Helicopter remote control system
AssigneesByron Hatfield, Ken Hudson
InventorDouglas W. Lord
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote controlled helicoper having a video radio frequency link to a fixed control location has a video camera with a field of view including the terrain forward of the helicopter, an airspeed display, a relative wind direction indicator, and a pitch indicator. A video monitor at the fixed location displays received video signals of the terrain, airspeed, relative wind direction and pitch permitting control of the helicopter over a radio link from the fixed location to the helicopter. The system provides training, experience, and practice in operation of the helicopter.
Claims12
A system for providing an operator at a fixed location visual information for remote control of a helicopter comprising:
- (a) a radio link from an airborne helicopter to said fixed location for transmitting video information;
- (b) a television camera disposed in the nose of said helicopter for producing video signals representative of the terrain and objects within a field of view of said helicopter;
- (c) means disposed within a field of view of said camera visually indicating relative wind direction with respect to said helicopter;
- (d) means for measuring and displaying a visual indication of forward air speed of said helicopter, said display means disposed within the field of view of said camera;
- (e) means for measuring pitch of said helicopter, said pitch measuring means including a pitch indicator disposed within the field of view of said camera;
- and
- (f) television receiving and display means at said fixed location for receiving said video signals and displaying video representations of terrain and objects forward of said helicopter, relative wind direction with respect to said helicopter, and air speed and pitch of said helicopter.
A system for providing helicopter operation training having a miniature helicopter, a control position, a radio control link from the control position to the helicopter, and a video radio frequency link from the helicopter to the control position, comprising:
- a reference indicator pointer attached to a longitudinal structural member of said helicopter and extending forwardly from a nose portion of said helicopter for providing a flight reference;
- a television camera for producing video signals for transmission over said video link, said camera having a field of view forward of said helicopter and including said reference indicator pointer;
- wind vane means attached to a forward end of said pointer and within said field of view of said camera for visually indicating the direction of a relative wind with respect to said helicopter;
- an airspeed turbine attached to an exterior of said helicopter for producing an electrical signal proportional to the airspeed of said helicopter, said electrical signal operating a digital readout of airspeed, said readout disposed within the field of view of said camera;
- a pitch indicating longitudinally-oriented balanced rod laterally pivoted to said helicopter and having a pointer at a forward end thereof projecting into the field of view of said camera;
- and
- a video display at said control position for displaying video signals received over said video link, said display including terrain forward of said helicopter, said reference indicator pointer, said wind vane means, said airspeed digital readout, and said pitch indicator pointer.
A method for remote control of a miniature helicopter from a fixed location, the fixed location including a radio control link to the helicopter, comprising the steps of:
- providing a video camera in the helicopter having a field of view including terrain forward of the helicopter, an airspeed readout, a pitch indicator, and a relative wind direction indicator;
- transmitting video signals from the camera to the fixed location, such video signals representative of the terrain forward of the helicopter, the airspeed readout, the pitch indicator, and the relative wind direction indicator;
- receiving the transmitted video signals at the fixed location;
- displaying a video representation of the terrain forward of the helicopter, the airspeed readout, the pitch indicator, and the relative wind direction indicator from the received video signals;
- and
- transmitting helicopter control signals from the fixed location to the helicopter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.