Universal Vehicle Control Router for Cross-Vehicle Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle control and interface systems require specialized knowledge and training for operation due to their complexity and vehicle-specific designs, limiting the ability of trained operators to operate different types of vehicles without additional training.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control and interface system that utilizes universal vehicle control inputs, processed by a universal vehicle control router, to convert inputs into actuator commands for various vehicles, allowing operation through a unified interface system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional vehicle-specific control interfaces are used, then vehicle control precision is improved, but operator training time and system adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control interface system that can operate across multiple vehicle types and modes (manual, automated, semi-automated). The interface receives control inputs and routes them appropriately based on the operational context, enabling a single interface design to serve multiple functions and vehicle configurations without requiring vehicle-specific customizations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control interface acts as an intermediary between the operator and the vehicle's automated systems. It receives control inputs, determines the appropriate routing based on operational mode and vehicle state, and transmits commands to the suitable systems (manual control systems or automated control systems), thereby mediating between human input and machine response across different operational contexts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vehicle-specific interfaces are provided, then control functionality is improved, but system complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple vehicle-specific control interfaces into a single universal control interface. This unified interface consolidates the functionality of separate interfaces for different vehicle types and operational modes, reducing the total number of interfaces while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities across manual, automated, and semi-automated operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal control interface is designed to handle multiple vehicle types, operational modes, and control scenarios through a single unified design. It provides adaptability to different vehicle configurations and operational contexts without requiring separate specialized interfaces, thereby reducing system complexity while preserving control functionality.
3Reliability
If specialized training is required for each vehicle type, then operational safety is improved, but training time and cost deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The universal control interface provides a consistent operational paradigm across different vehicle types and modes, allowing operators to transfer their training and skills between different vehicles. The interface maintains standardized control mechanisms and routing logic that work across manual, automated, and semi-automated operations, reducing the need for vehicle-specific retraining while maintaining safety through proven control pathways.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method are disclosed for a vehicle control and interface system configured to facilitate control of different vehicles through universal mechanisms. The vehicle control and interface system can be integrated with different types of vehicles (e.g., rotorcraft, fixed-wing aircraft, motor vehicles, watercraft, etc.) in order to facilitate operation of the different vehicles using universal vehicle control inputs. In particular, the vehicle control and interface system converts universal vehicle control inputs describing a requested trajectory of a vehicle received from one or more universal vehicle control interfaces into commands for specific actuators of the vehicle configured to adjust a current trajectory of the vehicle to the requested trajectory. In order to convert the universal vehicle control inputs to actuator commands the vehicle control and interface system processes the universal vehicle control inputs using a universal vehicle control router.