Description:Field of Invention:
The present invention relates to a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) designed for the management and optimization of vehicle dynamics in various types of vehicles, including but not limited to land, air, and water-based vehicles. Specifically, this invention addresses the integration and coordination of multiple sensors, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and barometers, to enhance vehicle stability, navigation, and performance under diverse operating conditions
Description
The components relate to an integrated system designed to enhance electrical vehicular controls. The system comprises three interconnected components: The Vehicle control unit, Sensor board and peripheral unit. Each component is designed to contribute uniquely to the system’s overall performance.
Composition of the VCU
Product A: Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) (fig 1)
The VCU is a control system utilizing the STM32F427 microcontroller to manage copters, planes, and rovers with real-time data processing and control. It integrates connectivity options and custom firmware for seamless operation and adaptability across various vehicle types.
Product B: Sensor Board (fig 2)
The sensor board features an advanced IMU (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) and a barometer for precise navigation and stability. It processes input from these sensors to provide critical orientation and altitude data for the VCU.
Product C: Peripheral Unit (fig 3)
The removable and swappable peripheral unit includes customizable ports for integrating additional components tailored to specific vehicle types. This modular design allows for flexible adaptation and optimal performance across different operational environments.
Working of the system:
The Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) is a sophisticated electronic system engineered to manage and control various types of vehicles, including copters, planes, and rovers. At the heart of the VCU is the STM32F427 microcontroller, which serves as the central processing unit, providing the computational power required for real-time data processing and control tasks. The VCU includes a dedicated sensor board that integrates an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), comprising an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. This IMU is crucial for monitoring the vehicle's orientation and movement, ensuring precise navigation and stability. Additionally, the sensor board features a barometer, an independent unit responsible for accurate altitude detection, further enhancing the vehicle’s navigational capabilities.
To accommodate various external components and peripherals, the VCU is designed with extensive connectivity options. It includes connections for telemetry, external GPS, and additional magnetometers, and supports up to eight motors. The unit also provides auxiliary ports for integrating a wide range of sensors, such as cameras, optical sensors, proximity sensors, and thermal sensors. This allows for enhanced situational awareness and adaptability to specific mission requirements.
The control unit operates on custom-developed firmware that initializes and manages the entire system. This firmware is compatible with widely used ground control software platforms, including Mission Planner, QGroundControl, and ArduCopter, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and workflows. The firmware’s adaptability and robustness ensure reliable performance across various vehicle configurations. The VCU is divided into two primary components: the sensor board and the CPU board. The sensor board is dedicated to processing inputs from the various sensors, while the CPU board handles overall control logic and communication tasks. This modular design enhances the system’s flexibility and scalability, facilitating easy upgrades and maintenance.
A key feature of the VCU is its peripheral unit, which includes additional customizable ports. This peripheral unit is both removable and swappable, allowing users to tailor the VCU to the specific needs of different vehicle types. Peripheral boards can be customized according to the vehicle variant, whether it be a copter, plane, or rover. This customization capability enables the VCU to adapt to a wide range of applications, ensuring optimal performance across diverse operational environments.
This is a versatile and robust system designed for precise control and monitoring of various vehicle platforms. Its advanced sensor integration, extensive connectivity, and customizable firmware make it a powerful tool for mission-critical applications in both commercial and military domains.
Detailed description of diagram:
Fig 1: Vehicle control unit’s primary module
Fig 2: Sensor module
Fig 3: Peripheral module
Fig 4: Functional architecture of Vehicle control unit , Claims:Claims
We claim:
1. A vehicle control unit, comprising:
a dual Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer, and a separate barometer, wherein the dual IMU and barometer are configured to provide precise motion and altitude detection.
2. The vehicle control unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
a separate sensor printed circuit board (PCB) integrated with the main CPU board, wherein the sensor PCB houses the IMU and barometer to enable efficient data processing and sensor management.
3. The vehicle control unit according to claim 2, wherein the sensor PCB is internally damped to mitigate the effects of vehicle vibrations on the sensor readings, ensuring accurate sensor data under varying operational conditions.
4. The vehicle control unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus connection between the main unit and a peripheral unit, wherein the CAN bus facilitates the extension of ports and communication between the units.
5. The vehicle control unit according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral unit is swappable to allow compatibility with different vehicle configurations, including plane, copter, and rover variants, thereby enabling the control unit to be tailored to specific vehicle types.
6. The vehicle control unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
multiple ports for connecting external components, including but not limited to telemetry modules, external GPS modules, additional magnetometers, motors, and auxiliary sensors such as cameras, optical sensors, proximity sensors, and thermal sensors.
7. The vehicle control unit according to claim 6, wherein the auxiliary ports are customizable to support a wide range of sensor types and other peripherals, enhancing the unit's versatility for various applications.
8. The vehicle control unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
custom firmware that is compatible with ground control software platforms, such as Mission Planner, QGroundControl, and ArduCopter, enabling seamless integration and control of the vehicle.
9. The vehicle control unit according to claim 1, wherein the main CPU board is designed to support modular upgrades and expansion, allowing for future enhancements and adaptations to evolving vehicle requirements.