Remote control system for combat vehicle

• US 5,263,396 A
• Filed: 09/05/1990
• Issued: 11/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (Government of Israel)
• Original Assignee: Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (Government of Israel)
• Inventors: Ladan, Uri, Rabinovitch, Talmon, Fallach, Yoav
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US07/578,121
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 89/1.1, 89/36.08, 89/1.1, 89/40.03, 89/41.05, 102/362
• US Class Current: 89/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 5/06 using electric means for remote control
• 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

Abstract

A remote control system for a combat vehicle including remote control apparatus for providing signals to the vehicle for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions conventionally controlled by personnel riding in the vehicle; selectably actuable vehicle mounted apparatus for receiving the signals from the remote control apparatus and for operating the plurality of vehicle functions in accordance with the signals; and apparatus for selectably deactivating the vehicle mounted apparatus so as to enable non-remote control of the vehicle functions.

Claims

1. A remote control system for a combat vehicle comprising:

remote control apparatus for providing signals to the vehicle for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions conventionally controlled by personnel riding in the vehicle;

selectably actuable vehicle mounted apparatus for receiving signals from said remote control apparatus and for operating said plurality of vehicle functions in accordance with said signals; and

electrical switching means for selectably deactivating said vehicle mounted apparatus so as to enable non-remote control of the vehicle functions, and wherein said remote control apparatus comprises;

means for transmitting said signals to said vehicle mounted apparatus for operating selected ones of said plurality of vehicle functions;

signal receiving means; and

means, associated with said signal receiving means, for providing an output indication of operation of the selected vehicle functions,

said vehicle mounted apparatus comprising;

means for operating each of said plurality of vehicle functions;

computer means, associated with said means for operating, for monitoring each of said plurality of vehicle functions; and

means for receiving and processing said signals transmitted from said remote control apparatus and for providing first output signals, in accordance with said transmitted signals, to said means for operating so as to cause operation of the selected vehicle functions, said means for receiving and processing also being operative to communicate with said computer means and further comprising means for providing second output signals, indicative of operation of the selected vehicle functions, to said signal receiving means of said remote control apparatus.

2. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said vehicle mounted apparatus also comprises:

visual surveillance means for surveying an area visible from the combat vehicle; and

means, associated with said visual surveillance means, for transmitting a video output, said remote control apparatus also comprising;

means for receiving said video output; and

means, associated with said means for receiving said video output for providing a visual display corresponding to said video output.

3. A system according to claim 2, and also including means for navigating the vehicle along a selected path.

4. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said means for transmitting of said remote control apparatus comprises means for transmitting radio signals, and said means for receiving and processing of said vehicle mounted apparatus comprises means for receiving and processing radio signals.

5. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said means for operating said predetermined plurality of vehicle functions comprises:

electrical switching means for operating motive functions for the vehicle; and

means for operating auxiliary function of the vehicle.

6. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said means for providing second output signals of said means for receiving and processing comprises means for transmitting radio signals, and said signal receiving means of said remote control apparatus comprises means for receiving radio signals.

7. A remotely controllable combat vehicle system including:

a combat vehicle, and

a remote control system for a combat vehicle and comprising;

remote control apparatus for providing signals to said vehicle for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions conventionally controlled by personnel riding in said vehicle

selectably actuable vehicle mounted apparatus for receiving signals from said remote control apparatus and for operating said plurality of vehicle functions in accordance with said signals; and

electrical switching means for selectably deactivating said vehicle mounted apparatus so as to enable non-remote control of said vehicle functions, and wherein said remote control apparatus comprises;

means for transmitting said signals to said vehicle mounted apparatus for operating selected ones of said plurality of vehicle functions;

signal receiving means; and

means, associated with said signal receiving means, for providing an output indication of operation of the selected vehicle functions,

said vehicle mounted apparatus comprising;

means for operating each of said plurality of vehicle functions;

computer means, associated with said means for operating, for monitoring each of said plurality of vehicle functions; and

means for receiving and processing said signals transmitted from said remote control apparatus and for providing first output signals, in accordance with said transmitted signals, to said means for operating so as to cause operation of the selected vehicle functions, said means for receiving and processing also being operative to communicate with said computer means and further comprising means for providing second output signals, indicative of operation of the selected vehicle functions, to said signal receiving means of said remote control apparatus.

8. A vehicle system according to claim 7, and wherein said vehicle mounted apparatus also comprises:

visual surveillance means for surveying an area visible from said combat vehicle; and

means, associated with said visual surveillance means, for transmitting a video output, said remote control apparatus also comprising;

means for receiving said video output; and

means, associated with said means for receiving said video output, for providing a visual display corresponding to said video output.

9. A vehicle system according to claim 8, and wherein said remote control system also includes means for navigating said vehicle along a selected path.

10. A vehicle system according to claim 7, and wherein said means for transmitting of said remote control apparatus comprises means for transmitting radio signals, and said means for receiving and processing of said vehicle mounted apparatus comprises means for receiving and processing radio signals.

11. A vehicle system according to claim 7, and wherein said means for operating said predetermined plurality of vehicle functions comprises:

means for operating motive functions of said vehicle; and

means for operating auxiliary functions of said vehicle.

12. A vehicle according to claim 7, and wherein said means for providing second output signals of said means for receiving and processing comprises means for transmitting radio signals, and said signal receiving means of said remote control apparatus comprises means for receiving radio signals.