Method and device for controlling a remote vehicle

• US 7,548,697 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flir Detection, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Hudson, Edison, Pack, Robert Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): SEDIGHIAN, REZA
• Application Number:
  US11/748,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20080063400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 398/106, 398/107, 398/108, 398/109
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/00 Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a remote vehicle comprises a hand-held controller including a laser generator for generating a laser beam. The hand-held controller is manipulable to aim and actuate the laser beam to designate a destination for the remote vehicle. The remote vehicle senses a reflection of the laser beam and moves toward the designated destination. The hand-held controller allows single-handed control of the remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads. A method for controlling a remote vehicle via a laser beam comprises encoding control signals for a remote vehicle into a laser beam that is aimed and sent to a designated destination for the remote vehicle, and sensing a reflection of the laser beam, decoding the control signals for the remote vehicle, and moving toward the designated destination.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a remote vehicle, comprising:

enabling a laser designator mode on a remote vehicle;

illuminating a designated destination for the remote vehicle with a laser beam;

searching for the designated destination with a sensor on the remote vehicle;

determining whether a unique code embedded in the laser beam corresponds to the remote vehicle when the remote vehicle senses a laser beam designating a destination;

calculating a vector angle from the sensor input to the designated destination;

computing a trajectory to the designated destination; and

moving the remote vehicle to the designated destination when the unique code embedded in the laser beam corresponds to the remote vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein searching for the designated destination comprises searching for a reflection of the laser beam from the designated destination.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the laser designator mode and illuminated the designated destination are accomplished via single-handed control.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein single-handed control is effected with a hand-held controller.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hand-held controller is mounted on or integrated with a tool.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tool is a weapon.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising operating the remote vehicle while holding the weapon at ready and maintaining a degree of situational awareness.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the hand-held controller includes a hand grip.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one input device is located on the hand grip.

10. The method of claim 9, including at least two input devices located on the hand-held controller, the input devices comprising at least a joystick or puck.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the hand grip is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein a location of the input device is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the hand-held controller includes a replaceable hand grip selected to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a designated task when the remote vehicle reaches the designated destination.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the task comprises ordnance disposal.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating instructions for performing the task to the remote vehicle via the laser beam.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the remote vehicle before the remote vehicle reaches the designated destination.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising stopping the remote vehicle by disabling remote vehicle motion.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising embedding a stop code in the laser beam.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein a processor calculates the vector angle from the sensor input to the designated destination.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the quad detector comprises a uniform silicon disc.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the quad detector comprises two gaps across the uniform silicon disc that create four independent and equal photodetectors.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the gaps have a width of approximately 10 μ

m.