Open architecture command system

• US 8,265,818 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Defense Technologies
• Original Assignee: Defense Technologies
• Inventors: Allport, Christopher Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LUAT T
• Application Number:
  US12/478,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 244/10, 331/1.A, 331/27, 318/568.1, 318/603, 318/618
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00

Abstract

A command and control system is provided including a core unit, with a processor and a map display engine. The core unit is configured to exchange information with a multi-domain heterogeneous unmanned vehicle command and control module, a multi-sensor command and control module, and an asset tracking module. The asset tracking module estimates a location of an indeterminate object. A control unit exchanges information with an input device. A detecting unit detects modules that are associated with the core unit. A subscription unit logs parameters associated with the detected modules and determines types of data to send to the detected units based on the parameters. A script unit receives and implements command and control scripts for the detected modules. A display output provides display information of a combined representation of information from the detected modules and map information, including locations of the vehicles and sensors under control and the estimated location of the indeterminate object.

Claims

1. A command and control system comprising:

a core unit, including a processor and a map display engine, configured to exchange information with;

a multi-domain heterogeneous unmanned vehicle command and control module;

a multi-sensor command and control module; and

an asset tracking module that estimates a location of an indeterminate object;

a control unit that exchanges information with an input device;

a detecting unit that detects modules that are associated with the core unit;

a subscription unit that logs parameters associated with the detected modules and determines types of data to send to the detected units based on the parameters;

a script unit that receives and implements command and control scripts for the detected modules;

a display output that provides display information of a combined representation of information from the detected modules and map information, including locations of the vehicles and sensors under control and the estimated location of the indeterminate object.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the script unit is configured to download a script from a vehicle or sensor detected by the system, the script implemented by one of the command and control modules to control or monitor the vehicle.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the script unit is configured to:

download a script identifier from a vehicle or sensor detected by the system; and

retrieve a script based on the script identifier, the script implemented by one of the command and control modules to control or monitor the vehicle.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the asset tracking module is configured to predict a location of the indeterminate object based on historical data, motion characteristics, and latency related to the indeterminate object.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein motion characteristics of the indeterminate object are acquired from a database based on a type of the indeterminate object, the motion characteristics including a turning rate, minimum speed, maximum speed, acceleration capability and deceleration capability.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the future location is a bubble encompassing possible locations where the indeterminate object may be during a designated time based on the turning rate, minimum speed, maximum speed, acceleration capability and deceleration capability of the indeterminate object.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the display output includes information regarding the indeterminate object only when the respective future location of the indeterminate object satisfies a predetermined criteria with respect to an asset under control.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a payload unit that detects and controls optional capabilities of vehicles and sensors under control of the modules.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the payload unit is configured to detect the optional capabilities based on information received from the vehicle and sensor under control.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the payload unit is configured to detect the optional capabilities based on a script identifier received from the vehicle and sensor under control.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to validate commands on a control side against limits of the vehicle or sensor under control, the limits received from the vehicle or sensor.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the modules comprise an interpreting unit that interprets the protocol of a vehicle or sensor under control, or information fed to the tracking module, to a standard protocol for translation with the core unit, each of the modules communicating with the core unit only in the standard protocol.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium bearing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to function as a command and control system comprising:

a core unit, including a processor and a map display engine, configured to exchange information with;

a multi-domain heterogeneous unmanned vehicle command and control module;

a multi-sensor command and control module; and

an asset tracking module that estimates a location of an indeterminate object;

a control unit that exchanges information with an input device;

a detecting unit that detects modules that are associated with the core unit;

a subscription unit that logs parameters associated with the detected modules and determines types of data to send to the detected units based on the parameters;

a script unit that receives and implements command and control scripts for the detected modules;

a display output that provides display information of a combined representation of information from the detected modules and map information, including locations of the vehicles and sensors under control and the estimated location of the indeterminate object.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the script unit is configured to download a script from a vehicle or sensor detected by the system, the script implemented by one of the command and control modules to control or monitor the vehicle.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the script unit is configured to:

download a script identifier from a vehicle or sensor detected by the system; and

retrieve a script based on the script identifier, the script implemented by one of the command and control modules to control or monitor the vehicle.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the asset tracking module is configured to predict a location of the indeterminate object based on historical data, motion characteristics, and latency related to the indeterminate object.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein motion characteristics of the indeterminate object are acquired from a database based on a type of the indeterminate object, the motion characteristics including a turning rate, minimum speed, maximum speed, acceleration capability and deceleration capability.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the future location is a bubble encompassing possible locations where the indeterminate object may be during a designated time based on the turning rate, minimum speed, maximum speed, acceleration capability and deceleration capability of the indeterminate object.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the display output includes information regarding the indeterminate object only when the respective future location of the indeterminate object satisfies a predetermined criteria with respect to an asset under control.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, further comprising a payload unit that detects and controls optional capabilities of vehicles and sensors under control of the modules.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the payload unit is configured to detect the optional capabilities based on information received from the vehicle and sensor under control.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the payload unit is configured to detect the optional capabilities based on a script identifier received from the vehicle and sensor under control.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the system is configured to validate commands on a control side against limits of the vehicle or sensor under control, the limits received from the vehicle or sensor.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the modules comprise an interpreting unit that interprets the protocol of a vehicle or sensor under control, or information fed to the tracking module, to a standard protocol for translation with the core unit, each of the modules communicating with the core unit only in the standard protocol.

25. A method of controlling multiple sensors and vehicles, while monitoring a target, the method comprising:

detecting modules that are linked to a core unit including a processor and a map display engine, the modules including;

a multi-domain heterogeneous unmanned vehicle command and control module;

a multi-sensor command and control module; and

an asset tracking module,

receiving and implementing command and control scripts for the detected modules;

logging parameters associated with the detected modules and determining types of data to send to the detected units based on the parameters;

providing information to the core unit from the detected modules;

providing control commands from an input device to the unmanned vehicle command and control module, and the multi-sensor command and control module, via the core unit;

detecting and controlling optional capabilities of vehicles and sensors under control of the modules;

estimating a location of an indeterminate object;

displaying a combined representation of information from the detected modules and map information including locations of the vehicles and sensors under control and the estimated location of the indeterminate object,

wherein, the modules comprise an interpreting unit that interprets a protocol of a vehicle or sensor under control, or information fed to the tracking module, to a standard protocol for translation with the core unit, each of the modules communicating with the core unit only in the standard protocol.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein receiving and implementing command and control scripts for the detected modules comprises at least one of:

downloading a script from a vehicle or sensor detected by the system, the script implemented by one of the command and control modules to control or monitor the vehicle; and

downloading a script identifier from a vehicle or sensor detected by the system, and retrieving a script based on the script identifier, the script implemented by one of the command and control modules to control or monitor the vehicle.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein estimating a location of an indeterminate object comprises predicting a location of the indeterminate object based on historical data, motion characteristics, and latency related to the indeterminate object.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein:

motion characteristics of the indeterminate object are acquired from a database based on a type of the indeterminate object, the motion characteristics including a turning rate, minimum speed, maximum speed, acceleration capability and deceleration capability; and

the future location is a bubble encompassing possible locations where the indeterminate object may be during a designated time based on the turning rate, minimum speed, maximum speed, acceleration capability and deceleration capability of the indeterminate object.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the displaying includes information regarding the indeterminate object only when the respective future location of the indeterminate object satisfies a predetermined criteria with respect to a vehicle or sensor under control.

30. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

associating control limits with the vehicle or sensor under control based on at least one of limits received from the vehicle or sensor, and limits acquired based on a vehicle or sensor type; and

validating commands on a control side against the limits of the vehicle or sensor under control.