Patent ID: 6633800
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: B60W,G05D

Abstract:
A control unit, for mounting with a machine, for enabling control thereof from a tele-operator station via a communications channel, the control unit comprising:(1) a control input for receiving control signals from the tele-operator station; (2) a digital processing means connected to said control input for processing said control signals and generating commands; (3) a control output for providing said commands to the machine; (4) a second input connected to said digital processing means for receiving data from sensors on the machine indicative of the location and status of the machine; and, (5) a data output for providing visual data to the tele-operator station; wherein, the control unit is adapted to operably switch between a manual mode in which the machine is controlled locally by controls on the machine, an autonomous mode in which the machine is controlled by data received through the second input, and a tele-operation mode in which the machine is controlled remotely by said control signals based at least in part on said visual data.