Teleoperation Control Station UI for Multi-Camera Safety Cues

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current teleoperation systems lack effective methods for dynamically managing video feeds from multiple camera sources and ensuring secure, attentive operation by authorized human teleoperators, particularly in environments like construction sites where real-time visual cues and safety distances are critical.

Innovation Solution

A control station system that generates a teleoperator user interface with tiled video feeds from multiple cameras, allowing dynamic modification of video tiles based on operator input and incorporating graphical indicium overlays for safety distances, while implementing security measures for validating operator presence and attentiveness through visual recognition and tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple camera feeds are displayed simultaneously in a tiled interface, then the operator receives comprehensive visual information from multiple sources, but the interface complexity and difficulty of managing individual video tiles increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual information from multiple camerasVSAvoiduser interface management

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display interface is segmented into multiple independent video tiles, each showing footage from a different camera. Each tile can be individually controlled, resized, and configured, allowing operators to manage complex multi-camera feeds through modular, discrete units rather than a monolithic interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The video tile interface implements universal control mechanisms that work across all tiles regardless of their source or configuration. A single set of controls (dragging, resizing, minimizing, closing) applies to every tile, simplifying the management of multiple camera feeds through consistent, multi-functional interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the video tile interface allows dynamic resizing and repositioning, then the operator can customize the display for different operational needs, but the system stability and predictable behavior decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay customizationVSAvoidinterface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The video tile interface transitions from a static layout to a dynamic, flexible arrangement. Tiles can be freely moved, resized, and repositioned by the operator during operation, allowing the interface composition to adapt to different operational scenarios while maintaining functional stability through consistent interaction patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The interface provides visual feedback during drag-and-drop operations, showing tile boundaries, snap-to-grid indicators, and overlap detection. This feedback mechanism guides operators through the repositioning process, ensuring predictable behavior and stable final configurations even as the interface structure dynamically changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If graphical indicium overlays are added to video tiles to show safety distances, then safety monitoring is enhanced, but the information processing load and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety distance monitoringVSAvoidcomputational energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Graphical indicium overlays representing safety distances are pre-calculated and prepared in advance based on known vehicle dimensions and safety parameters. These overlays are generated once and then overlaid on video feeds, avoiding continuous complex calculations during operation and reducing real-time computational energy requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The safety distance indicium overlays are created as separate graphical layers that are copied and applied to each video tile independently. This approach allows the same safety parameter graphics to be reused across multiple tiles without recalculation, significantly reducing computational energy compared to generating unique safety indicators for each camera feed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If security validation and attentiveness monitoring are implemented, then operational safety is improved, but the system complexity and time for operator authentication increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator authenticationVSAvoidauthentication time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Operator authentication and biometric validation are performed in advance before granting access to the teleoperation system. Once authenticated, the operator's identity and authorization level are stored, allowing rapid entry without repeated authentication. Attentiveness monitoring is also continuously assessed during operation, providing real-time validation without requiring periodic stoppages for re-authentication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11537124B2Built-in safety of control station and user interface for teleoperation

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 TELEO LLC

AI summary

A method and system may receive tiled video feed data sourced from one or more remotely situated vehicles. A teleoperator user interface is generated to include a concurrent display of a plurality of distinct video tiles from the tiled video feed data. A respective video tile displayed in the teleoperator user interface may include visual safety cues. A user interface segment that is displaying a respective video tile may be modified in response to teleoperator input.