IP Library Granted Patent US 9,320,977
Granted Patent B2
US 9,320,977 · App. 14/292,307 · Granted Apr 26, 2016

Dynamic stabilization system and methods for a RC vehicle

Inventors: Paul Beard (Big Fork, MT); Jukka Steenari (Aliso Viejo, CA); John Adams (Champaign, IL)
Assignee: Horizon Hobby, LLC
A63H17/36A63H17/395A63H30/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,320,977
App. No.
14/292,307
Granted
Apr 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for stabilizing the steering and throttle of a radio-controlled (RC) vehicle are described herein. More specifically, sensors and circuitry are configured to control the wheel speed and wheel direction of a RC vehicle based on rotational information. In operation, one or more sensors may be configured to receive angular rotational information associated with a rotation of the RC vehicle. The rotational information may define a rotation of the RC vehicle around one or more axes of the RC vehicle. The circuitry may be configured to receive the angular rotation information associated with the rotation of the RC vehicle from the one or more sensors, and control a wheel speed and/or a wheel direction of at least one wheel of the RC vehicle based at least in part on (i) command data received from a controller associated with the RC vehicle and (ii) the received angular rotation information.

Claims (44)

1. A radio-controlled (RC) vehicle comprising:

an inertial measurement unit comprising:

one or more accelerometers configured to output angular acceleration data associated with acceleration of the RC vehicle about one or more axes; and

one or more angular rate sensors configured to output angular rotation data associated with rotation of the RC vehicle about the one or more axes;

and circuitry configured to:

receive the angular acceleration data and angular rotation data associated with the acceleration and rotation of the RC vehicle from the inertial measurement unit;

receive command data from a controller associated with the RC vehicle, wherein the command data indicates whether the RC vehicle has been instructed to operate in a heading hold mode; and

wherein operation in the heading hold mode comprises, in response to receiving (i) the command data, (ii) the angular rotation data, and (iii) the angular acceleration data, controlling a wheel direction of at least one wheel of the RC vehicle to maintain a heading of the RC vehicle.

2. The RC vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to control the wheel direction based at least in part on a steering threshold intervention.

3. The RC vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to control the wheel direction based at least in part on a steering function.

4. The RC vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the steering function comprises inputs that include a steering command, a rate gain, and a heading gain.

5. The RC vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in response to receiving (i) command data from a controller associated with the RC vehicle, (ii) the received angular rotation information, and (iii) the received angular acceleration information, control a wheel speed of at least one wheel of the RC vehicle.

6. The RC vehicle of claim 5 , wherein circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether a yaw rate exceeds a yaw rate threshold based on the determined angular rotation information; and

in response to determining that the yaw rate exceeds the yaw rate threshold, reduce the wheel speed.

7. A radio-cot d (RC) vehicle comprising:

an inertial measurement nit comprising:

one or more accelerometers configured to output angular acceleration data associated with acceleration of the RC vehicle about one or more axes; and

one or more angular rate sensors configured to output angular rotation data associated with rotation of the RC vehicle about the one or more axes;

and a receiver configured to:

receive the angular acceleration data and angular rotation data associated with the acceleration and rotation of the RC vehicle from the inertial measurement unit;

receive command data from a controller associated with the RC vehicle, wherein the command data indicates whether the RC vehicle has been instructed to operate in a heading hold mode; and

wherein operation in the heading hold mode comprises; in response to receiving (i) the command data, (ii) the angular rotation data, and (iii) the angular acceleration data, controlling a wheel direction of at least one wheel of the RC vehicle to maintain a heading of the RC vehicle.

8. The RC vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the RC vehicle is further configured to control the wheel direction based at least in part on a steering threshold intervention.

9. The RC vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the RC vehicle is further configured to control the wheel direction based at least in part on a steering function.

10. The RC vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the steering function comprises inputs that include a steering command, a rate gain, and a heading gain.

11. The RC vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the RC vehicle is further configured to, in response to receiving (i) command data from a controller associated with the RC vehicle, (ii) the received angular rotation information, and (iii) the received angular acceleration information, control a wheel speed of at least one wheel of the RC vehicle.

12. The RC vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the RC vehicle is further configured to:

determine whether a yaw rate exceeds a yaw rate threshold based on the determined angular rotation information; and

in response to determining that the yaw rate exceeds the yaw rate threshold, reduce the wheel speed.

13. An inertial measurement unit for use in a radio-controlled (RC) vehicle, the inertial measurement unit comprising:

one or more accelerometers configured to output angular acceleration data associated acceleration of the RC vehicle about one or more axes; and

one or more angular rate sensors configured to output angular rotation data associated with rotation of the RC vehicle about the one or more axes;

and circuitry configured to:

receive the angular acceleration data and angular rotation data associated with the acceleration and rotation of the RC vehicle from the inertial measurement unit;

receive command data from a controller associated with the RC vehicle, wherein the command data indicates whether the RC vehicle has been instructed to operate in a heading hold mode; and

wherein operation in the heading hold mode comprises, in response to receiving (i) the command data, (ii) the angular rotation data, and (iii) the angular acceleration data, controlling a wheel direction of at least one wheel of the RC vehicle to maintain a heading of the RC vehicle.

14. The inertial measurement unit of claim 13 , wherein circuitry is further configured to control the wheel direction based at least in part on a steering threshold intervention.

15. The inertial measurement unit of claim 14 , wherein circuitry is further configured to control the wheel direction based at least in part on a steeling function.

16. The inertial measurement unit of claim 15 , wherein the steering function comprises inputs that include a steering command, a rate gain, and a heading gain.

17. The inertial measurement unit of claim 13 , wherein circuitry is further configured to, in response to receiving (i) command data from a controller associated with the RC vehicle, (ii) the received angular rotation information, and (iii) the received angular acceleration information, control a wheel speed of at least one wheel of the RC vehicle.

18. The inertial measurement unit of claim 17 , wherein circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether a yaw rate exceeds a yaw rate threshold based on the determined angular rotation information; and

in response to determining that the yaw rate exceeds the yaw rate threshold, reduce the wheel speed.

Assignments (2)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 3, 2017
From: HORIZON HOBBY, LLC; HORIZON PRECISION SYSTEMS LLC; HHI GROUP, LLC
To: THE PRIVATEBANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 044361/0462 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2014
From: BEARD, PAUL; STEENARI, JUKKA; ADAMS, JOHN
To: HORIZON HOBBY, LLC
Reel/Frame 033020/0821 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61885953 · Oct 2, 2013
Related Publication 20150094880A1 · Apr 2, 2015