Housing Orientation Control for Remote Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote vehicle and craft control systems employ non-intuitive arrangements of levers to operate variable resistors, making it difficult to achieve proportional and directional control effectively.
Innovation Solution
The control system incorporates a housing with tilt switches and orthogonally arranged pots connected to an electronic radio or video control PC board, allowing for intuitive control of real and virtual vehicles or crafts through the orientation of the housing, which transmits signals for proportional and directional control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional levers are used to operate variable resistors, then the control system can transmit signals to remote vehicles, but the control arrangement becomes non-intuitive and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical lever arrangements with a housing-oriented control system where the housing itself serves as the control interface. The housing's orientation (tilt, rotation, pitch) directly controls the variable resistors through integrated tilt switches and pot mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate levers and making the control intuitive through natural housing manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed to serve multiple control functions simultaneously. By orienting the housing in different directions (tilt for left/right control, rotation for directional control, pitch for forward/aft control), a single component performs the functions previously requiring multiple separate levers and controls, simplifying the overall device while improving ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If non-proportional control is used, then the control system can operate remote vehicles, but proportional control for precise directional management is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces non-proportional mechanical lever controls with an electronic proportional control system. The housing orientation is converted to proportional electrical signals through tilt switches and pot mechanisms that continuously vary resistance based on the housing's angular position, enabling precise proportional control of vehicle functions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter from discrete mechanical lever positions to continuous electrical resistance values. The pots (variable resistors) convert the housing's angular orientation into proportional electrical signals, allowing for smooth, proportional control adjustment rather than fixed non-proportional positions, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If multiple control functions are integrated into the housing, then intuitive control is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions into the housing structure itself. The housing integrates tilt switches for left/right control, pot mechanisms for proportional control, and orientation sensors for directional control into a single unified component. This consolidation achieves intuitive control through natural housing manipulation while managing device complexity by combining rather than multiplying separate control elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed as a multi-functional control unit that simultaneously provides tilt control, rotational control, and pitch control through its various orientations. This universality allows a single housing to replace multiple separate control devices, improving ease of operation through intuitive single-handed manipulation while controlling overall device complexity through functional consolidation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides intuitive and proportional control over remote and virtual vehicles or crafts, enhancing user experience and control precision by aligning the housing orientation with natural movement directions, such as forward, aft, left, and right, and pitch, allowing for smooth operation of vehicles and crafts.
Implementation Method 1
pendulums can swing responsive to gravity
Implementation Method 2
Pendulums are fixed to the shafts of the pots. With the pots having shafts orthogonally arranged relative to the housing such that the pendulums can swing responsive to gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A control system which provides directional control over various real and virtual vehicles, craft and moveable subjects. The control system includes a housing, a controller in the housing having an electronic radio control PC board or an electronic video control PC board and tilt switches which are fixed relative to the housing at preferred orientations. The switches are connected to control terminals of the electronic control PC board. With the tilt switches fixed relative to the housing, orientation of the housing can result in the electronic control PC board transmitting signals to a remote vehicle, craft or virtual subject. Rather than tilt switches, the control system can include pots having shafts orthogonally arranged relative to the housing. The pots are connected to control terminals of the electronic control PC board. Pendulums are fixed to the shafts of the pots. With the pots having shafts orthogonally arranged relative to the housing such that the pendulums can swing responsive to gravity, orientation of the housing can result in the electronic control PC board transmitting signals to a remote vehicle, craft or virtual subject.