Radio-controlled vehicle with laser pointer

Abstract

This system provides a simple and inexpensive control system for radio-controlled vehicles, eliminating the need to re-install software that plots the predicted trajectory width of the radio-controlled vehicle's movement direction when controlling the vehicle by receiving FPV (First Person View) images from the vehicle's camera on a monitor or goggles. [Solution] The control system for the radio-controlled vehicle includes a radio-controlled vehicle 3, at least two laser pointers 1 positioned at the width or height of the radio-controlled vehicle, a wireless camera 2 capable of transmitting FPV (First Person View) in real time, a monitor 5 for viewing images captured by the wireless camera 2, and a radio-controlled vehicle 3 control signal transmitter 4.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention mounts a laser pointer and a camera on a radio-controlled vehicle (the term "radio-controlled" is a registered trademark of Masuda-ya Holdings Co., Ltd. and others). When operating remotely from the perspective of the radio-controlled vehicle, it is possible to easily and cheaply confirm with the video transmitted from the camera that the cross mark shown on the obstacle by the laser pointer in the traveling direction is the full width and full height of the radio-controlled vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Due to the miniaturization of cameras and the development of radio communication, cameras have been attached to the radios of aircraft, vehicles, and ships, enabling operation from the video on monitors or goggles in a first-person view (FPV) as if one were actually riding on the radio-controlled device (Non-Patent Document 1). However, unlike when operating with the naked eye while actually riding on a vehicle, it is difficult to intuitively grasp the width and height of the aircraft body as if they were part of one's own body in a non-stereoscopic view. When moving a radio-controlled vehicle in a relatively wide area, as long as the distance to obstacles does not approach too closely to the extent that it will not collide within the range recognizable from the monitor or goggles, there is generally no problem. However, it is difficult to pass through a place where obstacles are randomly placed without going around them or hitting them. There is a technique of drawing the predicted width trajectory of the moving direction of such a radio-controlled vehicle using computer software and synthesizing it with the image on the monitor or goggles transmitted from the camera (Patent Document 1). However, when mounting an arbitrary camera on an arbitrary radio-controlled vehicle by oneself, this method requires re-individually modifying the incorporation of the computer software that draws the predicted width trajectory of the moving direction of the radio-controlled vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Kyosho Corporation No. 30987 Blizzard SR Wireless LAN Version With Camera Instruction Manual" [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] When moving a radio-controlled vehicle in a relatively open area while viewing the FPV (First Person View) footage from a mounted camera on a monitor or goggles, the distance to obstacles is generally not a problem as long as you don't get too close, as long as you can still see them on the monitor or goggles and avoid collisions. However, it is difficult to pass through areas with many obstacles without taking detours or crashing into them. There is a technology that uses computer software to plot the predicted width of the trajectory in the direction of movement of such radio-controlled vehicles and to synthesize it with the image transmitted from the camera on a monitor or goggles (Patent Document 1). However, when mounting any camera on any radio-controlled vehicle oneself, this method requires individually modifying the computer software that plots the predicted width of the trajectory in the direction of movement of the radio-controlled vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A control system for a radio-controlled vehicle (3), comprising a radio-controlled vehicle (3), at least two laser pointers (1) positioned at the width or height of the radio-controlled vehicle, a wireless camera (2) capable of transmitting FPV (First Person View) in real time, a monitor (5) for viewing images captured from the wireless camera (2), and a control signal transmitter (4) for the radio-controlled vehicle (3) (Figure 1). [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This invention involves equipping a radio-controlled vehicle with a laser pointer and a camera. When operating the vehicle remotely from the vehicle's perspective, the cross-shaped mark indicated by the laser pointer on obstacles in the direction of travel can be confirmed by the video transmitted from the wireless camera as representing the width and height of the radio-controlled vehicle. This eliminates the need to individually modify and incorporate computer software that predicts the trajectory of the radio-controlled vehicle's movement in its direction of travel. Instead, users can simply use any radio-controlled vehicle equipped with any camera, making it simple and inexpensive. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a conceptual diagram of an FPV (First Person View) radio-controlled aircraft with a laser pointer. [Figure 2] This is a diagram of an example. [Figure 3] This is an overhead view image of the FPV radio-controlled aircraft in the example, which uses a laser pointer to mark a cross on an obstacle, indicating that it is safe to pass through. [Figure 4] This is a monitor image from the example, showing that the FPV radio-controlled aircraft is using a laser pointer to indicate a cross shape on an obstacle, making it safe to pass through. [Figure 5] This is an overhead view image of the FPV radio-controlled aircraft in the example, which uses a laser pointer to mark a cross on an obstacle, indicating that it is impossible to pass through. [Figure 6] This is a monitor image from the example, showing that the FPV radio-controlled aircraft is using a laser pointer to indicate a cross shape on an obstacle, making it impossible to pass through. [Figure 7] This is an overhead view image of the FPV radio-controlled aircraft in the example, showing it using a laser pointer to mark a cross on a wall in an unobstructed environment. [Figure 8] This is a monitor image of the FPV radio-controlled aircraft in the example, which is using a laser pointer to point a cross mark on a wall in an unobstructed environment. [Figure 9] This is a photograph of an FPV radio-controlled car with a laser pointer, as an example of the design. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A laser pointer (1) is mounted on the radio-controlled vehicle (3) in a position that allows the vehicle's overall width and height to be determined. Images captured by a wireless camera (2), also mounted on the radio-controlled vehicle (3) and capable of transmitting FPV (First Person View) in real time, show that the cross-shaped mark (10) indicated by the laser pointer (1) on an obstacle in the direction of travel of the radio-controlled vehicle represents its overall width and height. This can be seen on a monitor or goggles displaying the received images, allowing the vehicle to pass through narrow, low-height obstacles. (Figures 1, 2, and 9) [Examples]

[0010] A laser module (6) (output 1mW, cross-shaped beam) was attached to a radio-controlled vehicle (8) (FK plan FK-29 (Technical Conformity No. 210-252914)) at its widest and highest positions. When the cross-shaped mark (10) of the laser pointer 1 was displayed on the monitor of a smartphone (MOTOROLA moto g05) on an obstacle 11 in the direction of travel, the radio-controlled vehicle was able to pass through the obstacle without colliding with it when the dimensions of the radio-controlled vehicle were determined to be smaller than those of the obstacle on the screen. (Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) [Industrial applicability]

[0011] This invention allows for the attachment of commercially available laser pointers, which come in various shapes and colors as indicated, to commercially available radio-controlled aircraft, vehicles, and ships. Images are then transmitted using various commercially available small wireless cameras, enabling control while viewing FPV (First Person View) images on any commercially available monitor. These can be manufactured using existing manufacturing technologies for radio-controlled models, laser pointers, wireless cameras, wireless image transceivers, and monitors, and can be mass-produced by model and consumer electronics manufacturers. When conducting post-earthquake reconstruction support activities, especially when needing to inspect the interiors of destroyed buildings or the immediate vicinity of collapsed structures, debris is almost always scattered around. This allows for maximum maneuverability of a small FPV (First Person View) radio-controlled aircraft to navigate through the rubble. In addition, since it does not select the type of the aircraft or the camera, an FPV radio controlled device that can freely move in a narrow area according to the situation can be easily and cheaply custom-made.

Explanation of Signs

[0012] 1, 6 Laser pointer 2, 7 Wireless camera 3, 8 Radio controlled vehicle 4 Transmitter 5 Monitor 9 Laser 10 Cross mark shown on the obstacle of the laser pointer 11 Obstacle

Claims

[Claim 1] A control system for a radio-controlled vehicle (3), comprising a radio-controlled vehicle (3), at least two laser pointers (1) positioned at the full width or height of the radio-controlled vehicle, a wireless camera (2) capable of transmitting FPV (First Person View) in real time, a monitor (5) for viewing images captured from the wireless camera (2), and a control signal transmitter (4) for the radio-controlled vehicle (3). (Figure 1)

Images