Vehicle remote control system

• US 5,596,319 A
• Filed: 10/31/1994
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Willie L. Spry
• Original Assignee: Willie L. Spry
• Inventors: Spry, Willie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tong, Nina
• Application Number:
  US08/332,147
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/438, 340/439, 364/424.04, 364/424.03, 364/439, 364/113, 364/143, 364/148, 434/63, 434/62, 434/65, 434/66, 434/69, 446/456, 180/198, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/167, 273/86 R, 273/86 B, 901/1, 348/114, 348/723, 348/724, 348/725, 348/726
• US Class Current: 340/903
• 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: G05D 1/0231 using optical position detecting means position-fixing by using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. optical position detecting means G01S5/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058

Abstract

A vehicle remote control system includes at least one remote controlled vehicle and a remote control station for each of the at least one remotely controlled vehicles. Each control station allows a user to control the operation of one of the remote control vehicles. Each remote controlled vehicle includes a camera having a lens with a field of view in a direction toward a forward path of travel for that vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle is a car and includes various sensors for monitoring the operation of various parameters of the vehicle, such as speed. Each car is equipped with an instrument panel located in the field of view of the lens as well as two side rear view mirrors, one attached to a left fender and the other to a right fender, which are also located in the field of view of the lens. In this manner, the user at a remote control station controlling the vehicle may see on a monitor objects located in front or to the sides of the vehicle, objects behind the vehicle, and may monitor the various parameters displayed on the instrument panel. In the preferred embodiment, the monitor is any commercially available television set. A communications system including two way radios as needed is provided for communications between users, including the race coordinator. A vehicle conditioning platform is used to cool or heat or selectively cool/heat vehicle(s) not being used immediately.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

at least one remote control unit;

at least one remote controlled vehicle including;

a remote control receiver for receiving a selective remote control signal sent by a user from one remote control unit,

a drive mechanism for propelling said vehicle in a direction and speed in accordance with said received selective remote control signal,

a camera for producing a video signal in accordance with a video image viewed by a lens of said camera, said lens having a field of view in a direction toward a forward path of travel of said remote controlled vehicle,

a video signal transmitter for modulating said video signal and transmitting said modulated video signal to said one remote control unit,

a vehicle monitoring system for monitoring various parameters of said vehicle, and

an instrumentation display for displaying information indicative of said various monitored parameters, said instrumentation display being within the field of view of said lens;

wherein said at least one remote control unit including;

a video transmission link for receiving said transmitted modulated video signal,

user control inputs for producing user control signals in response to user inputs,

controller means for converting said user control signals into said selective remote control signal,

a remote control modulator for modulating said selective remote control signal, and

a remote control transmission link connected to said remote control modulator for transmitting said modulated selective remote control signal to said remote controlled vehicle; and

a vehicle conditioning platform including,

a flat bed for receiving said remote controlled vehicle,

a back gate pivotally attached to a back portion of said conditioning platform for allowing said vehicle to roll up onto said flat bed when said back gate is lowered,

a front gate pivotally attached to a front portion of said conditioning platform for allowing said vehicle to roll of said flat bed when said front gate is lowered,

an enclosed bottom portion located below said flat bed

an air generating unit within said enclosed bottom portion, and

a plurality of air outlet holes located on said flat bed for allowing air generated from said air generating unit within said bottom portion to exit through said holes so as to condition said remote controlled vehicle located on said flat bed.

2. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said video signal transmitter is configured to modulate said video signal in a format as outlined within a national standard television code.

3. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said camera further includes a built in microphone for combining an audio signal with said video signal.

4. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes at least one rear view mirror located within the field of view of said lens.

5. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes a channel selector for selecting one of a plurality of channels for operating said remote controlled vehicle, each channel including a predetermined and unique video broadcast frequency at which said video signal is modulated by said video signal transmitter.

6. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said each channel further includes a predetermined and unique remote control signal for operating said remote controlled vehicle.

7. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one remote control unit further includes:

video signal demodulation circuitry connected to said video transmission link for recovering said transmitted modulated video signal, and

video signal modulation circuitry connected to said video signal demodulation circuitry for modulating said recovered video signal output into a video format within a national television standard code.

8. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said remote control unit further includes:

a demodulation tuner connected to said video signal demodulation circuitry for setting a carrier center frequency at which said video signal demodulation circuitry recovers said transmitted modulated video signal,

channel selector circuitry having a plurality of settings for allowing the user to select one of a plurality of channels, the selected channel being used to operate said remote controlled vehicle, and

control circuitry including means for controlling said demodulation turner in such a way as to select said carrier center frequency from a plurality of carrier center frequencies in accordance with the setting of said channel selector circuitry.

9. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one remote control unit further includes a remote control tuner connected to said remote control modulator for selecting a format of modulation for said remote control signal from a plurality of formats of modulation, wherein said remote control receiver of said remote controlled vehicle only receives a remote control signal of a particular one of said plurality of formats of modulation.

10. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of remote controlled vehicles and a corresponding plurality of remote control units, each of said remote control units further including a two way radio for communicating between said remote control units.

11. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air generating unit is an air conditioner for outputting cooled air.

12. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air generating unit is a heater for outputting heated air.

13. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air generating unit is configured to output cooled and heated air, selectively.

14. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of remote controlled vehicles and a corresponding plurality of remote control units.