Universal control architecture for control of unmanned systems
Inventors
Summer, Matthew D. • Bowman, William S. • Falendysz, Andrew D. • Hedman, Daniel R. • Truesdell, Brad • Cooper, Jeffrey S. • Bowman, Michael E. • Wagoner, Sean • Makovy, Kevin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12650689-B2
Publication Date
2026-06-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A common command and control architecture (alternatively termed herein as a “universal control architecture”) is disclosed that allows different unmanned systems, including different types of unmanned systems (e.g., air, ground, and/or maritime unmanned systems), to be controlled simultaneously through a common control device (e.g., a controller that can be an input and/or output device). The universal control architecture brings significant efficiency gains in engineering, deployment, training, maintenance, and future upgrades of unmanned systems. In addition, the disclosed common command and control architecture breaks the traditional stovepipe development involving deployment models and thus reducing hardware and software maintenance, creating a streamlined training/proficiency initiative, reducing physical space requirements for transport, and creating a scalable, more connected interoperable approach to control of unmanned systems over existing unmanned systems technology.
Core Innovation
The patent discloses a common command and control architecture that enables adding unmanned vehicles to a common command and control architecture by detecting a signal or a wireless signal from an unmanned vehicle within a vicinity of a controller. In response, the controller transmits an identification request to the unmanned vehicle to request identification information associated with the unmanned vehicle, then receives vehicle information or movement types and supported communication information from the unmanned vehicle. The received information comprises movement types supported by the unmanned vehicle, payload types supported by the unmanned vehicle, and a communication protocol associated with the unmanned vehicle.
Based on processing the movement types and the payload types, the patent determines a plurality of movement control models for moving the unmanned vehicle and determines a payload movement control model for moving the payload device associated with the unmanned vehicle. Two or more movement control models of the plurality of movement control models include overlapping commands, and each movement control model translates operator commands into movement instructions for the unmanned vehicle or the payload device. The patent selects, from the plurality of movement control models, a subset that comprises a least number of movement control models that cover all movement commands supported by the unmanned vehicle, including overlapping command coverage.
The patent assigns the selected subset of movement control models, and the payload movement control model and the communication protocol, to an unmanned vehicle object, and controls the unmanned vehicle using instructions generated from the subset. For payload handling, the patent determines and assigns a payload movement control model based on payload types to translate payload movement commands into payload movement instructions and control a payload device mounted on the unmanned vehicle. In some embodiments, movement control model coverage and correctness are verified by generating test commands and test movement instructions, transmitting formatted test instruction sets according to the communication protocol, receiving position information, and comparing the position information against expected position information.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims: a system claim, a method claim, and a computer-readable medium claim. The inventive features center on detecting and identifying unmanned vehicles, determining overlapping movement control models and selecting a least-number subset that covers supported movement commands, and assigning the selected models, and payload movement control model where applicable, to control the unmanned vehicle via translated movement instructions.
Vehicle detection and identification request formatted to a model
Detect a signal being broadcast by an unmanned vehicle within a vicinity of a controller; transmit an identification request to the unmanned vehicle requesting identification information associated with the unmanned vehicle, wherein the identification request is formatted according to a model of the unmanned vehicle; receive vehicle information or movement types associated with the unmanned vehicle.
Determining overlapping movement control models translating operator commands
Determine a plurality of movement control models for moving the unmanned vehicle wherein two or more movement control models include overlapping commands, and wherein each movement control model translates operator commands into movement instructions for the unmanned vehicle or the payload device.
Selecting a least-number subset covering all supported movement commands
Select, from the plurality of movement control models, a subset of the plurality of movement control models comprising a least number of movement control models that cover all movement commands supported by the unmanned vehicle.
Assigning selected movement control models to an unmanned vehicle object and controlling
Assign the subset of the plurality of movement control models, and where provided the payload movement control model and communication protocol, to an unmanned vehicle object; control the unmanned vehicle using the subset of the plurality of movement control models.
Payload movement control model based on payload types and communication protocol
Receive payload types and a communication protocol associated with the unmanned vehicle; determine and assign a payload movement control model based on the payload types to translate payload movement commands into payload movement instructions; control a payload device on the unmanned vehicle using the payload movement control model.
Testing workflow using expected position information
Generate test commands for an unmanned vehicle; translate test commands using movement control models into sets of test movement instructions; format and transmit the instruction sets according to a communication protocol; receive position information after executing the test movement instruction sets; determine expected position information using the movement control models; and determine whether the test movement instructions moved the unmanned vehicle into an expected position.
Command portion matching and generating a new movement control model with distinct APIs
Determine matching between first and second movement control models and respective portions of supported movement commands and generate a new movement control model with distinct application programming interfaces for each portion of supported movement commands.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the architecture that detects and identifies an unmanned vehicle, builds overlapping movement control models, selects a least-number subset covering all supported movement commands, assigns the selected models to an unmanned vehicle object, and controls the unmanned vehicle using translated movement instructions. Where included by dependent claim sets, the same approach is extended to a payload movement control model based on payload types and a payload communication protocol, and correctness is further supported by test execution with expected position information.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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