Retrofit remote control system for a machine

A method for enabling remote controlling of an on-board component of a machine that is inherently incapable of being remote controlled, the method comprising:

• retrofitting an interface control module on to the machine, the interface control module being configured to communicate with an off-board remote control over a wireless communication channel;
• detecting, by the retrofitted interface control module, presence of an on-board control module associated with the on-board component of the machine, the on-board control module being configured to communicate with the on-board component over a digital communication channel;
• establishing, by the interface control module, a digital communication link with the on-board control module over the digital communication channel when the on-board control module is detected to be present on the machine;
• establishing, by the interface control module, a direct Input/Output (I/O) communication link with the on-board component when the on-board control module is detected to be absent from the machine;
• wirelessly receiving, by the interface control module, a remote operation command from the off-board remote control over the wireless communication channel to control the on-board component of the machine;
• and
• sending, by the interface control module, based on the detection, a control signal over one of the direct I/O communication link or the digital communication link via the detected on-board control module, for controlling the on-board component, the control signal being corresponding to the wirelessly received remote operation command.

A machine comprising:

• an on-board component inherently incapable of being remotely controlled;
• and
• a retrofit remote control system operatively connected to the on-board component and configured to enable remote controlling of the on-board component, the retrofit remote control system including:
• an interface control module configured to communicate with an off-board remote control over a wireless communication channel, the interface control module being configured to:
• detect presence of an on-board control module associated with the on-board component of the machine, the on-board control module being configured to communicate with the on-board component of the machine over a digital communication channel;
• establish a digital communication link with the on-board control module over the digital communication channel when the on-board control module is detected to be present on the machine;
• establish a direct Input/Output (I/O) communication link with the on-board component of the machine when the on-board control module is detected to be absent from the machine;
• wirelessly receive a remote operation command from the off-board remote control over the wireless communication channel to control the on-board component;
• and
• send, based on the detection, a control signal over one of the direct I/O communication link or the digital communication channel via the detected on-board control module, for controlling the on-board component of the machine, the control signal being corresponding to the wirelessly received remote operation command.