Remote control methods and systems

• US 9,864,370 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• 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:
  US15/190,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20170003680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2, 701 3, 701483, 701517, 340961
• 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 system for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the system comprising:

a first communication module configured to transmit control data directly to the UAV via a first wireless communication link, the control data used to control operations of the UAV;

a second communication module configured to transmit the control data to a monitoring terminal located remotely from the UAV, the monitoring terminal configured to transmit the control data to the UAV via a second wireless communication link; and

one or more processors, individually or collectively, configured to terminate and reactivate the first wireless communication link based on one or more predetermined criteria.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein terminating the first wireless communication link is implemented by disabling the first communication module or disabling a communication module located on board the UAV configured to receive the control data directly from the first communication module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to terminate the first wireless communication link temporarily for a predetermined period of time before reactivating the first wireless communication link.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to terminate the first wireless communication link for an indefinite period of time until a risk of interference of data transmission is reduced.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprise a determination that the first wireless communication link is experiencing or will likely experience interference.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the determination is based on predetermined timing information related to data transmission.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein predetermined timing information comprises a predetermined start time, length, or frequency of transmission of control data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprise an establishment of the second wireless communication link.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communication module is configured to transmit the control data to the monitoring terminal via a wired link.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data is generated at a control terminal located remotely from the UAV.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data is generated at the monitoring terminal.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second communication modules are located on board the control terminal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring terminal is further configured to receive feedback data from the UAV.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria depend at least on part on the received feedback data.

15. A method of communicating with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

transmitting, with aid of a first wireless communication link, control data from a first communication module directly to the UAV, the control data used to control operations of the UAV;

terminating the first wireless communication link, with aid of one or more processors, based on one or more predetermined criteria;

transmitting the control data from a second communication module to a monitoring terminal; and

transmitting, with aid of a second wireless communication link, the control data from the monitoring terminal to the UAV.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising reactivating the first wireless communication link.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first wireless communication link is reactivated after a predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first wireless communication link is reactivated after a risk of interference of data transmission is reduced.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprise a determination that the communication link is experiencing or will likely experience interference.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein terminating the first wireless communication link comprises disabling the first wireless communication link.