Systems and methods for controlling movement of unmanned vehicles
First Claim
1. A system, comprising an unmanned vehicle and a control unit communicatively coupled to the unmanned vehicle:
- the unmanned vehicle comprising;
a body;
a movable element coupled to the body;
an actuating device operable to move the movable element; and
a first controller communicatively coupled to the actuating device and being operable to activate and deactivate the actuating device in response to control inputs generated by the control unit;
the control unit comprising;
an input device configured to move in response to a user input;
a sensor operable to sense movement of the input device; and
a second controller communicatively coupled to the sensor;
the second controller operable to;
determine a displacement of the input device based on inputs from the sensor;
determine a target displacement of the unmanned vehicle based on a relationship between the displacement of the input device and the target displacement of the unmanned vehicle; and
generate the control inputs for the unmanned vehicle; and
the control inputs, when received by the unmanned vehicle, cause the unmanned vehicle to substantially attain the target displacement.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Control units (10) for use with unmanned vehicles (12) include an input device (50) that moves in response to a user input, sensors (70) coupled to the input device (50), and a controller (16). The sensors (70) generate outputs related to the movement of the input device (50). The controller (16) determines a target displacement of the unmanned vehicle (12) based on the outputs of the sensors (70), and generates a control input related to the target displacement. The control input, when received by the unmanned vehicle (12), causes the unmanned vehicle (12) to substantially attain the target displacement. The position of the vehicle (12) is thus controlled by directly controlling the displacement of the vehicle (12).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system, comprising an unmanned vehicle and a control unit communicatively coupled to the unmanned vehicle:
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the unmanned vehicle comprising; a body; a movable element coupled to the body; an actuating device operable to move the movable element; and a first controller communicatively coupled to the actuating device and being operable to activate and deactivate the actuating device in response to control inputs generated by the control unit; the control unit comprising; an input device configured to move in response to a user input; a sensor operable to sense movement of the input device; and a second controller communicatively coupled to the sensor;
the second controller operable to;determine a displacement of the input device based on inputs from the sensor; determine a target displacement of the unmanned vehicle based on a relationship between the displacement of the input device and the target displacement of the unmanned vehicle; and generate the control inputs for the unmanned vehicle; and the control inputs, when received by the unmanned vehicle, cause the unmanned vehicle to substantially attain the target displacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system, comprising a control unit and an unmanned vehicle communicatively coupled to the control unit, wherein:
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the control unit comprises; an input device configured to move in response to a user input; a sensor coupled to the input device and being operable to generate an output related to the movement of the input device; and a first controller operable to determine a target displacement of the unmanned vehicle based on the outputs of the sensor, and to generate a control input related to the target displacement; and the unmanned vehicle comprises; a body; a movable element mounted on the body and operable to affect a displacement of the unmanned vehicle; an actuating device operable to move the movable element; and a second controller operable to activate the actuating device in response to the control input of the first controller to effectuate the target displacement of the unmanned vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A control unit for use with an unmanned vehicle, comprising:
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an input device movable in response to a user input; one or more sensors coupled to the input device and generating an output related to the movement of the input device; and a first controller generating a control input for the unmanned vehicle based on a target displacement of the unmanned vehicle, the target displacement determined based on a relationship between a displacement of the input device and the target displacement of the unmanned vehicle; wherein the control input, when received by the unmanned vehicle, causes a second controller to control the unmanned vehicle such that the unmanned vehicle substantially attains the target displacement.
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Specification