Helicopter remote control system

• US 5,015,187 A
• Filed: 02/28/1990
• Issued: 05/14/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Byron Hatfield, Edward F. Brown, Kenneth K. Hudson Jr
• Original Assignee: Byron Hatfield, Ken Hudson
• Inventors: Lord, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US07/486,170
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 434/33, 434/37, 272/DIG. 5, 272/DIG. 6, 244/17.23, 244/17.25, 244/190, 244/17.13, 358/109, 358/194.1, 358/108, 446/232, 364/462, 364/424.02, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/870.07, 455/98, 455/39
• US Class Current: 434/33
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/46 the aircraft being a helicopter

Abstract

A remote controlled helicoper having a video radio frequency link to a fixed control location has a video camera with a field of view including the terrain forward of the helicopter, an airspeed display, a relative wind direction indicator, and a pitch indicator. A video monitor at the fixed location displays received video signals of the terrain, airspeed, relative wind direction and pitch permitting control of the helicopter over a radio link from the fixed location to the helicopter. The system provides training, experience, and practice in operation of the helicopter.

Claims

1. A system for providing an operator at a fixed location visual information for remote control of a helicopter comprising:

(a) a radio link from an airborne helicopter to said fixed location for transmitting video information;

(b) a television camera disposed in the nose of said helicopter for producing video signals representative of the terrain and objects within a field of view of said helicopter;

(c) means disposed within a field of view of said camera visually indicating relative wind direction with respect to said helicopter;

(d) means for measuring and displaying a visual indication of forward air speed of said helicopter, said display means disposed within the field of view of said camera;

(e) means for measuring pitch of said helicopter, said pitch measuring means including a pitch indicator disposed within the field of view of said camera; and

(f) television receiving and display means at said fixed location for receiving said video signals and displaying video representations of terrain and objects forward of said helicopter, relative wind direction with respect to said helicopter, and air speed and pitch of said helicopter.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 which further includes:

a reference directional pointer attached to said longitudinal structural member of said helicopter and projecting forwardly from said helicopter and within the field of view of said camera.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 which further includes:

multiple shock mount means for said camera, said multiple shock mount means including a first isolation stage having a pair of lower isolation mounts attached to said longitudinal structural member of said helicopter;

a second isolation stage having a lower plate attached to said lower isolation mounts, an upper plate, and a foam rubber sheet attached to and disposed between said lower and upper plates;

a third isolation stage having a set of shock absorbers attached to said upper plate, said shock absorbers supporting a camera mounting plate;

a camera housing having a volume greater than the volume of said camera, said camera housing attached to said camera mounting plate by a set of resilient pads; and

a foam rubber camera support disposed within said camera housing and having a cutout volume for accepting said camera.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 in which:

said wind direction indicating means includes a first wind vane pivotally mounted to an outer end of said pointer and having a vane for weathercocking to a horizontal component of air passing said vane; and

a second wind vane pivoted horizontally to an outer end of said pointer and having a vane for weathercocking to a vertical component of air passing said vane, said first and second wind vanes disposed within the field of view of said camera.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 in which said airspeed measuring means includes an airspeed turbine for producing an electrical output proportional to airspeed of said helicopter.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 in which said airspeed monitoring means includes a visual readout display disposed within the field of view of said camera.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 in which said readout produces a digital display.

8. The system as recited in claim 2 in which said pitch measurement means includes:

a dynamically balanced rod longitudinally aligned with said helicopter and pivoted laterally; and

a laterally oriented pointer attached to a forward end of said rod, said pointer projecting into an edge of the field of view of said camera.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 in which said rod is pivotally attached to a side of said camera housing.

10. A system for providing helicopter operation training having a miniature helicopter, a control position, a radio control link from the control position to the helicopter, and a video radio frequency link from the helicopter to the control position, comprising:

a reference indicator pointer attached to a longitudinal structural member of said helicopter and extending forwardly from a nose portion of said helicopter for providing a flight reference;

a television camera for producing video signals for transmission over said video link, said camera having a field of view forward of said helicopter and including said reference indicator pointer;

wind vane means attached to a forward end of said pointer and within said field of view of said camera for visually indicating the direction of a relative wind with respect to said helicopter;

an airspeed turbine attached to an exterior of said helicopter for producing an electrical signal proportional to the airspeed of said helicopter, said electrical signal operating a digital readout of airspeed, said readout disposed within the field of view of said camera;

a pitch indicating longitudinally-oriented balanced rod laterally pivoted to said helicopter and having a pointer at a forward end thereof projecting into the field of view of said camera; and

a video display at said control position for displaying video signals received over said video link, said display including terrain forward of said helicopter, said reference indicator pointer, said wind vane means, said airspeed digital readout, and said pitch indicator pointer.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 in which said video display includes indicia for indicating degree of pitch, and horizontal and vertical components of the direction of relative wind with respect to said helicopter.

12. A method for remote control of a miniature helicopter from a fixed location, the fixed location including a radio control link to the helicopter, comprising the steps of:

providing a video camera in the helicopter having a field of view including terrain forward of the helicopter, an airspeed readout, a pitch indicator, and a relative wind direction indicator;

transmitting video signals from the camera to the fixed location, such video signals representative of the terrain forward of the helicopter, the airspeed readout, the pitch indicator, and the relative wind direction indicator;

receiving the transmitted video signals at the fixed location;

displaying a video representation of the terrain forward of the helicopter, the airspeed readout, the pitch indicator, and the relative wind direction indicator from the received video signals; and

transmitting helicopter control signals from the fixed location to the helicopter.