Ruggedized remote control display management system for harsh and safety-critical environments

1. A remote control apparatus for unmanned systems comprising:

a display screen for displaying graphic elements;

a memory device storing a file for a graphic element and display parameters for displaying the graphic element;

a communication interface including an application programming interface (“API”) communicatively coupled to the memory device that enables a host computer to (i) store the graphic element to the memory device, (ii) specify the display parameters and values for the display parameters, and (iii) cause the graphic element to be displayed;

a processor configured to:

receive a command message from the host computer via the API, the command message including at least one parameter value;

determine the command message is related to the graphic element stored in the memory device;

cause the graphic element to be displayed on the display screen by applying the at least one parameter value to the display parameters;

receive a second command message from the host computer via the API, the second command message including at least one of

(a) at least one location parameter value to change a display location of the graphic element, or

(b) a data value for a specified display parameter for display within the graphic element;

determine the second command message is related to the graphic element stored in the memory device;

for (a), cause the graphic element to be displayed on the display screen at the specified display location by applying the at least one location parameter value to the display parameters; and

for (b), cause the graphic element to be displayed on the display screen with the data value using the specified display parameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a video stream from the host computer via the API;

cause the video stream to be displayed on the display screen; and

cause the graphic element to be overlaid on the display of the video stream.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the video stream is received in the host computer from at least one camera of an unmanned system.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the unmanned system includes at least one of an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), an unmanned underwater vehicle (“UUV”), an unmanned surface vehicle (“USV”), an unmanned ground vehicle (“UGV”), a remote camera system, a safety/first responder system, or industrial equipment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is communicatively coupled to the host computer via at least one of a serial connection, an Ethernet connection, a Bluetooth® connection, a CAN bus connection, or a Zigbee® connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control interface including at least one of toggle controls, multi-axis hall-effect joystick controls, push buttons, or up/down push buttons.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least one display parameter of the display parameters includes an association with the control interface such that actuation of a button or a joystick of the control interface causes the processor to move or change a display characteristic of the graphic element.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the display screen includes at least one of a touch screen or a multi-function display (“MFD”), and

wherein the touch screen is part of the control interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the graphic element provides for display of at least one of:

video related to an unmanned system in communication with the host computer,

position, sensor, aspect, diagnostic, or status information related to an unmanned system in communication with the host computer,

information related to an unmanned system that is determined by the host computer,

a template, reticle, or wireframe for displaying information related to an unmanned system in communication with the host computer, or

an icon or symbol related to operation of an unmanned system in communication with the host computer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the command message from the host computer at least one of before or during a mission performed by an unmanned system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, via the API from the host computer, a screenshot request message;

record an image of contents displayed by the display screen including the graphic element; and

store the image to the memory device.

12. A remote control method for unmanned systems comprising:

receiving, in an application programming interface (“API”) of a remote control, a command message from a host computer, the command message identifying a graphic element and including at least one parameter value;

determining, via a processor of the remote control, that a memory device of the remote control includes a graphic element file corresponding to the graphic element specified in the command message;

applying, via the processor, the at least one parameter value to a corresponding display parameter of the graphic element file;

causing, via the processor, the graphic element to be displayed on a display screen of the remote control such that the graphic element is displayed as specified by the at least one parameter value;

receiving, via the API, a second command message from the host computer, the second command message including at least one of

(a) at least one location parameter value to change a display location of the graphic element, or

(b) a data value for a specified display parameter for display within the graphic element;

determining, via the processor, the second command message is related to the graphic element stored in the memory device;

for (a), causing, via the processor, the graphic element to be displayed on the display screen at the specified display location by applying the at least one location parameter value to the display parameter; and

for (b), causing, via the processor, the graphic element to be displayed on the display screen with the data value using the specified display parameter.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, in the API, before the command message, a graphic element message including the graphic element file from the host computer; and

storing, via the processor, the graphic element file to the memory device of the remote control.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, via a control interface, a request message that is indicative of a request to view available video feeds of other remote controls;

identifying, via the processor, available video feeds from other remote controls;

causing, via the processor, a list of the identified video feeds to be displayed on the display screen;

receiving, via the control interface, a selection of a video feed from the list; and

causing, via the processor, the selected video feed to be displayed in addition to the graphic element.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein identifying the available data feeds includes transmitting, from the processor, a first request to a network, connected remote controls, or the host computer for the list or indication of the available video feeds, and

wherein causing the selected video feed to be displayed includes transmitting, from the processor, a second request to the network, the connected remote controls, or the host computer for the selected video feed causing the selected video feed to be routed or transmitted to the API or the processor of the remote control.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the display parameter includes an association with a control interface of the remote control, the method further comprising:

receiving, in the processor, a signal indicative of an actuation of a button or a joystick of the control interface;

determining from the signal, via the processor, a movement change or display change of the display parameter;

updating, via the processor, the at least one parameter value using the determined movement change or display change; and

causing, via the processor, the graphic element to be displayed on the display screen of the remote control such that the graphic element is displayed as specified by the updated at least one parameter value.