Web-Based Unmanned Vehicle Control Without Ground Software Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote-control technologies for unmanned vehicles require proprietary software installation on the operator's device and lack a unified interface for controlling and monitoring vehicle subsystems, necessitating frequent updates and configuration management.
Innovation Solution
A hosted web server, either embedded on the unmanned vehicle or in a cloud, manages control software and provides a unified interface accessible via a web browser, enabling real-time status updates and command execution without the need for custom ground control software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If proprietary control software is installed on ground control devices, then remote control capability is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
A hosted web server acts as an intermediary between the unmanned vehicle subsystems and the operator's web browser. The web server provides a standardized web-based interface that translates between proprietary vehicle protocols and standard web protocols, eliminating the need for proprietary control software on ground devices while maintaining full remote control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control interface is made universal by implementing it as a web server that can be accessed by any device with a web browser. This single web-based interface replaces multiple proprietary software applications, allowing operators to control the vehicle using standard web browsers on various devices without installing device-specific software.
2Ease of operation
If control software is hosted on ground devices, then remote operation is enabled, but configuration management becomes necessary when vehicle functions change
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of hosting control software on ground devices and pushing updates to them, the solution inverts the architecture by hosting the control software as a web server on the vehicle itself. The web server receives configuration updates directly from vehicle subsystems and automatically adapts the control interface, eliminating the need for ground software updates when vehicle functions change.
3Productivity
If low-level messaging formats are used for communication, then protocol efficiency is maintained, but interface unity and accessibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The web server serves as a protocol intermediary that maintains efficient communication with vehicle subsystems using their native low-level messaging formats while simultaneously providing a unified, accessible web-based interface to operators. This intermediary layer translates between efficient proprietary protocols and standard web protocols without sacrificing either efficiency or accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for remote operation of an unmanned vehicle (UV) includes a control station having a communication link to the UV and executing a web browser for (1) receiving web pages of a UV control web application, (2) rendering the web pages on the control station, (3) receiving control input from an operator via rendered web pages, and (4) generating messages on the communication link based on the control input. A hosted server system is coupled to the control station via the communication link and to internal subsystems of the UV for flight control, mission control, navigation, and system monitoring, and (1) executes a web server serving the web pages of the UV control web application to the control station for the above operations of the web browser, and (2) provides back-end controls to the internal subsystems based on the control input from the operator.