remote control signal receiver provides corresponding signals to respective elements on the vehicle, including but not limited to a hydraulic valve block, ignition switch, navigation systems, and emergency safety shutoff device;
(l) a “
local” and
“
remote”
function state of computerized controller units carried on said vehicle that is controllable by said mobile remote control transmitter apparatus and determines the state of said vehicle when transitioning between a remotely controlled “
remote”
state and an autonomous “
local”
state or a hybrid combination thereof where basic navigation of the vehicle is “
local” and
control of complex vehicle operations remains “
remote.”
(m) a hand-operable and portable remote control transmitter that receives input commands from an operator and visual data transmitted from said video cameras and wirelessly transmits data signals correlating to input commands;
(n) a system for receiving images from said video cameras and displaying images to an operator wherein the image receiving and displaying unit may be carried on said remote control transmitter or may be a separate, portable unit.(o) a status indicator on said remote control signal receiver indicating the identification of vehicles within proximity of any given operator and the state of control the operator may have over any vehicle;
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method is disclosed for a wireless remotely operable unmanned compact vehicle platform for use in land management comprising a frame and providing a pair of ground engageable endless drive tracks powered by a hydraulic fluid power source. The vehicle supports working attachments on the front end by utilizing a universal working attachment coupling interface carried on a pair of loader boom structures, and the vehicle supports working attachments on the rear end by utilizing a three point hitch apparatus. Working attachments coupled to the vehicle may be powered by the hydraulic fluid power source carried on the frame. A wireless remote control apparatus allows an operator to control the vehicle at a safe distance and a wireless video system allows an operator to control the vehicle accurately. A system of autonomous operation is integrated with the vehicle for travel in complex, unstructured environments. The claimed invention also utilizes a method of operation for the wirelessly operable unmanned vehicle control system which comprises a system wherein one or more mobile transmitters can be used to control one or more vehicles individually.
226 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A remote operating system consisting essentially of:
-
(a) a vehicle to be controlled; (b) a network of embedded processors carried on said vehicle for sensing and control tasks; (c) multiple sensors including Global Position System (GPS), Inertial Navigation System (INS), compasses for magnetic direction, and an acoustic range sensing array; (d) a proximity detecting device utilizing a sensor carried by the operator and a sensing device carried on said vehicle whereby said power source is disabled when operator arrives at a predetermined proximity from said vehicle. (e) optical dual stereo short baseline cameras; (f) multiple video cameras carried on said vehicle; (g) a high performance embedded processor for vision computing; (h) a signal transmission and receiving system for wirelessly transferring images captured by cameras to said remote control; (i) an autonomous navigation system for navigational control and hazard avoidance of said vehicle through unstructured environments using a computer-based control scheme with sensors for acoustic ranging, inertial and global position, and stereo ranging; (j) a remote control receiving and transmitting apparatus onboard and powered by said vehicle with the ability to receive and transmit wireless control signals at various individually coded signals, said receiver having the ability to receive and process signals from a plurality of portable remote control transmitters thereby providing related signals to system electronics apparatus; (k) said remote control signal receiver provides corresponding signals to respective elements on the vehicle, including but not limited to a hydraulic valve block, ignition switch, navigation systems, and emergency safety shutoff device; (l) a “
local” and
“
remote”
function state of computerized controller units carried on said vehicle that is controllable by said mobile remote control transmitter apparatus and determines the state of said vehicle when transitioning between a remotely controlled “
remote”
state and an autonomous “
local”
state or a hybrid combination thereof where basic navigation of the vehicle is “
local” and
control of complex vehicle operations remains “
remote.”(m) a hand-operable and portable remote control transmitter that receives input commands from an operator and visual data transmitted from said video cameras and wirelessly transmits data signals correlating to input commands; (n) a system for receiving images from said video cameras and displaying images to an operator wherein the image receiving and displaying unit may be carried on said remote control transmitter or may be a separate, portable unit. (o) a status indicator on said remote control signal receiver indicating the identification of vehicles within proximity of any given operator and the state of control the operator may have over any vehicle; - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification