Modular Controller

• US 20080174448A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Hudson, Edison
• Application Number:
  US11/933,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174448A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.22
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A portable network for connecting and utilizing functional modules to create an upgradable and reconfigurable device for controlling a remote vehicle. The portable network connects a processor configured to control a remote vehicle with recesses configured to receive functional modules.

Claims

1. A portable network for connecting and utilizing functional modules to create an upgradable and reconfigurable device for controlling a remote vehicle, the portable network connecting a processor configured to control a remote vehicle with recesses configured to receive functional modules.

2. The portable network of claim 1, wherein the functional modules comprise one or more of a radio module, a processor module, and storage module.

3. The portable network of claim 1, wherein the network is a gigabit Ethernet.

4. The portable network of claim 1, further comprising a power source.

5. The portable network of claim 4, wherein the power source is a swappable battery.

6. The portable network of claim 1, further comprising a communication device for exchanging data between the portable network and the remote vehicle.

7. The portable network of claim 6, wherein the communication device comprises one or more of a radio module and a tether.

8. A portable modular system comprising:

a frame including a processor, a network backplane, a display, one or more input devices, and recesses configured to receive functional modules,

wherein a communication device is included in the frame or connectable to the frame, and

wherein the network backplane connects the processor and the functional modules, allowing at least one of the processor and the functional modules to control a remote vehicle via the display, the input devices, and the communication device.

9. The portable modular system of claim 8, wherein the network is a gigabit Ethernet.

10. The portable modular system of claim 8, configured to perform certain functions and able to perform one or more of the certain functions despite other of the certain functions being unavailable.

11. The portable modular system of claim 10, wherein the other of the certain functions are unavailable because a functional module is in hibernate mode to save battery power, removed, or turned off purposefully.

12. The portable modular system of claim 8, configured to only allow control of a remote vehicle for training, repair, testing, or maintenance.

13. The portable modular system of claim 8, comprising system-level power management configured to awaken processors only as their functionality is needed.

14. A portable device for controlling a remote vehicle, the device comprising:

input devices configured to allow the user to input controls for the remote vehicle;

a display configured to display data regarding the remote vehicle to the user;

a communication device for exchanging data between the user and the remote vehicle;

an onboard processor configured for controlling the remote vehicle;

a network backplane; and

recesses configured to receive functional modules that allow upgrading and reconfiguring of the device, functional modules inserted into the recesses being connected to at least one other element of the frame via the network backplane.

15. The portable device of claim 14, configured to perform one or more of the following additional functions:

operator training and simulations;

unattended munitions control;

logistics and maintenance control, tracking, and assistance;

control and monitoring of unmanned ground sensors;

mission rehearsal and preparations/planning; and

medical diagnostics.

16. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the onboard processor is also configured to perform video compression/decompression, protocol handling, and graphics processing and display.

17. The portable device of claim 14, further comprising a digital signal processor and an FPGA, the digital signal processor and the FPGA being connected to the onboard processor to provide graphics processing for output to the display.

18. The portable device of claim 17, further comprising a processor module including a graphics processor.

19. The portable device of claim 18, wherein the processor module can be mapped to control the display.

20. The portable device of claim 19, configured to allow reduced latency using the digital signal processor and the FPGA logic to map into a picture-in-picture window on the display that can receive video streams without having to pass through the processor module.