Method and system for limiting controlled characteristics of a remotely controlled device

Abstract

Remotely controlled devices ( 110 ) are controlled by one or more wireless remote controllers ( 114 ). The remotely controlled devices ( 110 ) and wireless remote controllers ( 114 ) communicate to each other over a two-way wireless link. The system and method provide pre-defined profiles that limit the performance of the remotely controlled devices ( 110 ) in order to provide different operating characteristics with the same remotely controlled devices ( 110 ). The system and method further provide one or more forms of feedback to a user of the wireless remote controller ( 114 ), such as sounds, vibration, and the like. The feedback can be provided in response to detected events associated with the remotely control device ( 110 ), such as sharp turns and the like. The performance limits of the remotely controlled devices ( 110 ) is also able to be modified with operating time in order to simulate, for example, improved driver skills, fuel depletion and/or pit stops.

1 . A method for wirelessly controlling a self propelled apparatus, the method comprising:
 storing a profile, the profile comprising at least a definition of at least one apparatus characteristic limit; and   controlling a self propelled apparatus from a remote controller, the remote controller being in bi-directional wireless communications with the self propelled apparatus,   wherein the controlling comprises at least one of:
 limiting a controlled value of the self propelled apparatus based upon the at least one apparatus characteristic limit, and 
 providing feedback through the remote controller based upon at least one detected event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote controller further comprises a wireless telephone. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting, within the self propelled apparatus, proximity of the self propelled apparatus to a remotely sensed marker, the remotely sensed marker indicating a pre-determined location in an area of movement for the self propelled apparatus; and   triggering, in response to the detecting proximity, the at least one detected event.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting, based upon an operating time of the self propelled apparatus, at least one of the at least one apparatus characteristic limit. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting the at least one detected event within the self propelled apparatus; and   transmitting an indication of the detected event from the self propelled apparatus to the remote controller through the bi-directional wireless communications.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 detecting the at least one detected event associated with the self propelled vehicle; and   storing a plurality of feedback representations,   wherein the providing feedback comprises selecting one of the plurality of feedback representations based upon the at least one detected event.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the self propelled apparatus is one of a plurality of self propelled apparatuses, the method further comprising associating the remote controller with the one of the plurality of self propelled apparatuses. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a status for the self propelled apparatus; and   adjusting, based upon the maintained status, at least one of the at least one apparatus characteristic limit.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 estimating that the self propelled device is operating indoors; and   adjusting, based upon the estimating that the self propelled device is operating indoors, at least one of the at least one apparatus characteristic limit.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the estimating that the self propelled device is operating indoors comprises:
 detecting a lack of reception of a GPS radio signal; or detecting ambient light intensity.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the detecting ambient light intensity is performed by a camera. 
     
     
         12 . A self propelled apparatus, comprising:
 a processor that controls at least one operation of the self propelled apparatus;   at least one event detector to detect at least one detected event associated with the self propelled apparatus; and   a bi-directional wireless communications interface that receives commands for control of the self propelled apparatus and transmits an indication of the at least one detected event.   
     
     
         13 . The self propelled apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the indication of the at least one detected event comprises a specification of the event. 
     
     
         14 . The self propelled apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a feedback storage that stores at least one of at least one stored recorded sound file and at least one stored vibration profile; and   wherein the indication of the at least one detected event comprises one of the stored feedback representations that is selected based on the at least one detected event.   
     
     
         15 . The self propelled apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one event sensor comprises a remotely sensed marker detector that detects a proximity of the self propelled vehicle to a remotely sensed marker, the remotely sensed marker indicating a predetermined location in a area of operation for the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . A remote controller, comprising;
 a user input sensor that determines a user input;   a self propelled apparatus control module that generates, based upon the user input, control instructions to be transmitted to a self propelled apparatus;   a bi-directional short range wireless interface that transmits the control instructions and receives an indication of at least one detected event; and   a user feedback generator that generates, based upon the at least one detected event, at least one type of user feedback.   
     
     
         17 . The remote controller according to  claim 16 , further comprising a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         18 . The remote controller according to  claim 16 , further comprising a feedback data storage that stores at least one definition of at least one feedback to be used as the at least one type of user feedback. 
     
     
         19 . The remote controller according to  claim 16 , further comprising a profile data storage that stores performance limits, and wherein the self propelled apparatus control module limits the control instructions based upon the performance limits. 
     
     
         20 . The remote controller according to  claim 16 , further comprising at least one indoor environment estimator that estimates whether the remote controller is in an indoors environment, and wherein the self propelled apparatus control module limits the control instructions based upon an estimate of whether the remote controller is in an indoors environment.