Remote control for motor vehicle

A control system for a motor vehicle having a rotary steering mechanism, a throttle mechanism, and a brake mechanism, said control system comprising:

• command means having a first portion displaceable in at least four different directions, and a second portion responsive to displacement of said first portion in different ones of said directions providing electrical signals indicative of commanded changes in the direction and speed of said vehicle;
• electrically responsive means including a rotary actuator for causing rotation of said steering mechanism and linear actuators for actuating said throttle and brake mechanisms;
• and
• signal processing means connected with said second portion of said command means and said electrically responsive means, said signal processing means, responsive to received electrical signals indicative of commanded changes in vehicle direction, causing said electrically responsive means to effect rotation of said steering mechanism, and responsive to receive electrical signals indicative of commanded changes in vehicle speed, causing said electrically responsive means to effect actuation of at least one of said throttle and brake mechanisms, said signal processing means including first means for providing a signal indicative of commanded position, second means for providing a signal indicative of actual position, and error signal producing means for receiving signals from said first and second means and producing an error signal for driving said electrically responsive means to said commanded position.

A control system for a motor vehicle having a rotatable steering mechanism, a throttle pedal, and a brake pedal mounted for access within the vehicle at a driver station, said control system comprising:

• command means within said vehicle for providing electrical signals indicative of desired changes in direction and speed of said motor vehicle;
• signal processing means within said vehicle connected with said command means to receive said electrical signals therefrom and responsive thereto providing electrical output signals indicative of needed changes in direction and speed to that desired;
• and
• electrically responsive actuating means connected with said signal processing means to receive said electrical output signals therefrom said electrically responsive actuating means having one portion connected with said rotatable steering mechanism within said vehicle for rotating said steering mechanism to effect needed changes in direction of said vehicle, and a second portion within said vehicle connected with said throttle pedal and said brake pedal for depressing the same to effect needed changes in the speed of said vehicle.

A control system for a motor vehicle having a rotary steering mechanism, a throttle mechanism, and a brake mechanism, said control system comprising:

• a joystick displaceable in opposite directions along two different axes, said joystick having a limited range of motion;
• potentiometer means having movable wipers controlled and positioned by said joystick;
• command signal developing means connected with said potentiometer means to provide electrical signals indicative of commanded direction and speed of said motor vehicle;
• actual signal developing means including tachometer means and position potentiometer means to provide electrical signal indicative of actual direction and speed of said motor vehicle;
• signal combining means connected to receive said electrical signals from said command signal developing means and said actual signal developing means responsive thereto providing error output signals;
• a rotary actuator connected to receive said error output signals indicative of needed changes in the direction of said motor vehicle and responsive thereto rotating said rotary steering mechanism to effect said direction changes;
• and
• linear actuator means connected to receive said error output signals indicative of needed changes in the speed of said motor vehicle and responsive thereto actuating at least one of said throttle mechanism and brake mechanism to effect said speed changes.