System and method for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle comprising:
- engaging an automatic control system of the vehicle;
disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system comprises bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element by providing power to the automatic control system in response to engagement of the automatic control system via an alternative power control element comprising at least one power limiting element that is inaccessible, wherein bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element further comprises providing power from an alternative, inaccessible power supply via the alternative power control element comprising at least one power limiting element in response to engagement of the automatic control system; and
controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system.
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Abstract
The method and system for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle include engaging an automatic control system when the security of the onboard controls is jeopardized. Engagement may be automatic or manual from inside the vehicle or remotely via a communication link. Any onboard capability to supersede the automatic control system may then be disabled by disconnecting the onboard controls and/or providing uninterruptible power to the automatic control system via a path that does not include the onboard accessible power control element(s). The operation of the vehicle is then controlled via the processing element of the automatic control system. The control commands may be received from a remote location and/or from predetermined control commands that are stored onboard the vehicle.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle comprising:
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engaging an automatic control system of the vehicle; disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system, wherein disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system comprises bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element by providing power to the automatic control system in response to engagement of the automatic control system via an alternative power control element comprising at least one power limiting element that is inaccessible, wherein bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element further comprises providing power from an alternative, inaccessible power supply via the alternative power control element comprising at least one power limiting element in response to engagement of the automatic control system; and controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for automatically controlling a path of travel of a vehicle comprising:
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at least one engagement element capable of engaging an automatic control system of the vehicle; and at least one processing element capable of disabling any onboard capability to supersede the engaged automatic control system and any onboard capability to disengage the engaged automatic control system, and wherein said processing element is capable of receiving instructions for controlling operation of the vehicle via the automatic control system, and wherein said processing element is also capable of providing power to the automatic control system from an alternative, inaccessible power supply in response to engagement of the automatic control system, and wherein said processing element is further capable of bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element in response to engagement of the automatic control system so as to provide power to the automatic control system from the alternative, inaccessible power supply via an alternative power control element comprising at least one power limiting element that is also inaccessible. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of engaging an uninterruptible autopilot mode to automatically control flight operations of an air vehicle, comprising:
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initiating an autopilot system of the air vehicle; disconnecting onboard flight controls and bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element to connect the autopilot system of the air vehicle to an alternative, inaccessible power supply in response to initiation of the autopilot system, such that the uninterruptible autopilot mode of the air vehicle is engaged, wherein bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element comprises switching from the at least one onboard accessible power control element to an alternative, inaccessible power control element comprising at least one power limiting element so as to supply power via the alternative, inaccessible power control element to the autopilot system from the alternative, inaccessible power supply in response to initiation of the autopilot system; and automatically navigating the air vehicle without input from onboard the air vehicle via the uninterruptible autopilot mode of the air vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An uninterruptible autopilot system for automatically controlling flight operations of an air vehicle, comprising:
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an autopilot system capable of receiving a signal to initiate the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle; at least one switching element capable of disconnecting onboard manual flight controls and bypassing at least one onboard accessible power control element to connect said autopilot system of the air vehicle to an alternative inaccessible power supply in response to initiation of the autopilot system, such that the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle is engaged, wherein said at least one switching element is responsive to initiation of the uninterruptible autopilot system so as to bypass at least one onboard accessible power control element by switching from the at least one onboard accessible power control element to an alternative, inaccessible power control element comprising at least one power limiting element so as to supply power via the alternative, inaccessible power control element to the autopilot system from the alternative, inaccessible power supply; and a processing element capable of automatically navigating the air vehicle without input from onboard the air vehicle via the uninterruptible autopilot system of the air vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification