Controlling a robotic vehicle following flight controller signal loss

US11188075B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• QUALCOMM Incorporated · US

Inventors

• Aleksandr Kushleyev · Philadelphia, US
• Daniel Warren Mellinger, III · Philadelphia, US
• Paul Daniel Martin · Devon, US
• Michael Joshua Shomin · Philadelphia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 2, 2018
• Grant date: Nov 30, 2021
• Expiry date: Feb 15, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64U2201/10
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Various embodiments include devices and methods for controlling a robotic vehicle. Each electronic speed controller (ESC) of the robotic vehicle may receive open loop flight control information from a flight controller or another processing device of the robotic vehicle. In some embodiments, each ESC may store the provided open loop flight control information in a memory. In response to detecting a loss of control signals from the flight controller, each ESC may access the stored open loop flight control information and perform control of a motor associated with each ESC based on the open loop flight control information. The open loop flight control information may be a sequence of motor control instructions to be performed over a period of time, or parameterized information or vehicle state information that enables each ESC to generate a sequence of motor control instructions.