IMAGE-ASSISTED REMOTE CONTROL VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150379361A1
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teledyne FLIR LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boulanger, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 10,169,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/23 from thermal infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/672 between adjacent sensors or output registers for reading a single image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Systems and methods for an image-assisted remote control vehicle are provided. An image-assisted remote control system may include a motion controlled device such as an image-assisted remote control vehicle and a remote control device. The motion controlled device may include one or more imaging modules, such as a thermal imaging module and/or a non-thermal imaging module. An infrared image of a part of a track may be captured using the infrared imaging module. A boundary of the track may be detected using the infrared image. The operation of the vehicle may be modified based on the boundary. Modifying the operation of the vehicle in this way may provide a remote controlled vehicle with the ease of use of a slot car track set, the flexibility of remote control cars and the ability for a user to design their own track.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a remote control vehicle;

an infrared imaging module mounted on the remote control vehicle, wherein the infrared imaging module is configured to capture an infrared image of a part of a track; and

a Processor configured to communicate with the infrared imaging module, wherein the processor is configured to;

detect a boundary of the track using the infrared image; and

modify an operation of the remote control vehicle based on the boundary.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control device, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive operation instructions from the control device; and

modify the operation of the remote control vehicle based on the operation instructions and the boundary.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is disposed within the remote control vehicle and is further configured to transmit the infrared image to the control device.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control device comprises a mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a location of the boundary and an orientation of the boundary relative to the remote control vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control vehicle comprises a motion sensor configured to determine a speed of the remote control vehicle, and wherein the processor is configured to modify the operation of the remote control vehicle based on the speed of the remote control vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to modify the operation of the remote control vehicle by reducing a speed of the remote control vehicle when the remote control vehicle approaches the boundary.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to modify the operation of the remote control vehicle by steering away from the boundary when the remote control vehicle approaches the boundary.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a lane defined by the boundary and an additional boundary, wherein the boundary and the additional boundary are located on opposing sides of the remote control vehicle, and

modify the operation of the remote control vehicle by reducing an angle between the lane and a direction of travel of the remote control vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the boundary comprises electrical tape or aluminum tape.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the infrared imaging module comprises an infrared microbolometer array.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one non-thermal imaging module mounted on the remote control vehicle.

13. A method, comprising:

capturing an infrared image of a part of the track with an infrared imaging module on a remote control vehicle;

detecting a boundary of the track in the infrared image; and

modifying an operation of the remote control vehicle based on the boundary.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving operation instructions from a control device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting the infrared image to the control device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising modifying the operation of the remote control vehicle based on the operation instructions and the boundary.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a location and an orientation of the boundary relative to the remote control vehicle.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying comprises reducing a speed of the remote control vehicle when the remote control vehicle approaches the boundary.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying comprises steering away from the boundary when the remote control vehicle approaches the boundary.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining, based on the infrared image, a distance between the boundary and the remote control vehicle;

determining, based on the infrared image, a speed at which the remote control vehicle is approaching the boundary; and

determining, based on the infrared image, an orientation of the boundary relative to a direction of travel of the remote control vehicle.