Haptics-Enabled Teleoperation System for Vehicle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior art teleoperation systems fail to provide adequate controllability for remotely operated devices due to the lack of physical feedback of forces and accelerations, which is crucial for precise control, especially in vehicles like aircraft and helicopters.

Innovation Solution

A haptics-enabled teleoperation system that provides position and orientation control with haptic force feedback, using a control component configured to simulate the forces and accelerations experienced by the vehicle, and incorporating a motion capture system for six degree-of-freedom position data and a haptic I/O device for bilateral feedback control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If prior art teleoperation systems are used, then device operation is possible, but controllability is insufficient due to lack of physical feedback

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecontrollabilityVSAvoidphysical feedback
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements haptic feedback systems that provide force feedback to the operator, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism. The haptic device receives position and orientation data from the vehicle and generates corresponding haptic forces, allowing the operator to physically sense vehicle motion and maintain improved controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The haptic device serves as an intermediary between the operator and the vehicle. It translates vehicle motion parameters (position, orientation, acceleration) into haptic forces that the operator can physically feel, bridging the gap between remote vehicle operation and physical sensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If haptic force feedback is added to provide physical feedback, then controllability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecontrollabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The haptic device performs multiple functions: it serves as both the control interface for the operator and the feedback interface for providing haptic force feedback. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control and feedback systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The haptic device acts as an intermediary that integrates control input and feedback output functions. By combining these functions in a single device, the system avoids the complexity of managing entirely separate control and feedback subsystems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If six degree-of-freedom position data is used, then control precision improves, but measurement and processing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition measurement precisionVSAvoidsix degree-of-freedom measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The motion capture system serves as an intermediary that automatically captures and processes six degree-of-freedom position data. It translates complex spatial measurements into usable feedback signals for the haptic device, reducing the difficulty of direct measurement and processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual or mechanical measurement systems with a motion capture system that uses optical or electromagnetic fields to track position. This substitution automates the complex six degree-of-freedom measurement process, improving precision while reducing measurement difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2211246B1System for haptics-enabled teleoperation of vehicles
Publication Date: 2012.04.04 THE BOEING CO
  • EP2211246B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2211246B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2211246B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for haptics-enabled teleoperation of vehicles and other devices, including remotely-controlled air, water, and land-based vehicles, manufacturing robots, and other suitable teleoperable devices. In one embodiment, a system for teleoperation of a vehicle comprises a control component configured to provide position and orientation control with haptic force feedback of the vehicle based on a position measurement of the vehicle and configured to function in a closed-loop feedback manner. In a particular embodiment, the position measurement may include six degree-of-freedom position data provided by a motion capture system to the control and/or haptic I/O components of the application. The system may also use differences in position and/or velocity between the vehicle and a haptic I/O device for feedback control.