Remote control methods and systems

• US 8,924,044 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Wang, Hong Tao, Huang, Zhi Cong
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US14/260,173
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/3, 701/16, 701/481, 701/483, 701/517, 340/961
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/02 Model aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0034 by ground-control override
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• 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: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/02 simultaneously, i.e. using frequency division
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0023 Interference mitigation or co-ordination direct sequence spread spectrum [DSSS] systems H04B1/7097; frequency hopping H04B1/713; allocation criteria for ingress interference avoidance H04L5/0062; frequency allocation criteria for requirements on out-of-channel emissions H04L5/0066; arrangements for removing intersymbol interference or baseband equalisers H04L25/03006; peak power aspects in multicarrier modulation H04L27/2614; power management H04W52/00; traffic scheduling H04W72/54, H04W72/541
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0015 characterised by the adaptation strategy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for preventing interference from simultaneous data transmissions in a remote control system. A controlled terminal is typically configured to receive control data from a controlling terminal and to transmit feedback data to a monitoring terminal. To prevent interference caused by the simultaneous transmissions of control data and feedback data. The controlling terminal can transmit the control data to the monitoring terminal, which then transmits the control data to the controlled terminal. Such transmission of the control data may be carried out in a way that does not interfere with the transmission of the feedback data.

Claims

1. A monitoring terminal, said monitoring terminal comprising:

a first communication module capable of two-way communication with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) via a first communication link between the first communication module and the UAV at a first frequency band; and

a second communication module configured to receive control data from a controlling terminal via a second communication link that does not interfere with the first communication link, the control data being generated at the controlling terminal,

wherein the control data is conveyed via the first communication link to the UAV, thereby controlling operation of the UAV using the control data, and wherein the monitoring terminal is located remotely from the UAV.

2. The monitoring terminal of claim 1, wherein the control data is operable for controlling flight of the UAV.

3. The monitoring terminal of claim 1, wherein the controlling terminal is capable of transmitting the control data to the UAV via a third communication link, thereby controlling activity of the UAV.

4. The monitoring terminal of claim 3, wherein the controlling terminal is not capable of receiving data from the UAV.

5. The monitoring terminal of claim 1, wherein the two-way communication via the first communication link occurs through a time division multiplexing (TDM) scheme.

6. The monitoring terminal of claim 1, wherein the two-way communication via the first communication link occurs through a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) scheme.

7. The monitoring terminal of claim 1, wherein the first communication module is configured to receive feedback data from the UAV.

8. The monitoring terminal of claim 7, wherein the feedback data includes sensor data.

9. The monitoring terminal of claim 7, wherein the feedback data is indicative of an operational state of the UAV.

10. The monitoring terminal of claim 7, further comprising a display configured to show the feedback data received from the UAV via the first communication link.

11. The monitoring terminal of claim 1, wherein the second communication link is a wired communication link.

12. The monitoring terminal of claim 1, wherein the second communication link is a wireless communication link using a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band.

13. The monitoring terminal of claim 1, wherein the second communication module includes a trainer interface configured to receive the control data from a trainer interface of the controlling terminal.

14. A system for controlling a UAV, said system comprising:

the monitoring terminal of claim 1;

the UAV, wherein the UAV is configured to send feedback data to the first communication module via the first communication link; and

the controlling terminal, wherein the controlling terminal comprises a processor that causes the control data to be transmitted via the second communication link, while preventing the control data to be transmitted directly to the UAV via a third communication link.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controlling terminal includes a user interface capable of receiving a user input that aids in the generation of the control data.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the user interface is capable of displaying the feedback data received from the UAV.

17. A method for communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:

receiving, by a monitoring terminal that is located remotely from the UAV, feedback data from the UAV, feedback data via a first communication link;

receiving, by the monitoring terminal, control data from a controlling terminal via a second communication link that does not interfere with the first communication link, the control data being generated at the controlling terminal; and

sending, by the monitoring terminal, the control data to the UAV via the first communication link, thereby controlling operation of the UAV using the control data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the feedback data is received via the first communication link at a first frequency band and the control data is sent to the UAV at the first frequency band.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the control data is received, from the controlling terminal, at a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the control data is received, from the controlling terminal, using a wired communication link.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the control data is received, from the controlling terminal, via a trainer interface.

22. A method of controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising:

receiving, at the UAV, control data from a controlling terminal via a first communication link at a first frequency band, thereby controlling activity of the UAV using the control data generated at the controlling terminal;

transmitting, from the UAV, feedback data to a monitoring terminal via a second communication link at the first frequency band;

determining, with aid of a processor, when the receiving and transmitting are simultaneously occurring at the same first frequency band; and

effecting termination of the first communication link when the receiving and transmitting are simultaneously occurring at the same first frequency band, and causing the control data from the controlling terminal to be transmitted to the monitoring terminal via a third communication link that does not interfere with the first communication link or the second communication link.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the third communication link is a wired communication link.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the third communication link is a wireless communication link using a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the third communication link utilizes a trainer interface.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein determining when the receiving and transmitting are simultaneously occurring at the same first frequency band is based on one or more communication environment characteristics.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein effecting the termination of the first communication link includes stopping operation of a communication module associated with the controlling terminal, the communication module operable for transmitting control data to the UAV.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein effecting the termination of the first communication link includes stopping operation of a communication module associated with the UAV, the communication module operable for receiving control data from the controlling terminal.