Method and device for controlling a remote vehicle

• US 8,019,223 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flir Detection, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Hudson, Edison, Pack, Robert Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): SEDIGHIAN, MOHAMMAD REZA
• Application Number:
  US12/463,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20090232506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 856 Days
• Field of Search: 398/106, 398/107, 398/108, 398/109, 398/110, 356/141.1, 356/141.2, 356/141.3, 356/141.4, 356/141.5, 356/152.1, 356/152.2, 356/152.3, 180/169, 701/23, 250/203.1
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/00 Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a remote vehicle comprises a hand-held controller including a laser generator for generating a laser beam. The hand-held controller is manipulable to aim and actuate the laser beam to designate a destination for the remote vehicle. The remote vehicle senses a reflection of the laser beam and moves toward the designated destination. The hand-held controller allows single-handed control of the remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads. A method for controlling a remote vehicle via a laser beam comprises encoding control signals for a remote vehicle into a laser beam that is aimed and sent to a designated destination for the remote vehicle, and sensing a reflection of the laser beam, decoding the control signals for the remote vehicle, and moving toward the designated destination.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a remote vehicle, the system comprising:

a hand-held controller including a laser generator for generating a laser beam comprising an embedded unique code corresponding to the remote vehicle, the hand-held controller being manipulable to aim and actuate the laser beam to designate a destination for the remote vehicle,

wherein the remote vehicle senses a reflection of the laser beam, verifies the embedded unique code, computes a trajectory to the designated destination, and moves toward the designated destination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand-held controller allows single-handed control of the remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand-held controller includes a hand grip.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a least one input device is located on the hand grip.

5. The system of claim 4, including additional input devices located on the hand-held controller, the input devices comprising at least a joystick or puck.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand grip is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the input device location is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand-held controller includes a replaceable hand grip selected to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

9. A system for controlling a remote vehicle, the system comprising:

a hand-held controller allowing single-handed control of a remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads, the hand-held controller comprising a laser generator for generating a laser beam and being manipulable to aim and actuate the laser beam to designate a destination; and

a remote vehicle comprising a sensor for sensing a reflection of the laser beam, and a processor for calculating a vector angle to the destination and computing a trajectory to the destination.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a unique code corresponding to the remote vehicle is embedded in laser beam.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the hand-held controller includes a hand grip.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a least one input device is located on the hand grip.

13. The system of claim 12, including additional input devices located on the hand-held controller, the input devices comprising at least a joystick or puck.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the hand grip is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the input device location is adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the hand-held controller includes a replaceable hand grip selected to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.

17. A hand-held controller being manipulable to aim and actuate a laser beam to designate a destination for a remote vehicle, the hand-held controller comprising:

a laser generator configured to generate a laser beam comprising an embedded unique code corresponding to the remote vehicle, the laser beam designating a destination for the remote vehicle to move toward;

a hand grip configured to be adjustable to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand; and

at least one input device located on the hand grip.

18. The hand-held controller of claim 17, wherein the hand-held controller allows single-handed control of the remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads.

19. The hand-held controller of claim 17, including additional input devices comprising at least a joystick or puck.

20. The system of claim 17, including a replaceable hand grip selected to fit a size of a user'"'"'s hand.