Apparatus system and method for adapting a scaled vehicle remote controller for use with an enhanced controller

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for adapting an existing scaled vehicle remote controller for use with an enhanced controller. An enhanced controller modifies control signals to conform to the response features of an existing controller. The modified control signal is transmitted to an original remote controller and broadcast to a scaled vehicle. The enhanced control system can control the scaled vehicle with no changes to the vehicle and only modest changes to the original vehicle controller. The present invention allows existing remote control vehicles to be used in more sophisticated competitions and driven using enhanced operational environments.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for adapting a remote controller of a scaled vehicle for use with an enhanced controller, the method comprising: 
 providing a remote controller for remotely controlling the scaled vehicle, the remote controller comprising a transducer and a transmitter;    connecting an enhanced controller to the remote controller transmitter; and    transmitting a control signal to the scaled vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying a control signal of the enhanced controller to conform to an operating parameter of the remote controller.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising overriding the control signal from the enhanced controller with a track marshal control signal.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising transmitting the track marshal control signal to the scaled vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying a control signal of the enhanced controller to change a maneuvering characteristic of the scaled vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . A method for adapting a remote controller of a scaled vehicle for use with an enhanced controller, the method comprising: 
 providing a remote controller for remotely controlling the scaled vehicle, the remote controller comprising a transducer and a transmitter;    connecting an enhanced controller to the remote controller transmitter;    transmitting a control signal to the scaled vehicle;    modifying a control signal of the enhanced controller to conform to an operating parameter of the remote controller; and    modifying a control signal of the enhanced controller to change a maneuvering characteristic of the scaled vehicle.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising overriding the control signal from the enhanced controller with a track marshal control signal.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting the track marshal control signal to the scaled vehicle.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for adapting a remote controller of a scaled vehicle for use with an enhanced controller, the apparatus comprising: 
 a connection circuit connected to the remote controller;    the connection circuit configured to receive a control signal from the enhanced controller; and    a transmitter configured to transmit the control signal to the scaled vehicle.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the connection circuit is further configured to modify the control signal from the enhanced controller to conform to an operational parameter of the remote controller.  
     
     
         11 . A system for adapting a remote controller of a scaled vehicle for use with an enhanced controller, the system comprising: 
 the remote controller configured to receive a control signal from the enhanced controller and transmit the control signal to the scaled vehicle; and    the enhanced controller configured to receive a a maneuvering feedback response from the scaled vehicle and communicate the maneuvering feedback response to a user.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a control signal modification module configured to modify a control signal from the enhanced controller to conform to an operational parameter of the remote controller.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a control signal modification module configured to modify a control signal from the enhanced controller to change a maneuvering characteristic of the scaled vehicle.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a video feedback module configured to communicate a video feedback response to the enhanced controller.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a force feedback module configured to communicate a force feedback response to the enhanced controller.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a motion feedback module configured to communicate a motion feedback response to the enhanced controller.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an audio feedback module configured to communicate a audio feedback response to the enhanced controller.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a tactile feedback module configured to communicate a tactile feedback response to the enhanced controller.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an olfactory module configured to communicate an olfactory feedback response to the enhanced controller.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for adapting a remote controller of a scaled vehicle for use with an enhanced controller, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for generating a control signal with the enhanced controller; means for communicating the control signal to the remote controller; and    means for transmitting the control signal to the scaled vehicle.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , the apparatus further comprising means for overriding a control signal from the enhanced controller with a track marshal control signal.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , the apparatus further comprising means for modifying the control signal to change a maneuvering characteristic of the scaled vehicle.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , the apparatus further comprising means for communicating a maneuvering feedback response to a user.  
     
     
         24 . A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code configured to carry out a method for adapting a remote controller of a scaled vehicle for use with an enhanced controller, the method comprising: 
 receiving a control signal from the enhanced controller;    modifying the control signal to conform to an operational parameter of the remote controller; and    transmitting the control signal to the scaled vehicle.    
     
     
         25 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the method further comprises overriding the control signal from the enhanced controller with a track marshal control signal.  
     
     
         26 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the method further comprises modifying the control signal of the enhanced controller to change a maneuvering characteristic of the scaled vehicle.