CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING REAL OR VIRTUAL AIRBORNE OBJECTS

Abstract

In order to further improve a control device for controlling unmanned and/or manned and/or virtual airborne objects in such a way that the control is easier to use and can be learned intuitively and more quickly even by untrained individuals, the control device has a first control element for controlling a movement about a vertical axis, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis of the airborne object, a rotary movement and/or pivoting movement of the first control element about its vertical axis, its longitudinal axis and its transverse axis causing the airborne object to move about its vertical axis, longitudinal axis and transverse axis, and the control device also has a second control element for changing the flying altitude and/or a speed and/or a thrust of the airborne object.

Claims

1. Control device for controlling unmanned and/or manned and/or virtual airborne objects, in particular real and/or virtual multicopters, wherein a movement about a vertical axis, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis the airborne object is controlled by means of a first control element, wherein furthermore a change in a flight altitude and/or a speed and/or a thrust of the airborne object is controlled by means of a second control element, characterized in that a rotary movement and/or pivoting movement of the first control element about its vertical axis, its longitudinal axis and its transverse axis causes the movement of the airborne object about its vertical axis, its longitudinal axis and its transverse axis.

2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical axis and the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of the first control element run through a common point.

3. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first control element is rendered stationary in relation to its vertical axis and/or its longitudinal axis and/or its transverse axis by means of a spring element.

4. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first control element has two parallel and spaced-apart planes which are rotated or pivoted together about the respective axis of the first control element.

5. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second control element is designed as a lever, rotary knob, rocker, gun trigger or pedal.

6. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second control element is arranged on the first control element and/or that the second control element is arranged on a stationary base of the control device.

7. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device has two handles which are rigidly connected to the first control element or rigidly connected to a stationary base of the control device.

8. Control device according to claim 7, characterized in that the handles are arranged on a parallel to the transverse axis of the first control element.

9. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that a zero setting of the first control element in relation to its vertical axis and/or its longitudinal axis and/or its transverse axis can be set and varied.

10. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first control element can be rotated about its vertical axis by a first maximum angle, wherein the first maximum angle is adjustable and variable.

11. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first control element can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by a second maximum angle, wherein the second maximum angle is adjustable and variable.

12. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first control element can be rotated about its transverse axis by a third maximum angle, wherein the third maximum angle is adjustable and variable.

13. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that a zero setting of the second control element can be set and varied.

14. Control device according to claim 13, characterized in that the second control element has a spring means with which it is reset to its zero setting after the second control element has been actuated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The invention is explained below by way of example on the basis of preferred embodiments.

[0045] The schematic figures show the following:

[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a control device,

[0047] FIG. 1a-1d are exemplary rotating and pivoting movements of the first control element of the control device,

[0048] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a control device for the application or operation in the lying state,

[0049] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a control device to be hung around a person's neck,

[0050] FIGS. 4 and 5 are another control device with an ergonomically shaped first control element, and

[0051] FIG. 6a is a schematic representation of a 4-channel remote control from prior art,

[0052] FIG. 6b is a schematic diagram of a control device and

[0053] FIG. 6c is a 3-dimensional schematic representation of a control device.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0054] FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, a variant of a control device 100 for controlling unmanned and/or manned and/or virtual airborne objects 10. The control of a multicopter or a drone is shown here as an example. The movement about a vertical axis 11, a longitudinal axis 12 and a transverse axis 13 of the airborne object 10 is controlled via the control device 100. The movement about these three axes 11, 12, 13 of the airborne object 10 is controlled by means of the first control element 15 of the control device 100.

[0055] For this purpose, the first control element 15 is mounted on a stationary base 19 in such a way that it is rotatable about the vertical axis 11a of the first control element 15 and also pivotable about the longitudinal axis 12a and the transverse axis 13a of the first control element 15. The first control element has two planes 17, 18 that are parallel to one another.

[0056] A rotational movement of the first control element 15 about its vertical axis 11a effects, taking into account the first translation factor, a corresponding rotational movement of the airborne object 10 about its vertical axis 11. A pivoting movement of the first control element 15 about its longitudinal axis 12a effects, taking to account the second translation factor, a corresponding pivoting movement of the airborne object 10 about its longitudinal axis 12. A pivoting movement of the first control element 15 about its transverse axis 13a effects, taking into account the third translation factor, a pivoting movement of the airborne object 10 about its transverse axis 13.

[0057] As already mentioned, the control of a multicopter or a drone is shown in FIG. 1 by way of example. In the case of a multicopter, the fourth channel corresponds to the throttle and thus to the change in altitude 14 of the airborne object 10. This change in the flight altitude 14 is controlled via the second control element 16 of the control device 100. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the second control element 16 is arranged on the first control element 15 in such a way that it can be operated in a simple manner by using the index finger without having to let go of the handles 20, 21 of the control device 100 on the first control element 15.

[0058] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the handles 20, 21 are arranged on the first control element 15 and are connected to the same. The alignment of the handles 20, 21, in particular their inclination to the surface of the first control element 15, can be varied or adjusted. The distance between the handles 20, 21 could also be adjustable.

[0059] FIG. 1a to 1d show exemplary rotating and pivoting movements of the first control element 15 of the control device 100 as well as the respective corresponding movements of the airborne object 10.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows an example of control device 100 for a surface-mounted operation. For this purpose, the first control element 15 has a lying surface on which the operator can lie down. In contrast to the variant shown in FIG. 1, the handles 20, 21 and also the second control element 16 are not arranged on the first control element 15 or are connected to the same. In contrast, the handles 20, 21 in this variant can be connected to the stationary base 19 or be fixed separately.

[0061] In the example shown in FIG. 2, in contrast to the variant shown in FIG. 1, the first control element 15 is moved by shifting the body weight. For this purpose, the handles 20, 21 are used for support purposes. Thus, by shifting the body weight, the first control element 15 can easily be rotated about its vertical axis 11a and tilted or pivoted about its longitudinal axis 12a and about its transverse axis 13a.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows only one possibility for a control device, wherein the first control element 15 can be operated by shifting the weight of the body. Instead of a lying surface, the control device 100 could also have a sitting surface for a seated operation or a standing surface for a standing operation.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows an example of control device 100 that is to be hung around a person's neck. The control device 100 has a strap 25 for this purpose. In principle, the example shown in FIG. 3 is designed similarly to the variant shown in FIG. 1. In contrast to the variant shown in FIG. 1, however, the stationary base 19 has a support element for supporting the device on or in front of the body.

[0064] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further variant of a control device 100. In contrast to the examples in FIGS. 1 to 3, the variant shown here has a more ergonomic shape. The first control element 15 is integrally designed with the handles 20, 21 and is mounted on a stationary base 19 so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis 11a of the first control element 15 and pivotable about the longitudinal axis 12a and the transverse axis 13a of the first control element 15. In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stationary base 19 is relatively small compared to the upper region of the first control element 15 and has a round cross section. The stationary base 19 could, however, have any suitable shape and size.

[0065] In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first control element 15 is directly arranged or supported on the stationary base 19 via the corresponding bearings. Similar to the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second control element 16 is arranged on the first control element 15 in the form of one or two levers.

[0066] The example of a control device 100 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has a particularly ergonomic shape due to the integral design of the first control element 15 with the handles 20, 21 and thus offers a comfortable holding, gripping and operation of the control device.

[0067] FIG. 6a shows a schematic illustration of a four-channel remote control known from prior art. Such a four-channel remote control has two control levers via which two channels of the airborne object 10 can be controlled (not shown in FIG. 6a for the sake of clarity). Typically, the right control lever controls the deflection of the airborne object 10 about its vertical axis 11 and its transverse axis 13. The left control lever controls the deflection of the airborne object 10 about its longitudinal axis 12 and also the throttle and thus the change in the flight altitude of the airborne object 10 (fourth channel). In such a remote control, the two control levers can be operated either with the two thumbs or with a combination of the thumb and the forefinger.

[0068] FIG. 6b shows a schematic illustration of the control device 100 according to the invention. In contrast to the typical four-channel remote controls known from prior art (refer to FIG. 6a in this regard), three channels of the airborne object 10 (also not shown in FIG. 6b for the sake of clarity) are controlled via a first control element 15. For this purpose, the first control element 15 can be rotated about its vertical axis 11a, tilted or pivoted about its longitudinal axis 12a and tilted or pivoted about its transverse axis 13a. For this purpose, the first control element 15 is rotatably and pivotably mounted on a stationary base 19 in a corresponding manner.

[0069] In contrast to the four-channel remote control known from prior art, three channels are thus controlled by means of a single control element (the first control element 15). The fourth channel is controlled by means of a separate control element, namely the second control element 16. Thus, according to the present invention, a first control element 15 for controlling three channels and a second control element 16 for controlling a single channel, namely the fourth channel, are provided.

[0070] In order to grip of the first control element 15 in an easier and more convenient manner, corresponding handles 20, 21 are arranged thereon. Possible embodiments and variants are shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0071] The first control element 15 can be rotated about its vertical axis 11a by a first maximum angle 22. The first maximum angle 22 is adjustable or variable. The first translation factor is used to convert the rotary movement of the first control element 15 about its vertical axis 11a into the actual control of the airborne object 10.

[0072] Corresponding to the vertical axis 11a of the first control element 15, the first control element 15 can be pivoted about its longitudinal axis 12a by a second maximum angle 23. Furthermore, the first control element 15 can correspondingly be pivoted about its transverse axis 13a by a third maximum angle 24. Just as the first maximum angle 22, the second maximum angle 23 and the third maximum angle 24 can be varied or adjusted. The second and third translation factors are used in this regard to implement the actual control of the airborne object 10.

[0073] FIG. 6c shows a 3-dimensional view of a schematic illustration of the control device 100. The first control element 15 is mounted on the stationary base 19 in such a way that it can rotate about its vertical axis 11a. Furthermore, the first control element 15 is arranged to be pivotable about its longitudinal axis 12a and its transverse axis 13a. For this purpose, in this example, all three axes 11a, 12a, 13a run through a common point of intersection. In principle, however, the longitudinal axis 12a and the transverse axis 13a could also be arranged one above the other at a small distance.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 6c, the rotatable bearing of the vertical axis 11a of the first control element 15 can be arranged along this vertical axis 11a at a distance from the longitudinal axis 12a and transverse axis 13a of the first control element 15.