Universal Unmanned Control Architecture for Multi-Vehicle Command
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional unmanned systems require multiple dedicated controllers for each type, leading to disjointed operations, limited situational awareness, and increased complexity in engineering, deployment, and maintenance, especially as the number of systems grows, hindering mobile operations and interoperability.
Innovation Solution
A universal control architecture that allows a single common control device to manage multiple unmanned systems, including air, ground, and maritime systems, by using a scalable and common command and control system that translates commands into movement instructions for various types of vehicles and payloads, enabling simultaneous control and enhancing situational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple dedicated controllers are used for each unmanned system type, then each system can be controlled independently, but the overall system complexity increases and situational awareness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal controller that can control multiple types of unmanned systems (aerial, ground, maritime) through a common interface and control architecture. The controller is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle different vehicle types, payloads, and operational modes through standardized protocols and adaptive control algorithms, eliminating the need for dedicated controllers for each system type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent consolidates multiple separate control functions into a single integrated control platform. The universal controller merges control capabilities for aerial vehicles, ground vehicles, and maritime vehicles into one system, along with integrated situational awareness, mission planning, and payload management functions, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining independent control capability.
2Device complexity
If a common control device is used for multiple unmanned systems, then hardware maintenance is reduced and interoperability improves, but control precision for each specific system type may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The universal controller is segmented into modular functional components, each specialized for controlling specific types of unmanned systems or performing specific functions (e.g., aerial vehicle control module, ground vehicle control module, payload control module). This segmentation allows the controller to maintain high precision for each system type through specialized control algorithms while using a single integrated device.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller employs dynamic configuration and adaptive control algorithms that can adjust control parameters and strategies based on the specific unmanned system type being controlled. The system dynamically switches between different control modes and algorithms optimized for aerial, ground, or maritime vehicles, thereby maintaining high control precision across diverse platform types through a single universal device.
3Ease of operation
If multiple dedicated controllers are deployed, then each system has dedicated control capability, but training requirements increase and deployment complexity grows
Solution Approach 1:
The universal controller provides a unified control interface and standardized operational procedures that work across all unmanned system types. Operators trained on the universal controller can control aerial, ground, and maritime vehicles using the same controls and procedures, eliminating the need for separate training programs for each system type and reducing overall training time while maintaining dedicated control capability for each platform.
Data Source
AI summary
A common command and control architecture (alternatively termed herein as a “universal control architecture”) is disclosed that allows different unmanned systems, including different types of unmanned systems (e.g., air, ground, and/or maritime unmanned systems), to be controlled simultaneously through a common control device (e.g., a controller that can be an input and/or output device). The universal control architecture brings significant efficiency gains in engineering, deployment, training, maintenance, and future upgrades of unmanned systems. In addition, the disclosed common command and control architecture breaks the traditional stovepipe development involving deployment models and thus reducing hardware and software maintenance, creating a streamlined training/proficiency initiative, reducing physical space requirements for transport, and creating a scalable, more connected interoperable approach to control of unmanned systems over existing unmanned systems technology.