Voice-activated command and control for remotely controlled model vehicles

• US 8,401,860 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PatentWorks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Paul R. Evans
• Inventors: Evans, Paul R
• Primary Examiner(s): COLUCCI, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US11/123,626
• Time in Patent Office: 2,874 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/225, 381/172, 341/176, 701/9, 701/3, 701/2, 701/16, 701/1, 398/129, 342/29, 340/995.14, 340/945
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Abstract

A voice-activated command and control system for remotely-controlled vehicles includes a voice-activated control module, a microphone, and a verbal or visual feedback indicator such as a speaker. The operator speaks instructions into the microphone to activate control functions on the vehicle. Confirmation of receipt and/or status of the verbally commanded instructions are sent back to the operator such as spoken through the speaker. The microphone and speaker can be implemented, for example, either in a headset (with a microphone and earphones) worn by the operator, or in the hand-held controller for the vehicle. The system can be alternately implemented without the speaker or other feedback element.

Claims

1. A voice-activated command and control system for a line-of-sight remotely controlled model having trim control functions that are required for stable propulsion and control of the model;

the model optionally having auxiliary control functions that are not required for stable propulsion and control of the module;

the model having an on-board controller to (a) receive trim control function signals and, if applicable, auxiliary control function signals, by wireless transmission and (b) control the trim control functions and, if applicable, the auxiliary control functions on the model responsive to corresponding trim control function signals and auxiliary control function signals received;

the voice-activated command and control system comprising;

a) a portable microphone for receiving an audible command from an operator; and

b) a portable voice-activated control module for transmitting a control function signal responsive to the audible command received by the microphone to the model by wireless transmission;

c) wherein the portable microphone and portable voice-activated control module allow the operator, using his or her voice, to speak a word command into the portable microphone to voice activate and remotely control at least one of said control functions of the model; and

d) a portable hand-held controller with manually operated trim-function controls corresponding to the trim control functions of the model, the portable hand-held controller transmitting said trim control function signals by wireless transmission to the model responsive to the operator'"'"'s manual operation of said trim-function controls;

whereby stable propulsion and control of the model can be achieved with the portable hand-held controller independently of the voice-activated control module.

2. The voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 1 in which the portable control module recognizes certain audible commands comprising a first descriptive part and a second numeric or relational part.

3. The voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a headset that carries the portable microphone.

4. The voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 1 in which the portable microphone and the portable control module are located together in a single unit.

5. The voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 1 wherein portable control module and the portable hand-held controller cooperatively transmitting (a) control function signals responsive to audible commands received by the portable microphone and (b) manual trim control function signals, respectively, to the model by wireless transmission in parallel for a common command set whereby the model is alternatively responsive to the control function signals in said common command set from the audible commands received by the portable microphone and from the manual trim control functions independently of each other.

6. The voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the portable voice-activated control module and the portable hand-held controller cooperatively transmitting control function signals responsive to audible commands received by the portable microphone and manual trim control function signals, respectively, to the model by wireless transmission in series for a common command set whereby the model is exclusively responsive to individual control function signals in said common command set from either an audible command received by the portable microphone or a manual trim control function.

7. The voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 1 in which the portable control module (a) communicates with a microprocessor simulated environment for implementing the model, and (b) transmits the control function signals by simulated wireless transmission to the simulated model.

8. The voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 7 in which the portable control module is further configured to select or control operational or environmental parameters of the simulated environment responsive to additional audible commands spoken to the portable microphone.

9. The voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 1 in which the portable control module transmits the control function signals by radio waves to the model.

10. A two-way voice-activated command and control system for a line-of-sight remotely controlled model;

the model having trim control functions that are required for stable propulsion and control of the module;

the model optionally having auxiliary control functions that are not required for stable propulsion and control of the model;

the model having an on-board controller to (a) receive trim control function signals and, if applicable, auxiliary control function signals, by wireless transmission, (b) control the trim control function and, if applicable, the auxiliary control functions on the model responsive to corresponding trim control function signals and auxiliary control function signals received, and (c) transmit feedback signals by return wireless transmission indicative of at least one of (i) the control function signals received, (ii) status of the control functions on the model responsive to the corresponding control function signals received, and (iii) model operational or environmental data;

the two-way voice-activated command and control system comprising;

a) a portable microphone for receiving an audible command from an operator;

b) a portable voice-activated control module for transmitting a control function signal responsive to the audible command received by the microphone to the model by wireless transmission;

c) a portable feedback indicator responsive to feedback signals received by return wireless transmission from the model;

d) wherein the portable microphone and portable voice-activated control module allow the operator, using his or her voice, to speak a word command into the portable microphone to voice activate and remotely control at least one of said control functions of the model; and

e) a portable hand-held controller with manually operated trim-functions controls corresponding to the trim control function signals by wireless transmission to the model responsive to the operator'"'"'s manual operation of the trim-function controls whereby stable propulsion and control of the model can be achieved with the portable hand-held controller independently of the portable voice-activated control module.

11. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 in which the portable control module recognizes certain audible commands comprising a first descriptive part and a second numeric or relational part.

12. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 in which the portable microphone and portable feedback indicator are located together in a single unit.

13. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 in which the portable feedback indicator provides at least one of an audible feedback indicator and a visual feedback indicator responsive to return feedback signals from the model.

14. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 in which the portable feedback indicator includes a speaker to produce said audible feedback in the form of spoken communication, and a headset that carries the portable microphone and the speaker in a single unit.

15. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 wherein the portable voice-activated control module and the portable hand-held controller cooperatively transmitting (a) control function signals responsive to audible commands received by the portable microphone and (b) manual trim control function signals, respectively, to the model by wireless transmission in parallel for a common command set whereby the vehicle is alternatively responsive to the control function signals in said common command set from the audible commands received by the microphone and from the manual trim control functions independently of each other.

16. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 wherein the portable voice-activated control module and the portable hand-held controller cooperatively transmitting (a) control function signals responsive to audible commands received by the portable microphone and (b) manual trim control function signals, respectively, to the model by wireless transmission in series for a common command set whereby the model is exclusively responsive to individual control function signals in said common command set from either an audible command received by the microphone or a manual trim control function.

17. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 in which the portable control module (a) communicates with a microprocessor simulated environment for implementing the model, and (b) transmits the control function signals by simulated wireless transmission to the simulated model.

18. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 in which the portable control module is further configured to select or control operational or environmental parameters of the simulated environment responsive to additional audible commands spoken to the portable microphone.

19. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 in which the portable control module transmits the control function signals by radio waves to the model.

20. The two-way voice-activated command and control system as defined in claim 10 further comprising a second portable feedback indicator connected for multiplexed monitoring of the audible commands and the return feedback signals.