Method, Device, And System For Redundancy Control

What is this patent about?

’474 is related to the field of control systems for movable objects, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Current UAV control systems face safety issues when the remote control connection becomes unreliable, potentially leading to an out-of-control state. This patent addresses the need for redundancy in remote control to mitigate such risks.

The underlying idea behind ’474 is to provide a backup control mechanism for a movable object, such as a drone, by utilizing multiple remote control devices and receivers. The system is designed to switch between these control sources if the primary connection fails. This fail-safe mechanism ensures continued control and prevents accidents.

The claims of ’474 focus on a method and a device that receive control signals from multiple remote controls and select one of these signals to control a movable object. Specifically, the independent claims cover receiving a first control signal from a first remote control via a first receiver, receiving a second control signal from a second remote control via a second receiver, and then selecting one of these signals for controlling the movement of the object.

In practice, the invention involves a flight controller on the UAV that is connected to multiple receivers, each paired with a separate remote control. The flight controller continuously monitors the connection quality of the primary remote control. If the connection is deemed abnormal (e.g., signal loss), the system automatically switches to a backup remote control, ensuring seamless control. The selection process can be based on priority, signal strength, or other predefined criteria.

This approach differs from traditional single remote control systems by introducing a redundant control pathway . Instead of relying on a single point of failure, the system can dynamically adapt to connection issues by switching to an alternative control source. This significantly enhances the reliability and safety of operating movable objects, especially in scenarios where a stable connection is critical.