Multimodal communication system

Abstract

A multimodal communication system includes a vehicle controller that controls one or more systems or subsystems of an unmanned vehicle. The communication controller manages communication and logical access to the unmanned vehicle. One or more sensors in communication with the communication controller detects and measures physical properties in proximity to the unmanned vehicle. Transceivers receive the unmanned vehicle commands that are transmitted simultaneously or concurrently and a monotonic generator generates a monotonic object each time the unmanned vehicle's operating state changes. The communication controller executes the first unmanned vehicle command received that has the correct cryptographic hash validating knowledge of the unmanned vehicle's current operating state.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 720,325, filed Aug. 21, 2018, and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 145,435, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,005,662, both of which are incorporated by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0002]The inventions were made with United States government support under Contract No. DE-AC05-000R22725 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The United States government has certain rights in the inventions.TECHNICAL FIELD[0003]This disclosure relates to unmanned vehicles and more specifically to communication protocols that control unmanned vehicles.RELATED ART[0004]Both the military and civilians use unmanned autonomous vehicles to provide damage assessments, topographical assessments, harvest assessments, reconnaissance, utility inspections, chemical and biological monitoring, exploration, etc. Many vehicles use only dedica...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system for controlling unmanned vehicles that uses multiple communication protocols to ensure reliable and robust command and control. The system allows unmanned vehicles to operate simultaneously in remote locations and allows distributed groups of vehicles to work together beyond line of sight guidance. The system provides dynamic formation control and real-time communication reconfigurations in formats compatible with proprietary and open source platforms. The system is configurable and adaptable, starting a UV at an operating state and through a de-duplicated and validated first received controller command moves the UV toward a goal state. The goal states are coded as decision tree functions within the communication controller. The system uses a multi-modal communication controller to communicate with a UV, an optional remote ground-based system, and a wireless Internet Protocol network. The system enables unmanned vehicles to operate simultaneously and allows distributed groups of vehicles to work together beyond line of sight guidance.

Problems solved by technology

Many vehicles use only dedicated line-of-sight communication making it difficult to communicate beyond line-of-sight guidance.

Users cannot coordinate one or groups of vehicles from remote locations.

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