Voice-Controlled Multirotor Aircraft With Motor Noise Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-rotor aircraft are inherently unstable and require complex remote control devices for operation, which can lead to security issues and 'Jello' effect in captured images due to user inexperience and abrupt movements.

Innovation Solution

A voice control method using speech recognition to convert voice commands into flight control signals, with noise reduction techniques such as filtering and cancellation to mitigate motor noise interference, allowing users to control the aircraft with voice commands like 'forward', 'back', 'left', and 'right' without a traditional remote control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional radio control devices are used, then the aircraft can be controlled, but the operation becomes complex and requires training, and inexperienced users cause abrupt movements leading to security problems and oscillations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of controlVSAvoidcontrol device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical radio control system with a voice-based acoustic control system. The aircraft captures voice commands through microphones and processes them to generate control signals, substituting the mechanical remote control device with an acoustic field-based control mechanism. This eliminates the need for physical control devices and reduces operational complexity for users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional radio control devices are used, then the aircraft can be controlled, but inexperienced users cause abrupt movements that create security problems and oscillations affecting image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight stabilityVSAvoiduser skill requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The aircraft performs self-stabilization through voice command processing and automatic control signal generation. The system captures voice commands, processes them through recognition algorithms, and automatically generates appropriate control signals to maintain flight stability. This self-service mechanism reduces dependency on user skill and prevents abrupt movements caused by inexperienced operators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If voice control is implemented, then ease of operation improves and no remote control is needed, but motor noise interferes with voice signal recognition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidnoise interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and separates the voice signal from the motor noise through spectral analysis and filtering techniques. The system identifies frequency components corresponding to voice commands and isolates them from the broadband motor noise, extracting the useful control information while removing the interfering noise components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces signal processing algorithms as intermediaries between the voice capture and control execution. These algorithms include noise filtering, spectral analysis, and voice recognition processing that mediate between the noisy acoustic environment and the control system, enabling accurate voice command recognition despite motor noise interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Improves aircraft stability and reduces oscillations, enabling high-quality image capture independent of user piloting skills by effectively translating voice commands into flight control signals while minimizing noise interference from the aircraft's motors.

Implementation Method 1

an audio acquisition means (101) for receiving an audio signal carrying a control command for the aircraft (100) in the form of a voice

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 2

speech conversion means (206) for converting voice commands into flight control signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpeech-to-signal conversion:

Implementation Method 3

filtering out from the voice signal the noise components by means of stopband filters

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 4

cancelling the noise components by means of a cancellation technique

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNoise cancellation: Interference

Data Source

PatentUS11474514B2Remotely controlled multirotor aircraft controlled by human voice

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 SARONIKOS TRADING & SERVICES UNIPESSOAL LDA

AI summary

A multi-rotor remote control aircraft for capturing audio and/or video signals and a method for remote controlling the aircraft by way of voice commands. The aircraft and method mitigate the effects of audio noise produced by motors and propellers on reception and detection of the voice commands. Audio acquisition components are provided for receiving the voice commands while noise acquisition components are devoted for capturing the environmental noise. The mitigation of the noise effects is achieved by filtering and a cancellation technique. With the cancellation technique, the noise part contained in the signal captured by the noise acquisition components is equalized to the noise part contained in an audio signal carrying the voice commands and then it is subtracted from the audio signal.