Steering control system for radio control vehicle and a radio controlled car comprising the same

• US 8,818,571 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HPI Racing & HB Co.
• Original Assignee: HPI Racing & HB Co.
• Inventors: Iida, Hiroyuki, Suzuki, Masahide
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMBY, RICHARD M
• Application Number:
  US13/799,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/36, 701 41- 44, 446/454, 446/456, 446/468, 340/12.22
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/36 Steering-mechanisms for toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A steering control system for a RC vehicle is provided. The steering control system comprises an angular speed sensor and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to receive a first steering signal from a receiver of the radio controlled vehicle which indicates a position of a control stick or a control wheel of a controller for the radio controlled vehicle and to receive a signal from the angular speed sensor. The first steering signal is adjusted based on the signal from the angular speed sensor and the position of a control stick or a control wheel of a controller to improve stability of the vehicle without deteriorating a maneuverability of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle comprising:

an angular speed sensor having a detection axis to detect an angular velocity about the detection axis, and

a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to;

receive a first steering signal from a receiver of the radio controlled vehicle which indicates a position of a steering control of a controller for the radio controlled vehicle,

quantify the first steering signal,

receive a signal from the angular speed sensor,

quantify the signal from the angular speed sensor so as to generate an assist amount, wherein the signal from the angular speed sensor is quantified to act on an actuator for the steering mechanism of the radio controlled vehicle to steer in a direction opposite to that of the detected angular velocity,

retrieve an first assist factor corresponding to the position of the steering control which the received first steering signal indicates

adjust the assist amount by multiplying the assist amount by the first assist factor,

add the adjusted assist amount to the quantified first steering signal to generate a second steering signal,

send the second steering signal to the actuator for the steering mechanism of the radio controlled vehicle.

2. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first assist factor corresponding to the position where the steering control is at a neutral position is set to a first value, and wherein the first assist factor is decreased as the steering control is moved away form the neutral position in either direction.

3. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the first assist factor corresponding to the position where the steering control is fully moved in either direction or in the vicinity thereof is set to 0.

4. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit further comprising a memory unit to store a set of first assist factors wherein each first assist factor is associated with the position of the steering control.

5. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of sets of first assist factors are stored in the memory unit.

6. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the processing unit further comprises a selector to select one of the available sets of first assist factors.

7. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the processing unit is further configured to receive a signal from the controller for the radio controlled vehicle through the receiver to select the set of first assist factors.

8. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the angular speed sensor comprises a gyroscope.

9. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a variable resistor to adjust a sensitivity of the angular speed sensor.

10. The steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the angular speed sensor unit and the processing unit are mounted on the substrate.

11. A radio controlled car comprising the steering control system for a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 1.

12. The radio controlled car according to claim 11, wherein the steering control system is mounted on a vehicle body such that detection axis is oriented in substantially same direction with a direction of gravitational force.

13. A method for steering a radio controlled vehicle comprising:

receiving a first steering signal from a receiver of the radio control vehicle which indicates a position of a steering control of a controller for the radio controlled vehicle,

quantifying the first steering signal,

receiving a signal from the angular speed sensor,

quantifying the signal from the angular speed sensor so as to generate an assist amount wherein the signal from the angular speed sensor is quantified to act on an actuator for the steering mechanism of the radio controlled vehicle to steer in a direction opposite to that of the detected angular velocity,

retrieving an first assist factor corresponding to the position of the steering control which the received first steering signal indicates,

adjusting the assist amount by multiplying the assist amount by an first assist factor,

adding the adjusted assist amount to the quantified first steering signal to generate a second steering signal,

sending the second steering signal to the actuator for the steering mechanism of the radio controlled vehicle.

14. The method for steering a radio controlled vehicle according to claim 13, further comprising selecting a set of first assist factors wherein a plurality of sets of first assist factors are stored in the memory unit.