Patent ID: 6304290
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: G05D,H04N

Abstract:
A method for video-assisted remote control of a machine in order to enable real-time viewing of an environment of said machine wherein said machine includes a plurality of cameras and wherein a remote control station is positioned separate from said machine with communication between said remote control station and said machine being accomplished by one of wire links and radiowaves, said method comprising the steps of:mixing, in said machine, video signals from at least two of said plurality of cameras to form a wide-field image encompassing a wider field of view than the field of view of any one of the plural cameras and outputting a resultant signal including said wide-field image;transmitting said resultant signal from said machine to said remote control station on a single transmission channel;viewing said resultant signal at said control station on at least one display device; andtransmitting remote control commands from said remote control station to said machine and to said plurality of cameras.