Vehicle video control system

Abstract

A vehicle video control system is provided comprising a video camera unit having a wide angle (preferably a fisheye) lens mounted atop a column, wherein the column is attached to a manned or robotic vehicle, and an operator control unit in communication with the video camera unit. A continuous video image produced by the video camera unit is transmitted to the operator control unit. Such vehicle video control system provides a vehicle operator with an approximately hemispherical view from above the vehicle, providing the human operator with a continuous view of most of the area surrounding the vehicle. This video control system eliminates the burden of video camera control during simultaneous operation of the vehicle using the present system.

1 . A vehicle video control system comprising:
 a video camera having a wide angle lens, said video camera adjustably disposed at a first end of a column;   a communication means in communication with the video camera, said communication means disposed upon the vehicle or said column; and   an operator control unit in communication with the communication means.   
   
   
       2 . The vehicle video control system of  claim 1 , wherein the video camera comprises a fisheye lens, or a lens having a very wide angle view, such that when viewing the video image, the operator is provided with an essentially hemispherical view from above of the vehicle, or at least a very wide panoramic view of the area surrounding the vehicle. 
   
   
       3 . The vehicle video control system of  claim 1 , wherein the video camera is adjustably disposed upon the column, such that the video camera may be adjusted by the operator to provide varied views of the area surrounding the vehicle. 
   
   
       4 . The vehicle video control system of  claim 3 , wherein the video camera further comprises a camera control means to enable remote adjustment of the video camera, such that an operator may adjust the attitude (disposition) of the camera upon the column. 
   
   
       5 . The vehicle video control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an operator control unit in communication with the communication means, wherein the operator control system comprises a receiver capable of receiving data concerning the video image produced by the video camera; and   a user video display means in communication with the receiver.   
   
   
       6 . The vehicle video control system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 (a) an operator control unit in communication with the communication means, wherein the operator control unit comprises:
 a receiver/transmitter capable of receiving data concerning the video image produced by the video camera, and transmitting command data concerning control of the camera control means; 
   (b) a user video display means in communication with the receiver/transmitter; and   (c) a user control means in communication with the receiver/transmitter and operator control unit capable of relaying user commands to the camera control means, including commands to the camera control means to automatically adjust the video camera in the direction of travel of the vehicle.   
   
   
       7 . The vehicle video control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remotely controlled vehicle disposed at a second end of the column, said second end of the column opposite the first end of the column. 
   
   
       8 . The vehicle video control system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication means is a wireless communication means, in wireless communication with the operator control unit. 
   
   
       9 . The vehicle video control system of  claim 5 , wherein the operator control unit is in wireless communication with the communication means, via a wireless receiver.