Remote controlled vehicle systems

{
  "publication_number": "US3943357A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Remote controlled vehicle systems",
  "abstract": "Remote controlled vehicle systems for the surveillance of and/or action on objects spaced from the point of control including a control or information receiving station and means for modulating a beam of light receivable at the control or information receiving station by intelligence bearing signals generated at the vehicle. The beam of light receivable at the control station may be a laser beam or a light beam carried by an optically conductive fiber or fiber bundle. Control signals may be transmitted to the vehicle by a modulated laser beam or a fiber-carried beam or by radio frequency signals.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A communication system for the remote control of a vehicle, control mechanism carried by the vehicle to be controlled, a control station, means for generating electromagnetic control signals at said control station, means for generating intelligence bearing signals at the vehicle, means for modulating a beam of light receivable at the control station by said intelligence bearing signals generated at the vehicle wherein the vehicle is controlled by electromagnetic signals imposed at the control station and wherein the modulating means comprises a retroreflector carried by the vehicle.",
    "2. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the beam of light is a laser beam.",
    "3. A communication system as defined in claim 2 wherein the laser beam is generated at the control station.",
    "4. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the retroreflector is separably associated with the vehicle.",
    "5. A communication system as defined in claim 1 including a laser beam generating means at the control station and the electromagnetic signals comprise signals imposed on said laser beam.",
    "6. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is controlled by radio frequency signals generated at the control station.",
    "7. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the laser beam signals are modulated by the use of the Stark effect upon a gas-filled cell in the path of the beam to the retroreflector.",
    "8. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the retroreflector is a corner cube retroreflector.",
    "9. A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the laser beam signals are modulated by the use of the Stark effect upon a gas-filled cell in the path of the beam to the retroreflector.",
    "10. A remotely piloted assembly including a vehicle, a beam-modulating retroreflector receiving laser-beam-carried control signals from a control station, means for releasably mounting the retroreflector to the vehicle and optical filament means connecting the vehicle and the retroreflector for transmitting signals between the vehicle and the control station.",
    "11. A communication system as defined in claim 10 wherein the beam of light is carried by said optical filament means.",
    "12. A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the laser beam signals are modulated by the use of the Stark effect upon a gas-filled cell in the path of the beam to the retroreflector.",
    "13. A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 including a parachute extendible to support the retroreflector.",
    "14. A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the retroreflector is mounted on a separate independently controllable carrier means.",
    "15. A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the filament means is an electroconductive wire.",
    "16. A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the filament means is an optically conductive fiber.",
    "17. A remotely piloted assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein the retroreflector is a corner cube retroreflector."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "H04B 10/2587",
    "G01S 17/74",
    "G02F 1/174"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CULVER WILLIAM HOWARD"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1973-08-31",
  "publication_date": "1976-03-09",
  "grant_date": "1976-03-09",
  "priority_date": "1973-08-31",
  "application_number": "US-39346873-A",
  "family_id": "23554818",
  "citations": [
    "DE2012293A1",
    "US2995740A",
    "US3241145A",
    "US3766392A"
  ]
}