Gas operated vehicular control system
First Claim
1. A system for controlling, from a remote station, the operation of a vehicle having a body, a suspension system, an hydraulic brake-operated skid steering system, and a drive motor, comprising:
- on the vehiclea video transmission system,an electronic command reception system including electronic control means for accepting electronic command signals and operating said steering system in response to said signals,a source of compress gas,a source of electrical energy connected to said electronic control means, anda pair of three-way solenoid-operated first valves on said vehicle, each valve being connected to said source of compressed gas, to said electronic control means and hydraulically to brakes of the vehicle on an appropriate side thereof; and
at the remote stationa video monitoring system, andan electronic transmission system for sending said electronic command signals to said electronic command reception system on said vehicle;
whereby an operator at said station can monitor the progress of said vehicle via said video systems and control the movements of said vehicle via said electronic systems.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely controlled mobile target for weapons training involves a commercially available all-terrain-vehicle carrying a 1/2 scale target shell (e.g. a tank). The vehicle has a motor and a brake-generated skid steering system. A video camera mounted on the vehicle provides the operator at the remote station with a visual image of the vehicle'"'"'s progress and in response thereto the operator, using a joystick controller, can send command signals to the vehicle to control operation of the steering system and the motor. Three-way solenoid valves, connected to the hydraulic brake system, a source of compressed gas and the electronic controller operate in response to the command signals to effect operation of the brakes for steering or braking. The target is inexpensive, easy to operate and closely simulates the operation of a highly maneuverable, fast vehicle, such as a tank.
31 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for controlling, from a remote station, the operation of a vehicle having a body, a suspension system, an hydraulic brake-operated skid steering system, and a drive motor, comprising:
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on the vehicle a video transmission system, an electronic command reception system including electronic control means for accepting electronic command signals and operating said steering system in response to said signals, a source of compress gas, a source of electrical energy connected to said electronic control means, and a pair of three-way solenoid-operated first valves on said vehicle, each valve being connected to said source of compressed gas, to said electronic control means and hydraulically to brakes of the vehicle on an appropriate side thereof; and at the remote station a video monitoring system, and an electronic transmission system for sending said electronic command signals to said electronic command reception system on said vehicle; whereby an operator at said station can monitor the progress of said vehicle via said video systems and control the movements of said vehicle via said electronic systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
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7. The control system of claim , including a reception antenna mounted on said vehicle and connected to said electronic control means, and a microphone positioned adjacent said motor and connected to the audio input of said video camera.
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10. A vehicle adapted for control from a remote station, said vehicle including a body, a suspension system, an hydraulic brake-operated skid steering system, and a drive motor, comprising:
- a forward looking video camera mounted on said body;
a source of compressed gas;
a source of electrical energy;
video transmission and command reception antennas mounted on said body;
electronic control means connected to said camera and said antennas; and
a pair of solenoid-operated first valves connected to said control means, said source of compressed gas and said brake-operated steering system, there being one valve for the brake-operated steering system on each side of the vehicle, the operation of said steering system being controlled hydraulically by gas passing through the appropriate one of said valves. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a forward looking video camera mounted on said body;
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18. A remotely controllable vehicle intended for use as a mobile target comprising:
- a vehicular body carrying a drive motor, a suspension system, a plurality of drive wheels on each side thereof, and a hydraulic brake-operated skid steering system;
a shell simulating a selected target carried by said body;
a forward-looking video camera mounted on said body;
a source of compressed gas;
a source of electrical energy;
video transmission and command reception antennas;
electronic control means connected to said video camera and said antennas; and
a solenoid-operated three-way first valve for each plurality of drive wheels, each valve being connected to said electronic control means, said source of compressed gas and a respective hydraulic brake system, each valve being operable in response to a command signal received by said reception antenna and transmitted thereto by said control means to, in turn, cause operation of the steering system connected thereto by gas passing therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- a vehicular body carrying a drive motor, a suspension system, a plurality of drive wheels on each side thereof, and a hydraulic brake-operated skid steering system;
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24. A system for remotely controlling, from a remote station, the operation of a vehicle having a body, a suspension system, a hydraulic brake-operated skid steering system, and a drive motor, comprising:
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(A) on the vehicle; (a) a source of compressed gas; (b) a source of electrical energy; (c) a forward-looking video camera positioned above said body; (d) a video transmission antenna; (e) a pair of three-way solenoid valves, each being connected to said source of compressed gas and each being connected hydraulically to brakes of the vehicle on an appropriate side thereof; (f) electronic control means connected to said valves, said antenna, said camera, and said source of electrical energy; (g) throttle servo connected between said electronic control means said drive motor; and (h) a command reception antenna connected to said electronic control means; and (B) at the remote station; (i) a video reception antenna; (ii) a command signal transmission antenna; (iii) a video monitor connected to said video reception antenna; and (iv) a command controller connected to said command signal transmission antenna; whereby an operator at the remote station can control the operation of said vehicle by observing the progress thereof via a video link extending from said camera to said monitor and by operating said steering system and drive motor via a command link extending from said controller to said electronic control means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for remotely controlling a vehicle having an hydraulically-operated skid-steering system including manual control means normally connected hydraulically to respective brakes on each side of the vehicle, said remote control system comprising:
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(a) control signal receiving means; (b) a source of compressed gas; (c) a pair of normally closed solenoid-operated first valves connected to said signal receiving means and to said source of compressed gas; (d) a pair of hydraulic fluid reservoirs each being connected to a corresponding one of said first valves; and (e) a pair of second valves, each being connected between the manual control means and the corresponding brakes and also being connected a corresponding one of said reservoirs, each second valve being switchable to accept hydraulic input from either the manual control means or the corresponding reservoir;
whereby for remote operation opening of a first valve in response to a control signal will permit pressurized gas to pressurize the corresponding reservoir and the hydraulic fluid therein is pressurized and passes by the corresponding second valve to operate the brakes connected thereto, closure of the first valve serving to vent the reservoir to atmosphere to thereby release the brakes. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification