Autonomous team formation and task negotiation among unmanned vehicles
First Claim
1. A system of autonomous vehicles for forming a team of autonomous vehicles to perform a designated set of tasks:
- a first autonomous vehicle having a processing system for storing a first set of agent capability data representing those of the tasks that the first autonomous vehicle is able to perform;
a second autonomous vehicle having a processing system for storing a second set of agent capability data representing those of the tasks that the second autonomous vehicle is able to perform;
one or more additional autonomous vehicles each having a processing system for storing an additional set of agent capability data representing those of the tasks that the additional autonomous vehicle is able to perform;
wherein each autonomous vehicle, after acceptance into the team, further stores needed capability data representing capabilities needed to perform the designated set of tasks, and further stores team capability data representing the capabilities of all vehicles who have joined the team;
wherein each of the autonomous vehicles is equipped with a communications system operable to send and receive at least the following types of messages;
join request messages and join response messages;
wherein each join request message contains received agent capabilities data representing the sending vehicle'"'"'s capabilities;
wherein each join response message contains team capabilities data representing the capabilities of all current team members;
wherein each of the autonomous vehicles is programmed, upon receipt of a join request message, to compare the needed capabilities data to the received capabilities data, thereby determining if there are matched capabilities, and if there are matched capabilities, to update the team capabilities data and to transmit a join response message;
wherein each of the autonomous vehicles is programmed, upon receipt of a join response message from a sending vehicle, if the message indicates the sending vehicle has joined the team, to update the team capabilities data; and
a new team member comprising a newly accepted autonomous vehicle that has been accepted into the team in response to a join request when no other autonomous vehicle and no other control process shad prior stored capabilities data representing capabilities of the newly accepted autonomous vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system of autonomous vehicles for forming a team of autonomous vehicles to perform a designated set of tasks. Each vehicle stores data representing its own capabilities that match the tasks, data representing needed capabilities for the team to perform the tasks, and data representing the capabilities of all current team members. Each of the vehicles is equipped with a communications system operable to send and receive join request messages and join response messages. All join request message contain the capabilities of the sending vehicle. All join response messages contain current team capabilities data. Upon receipt of a join request message, a vehicle compares needed capabilities data to the received capabilities data, and if there are matched capabilities, it updates the team capabilities data and transmits a join response message. Upon receipt of a join response message, if the message indicates the sending vehicle has joined the team, the receiving vehicle updates the team capabilities list.
4 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system of autonomous vehicles for forming a team of autonomous vehicles to perform a designated set of tasks:
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a first autonomous vehicle having a processing system for storing a first set of agent capability data representing those of the tasks that the first autonomous vehicle is able to perform; a second autonomous vehicle having a processing system for storing a second set of agent capability data representing those of the tasks that the second autonomous vehicle is able to perform; one or more additional autonomous vehicles each having a processing system for storing an additional set of agent capability data representing those of the tasks that the additional autonomous vehicle is able to perform; wherein each autonomous vehicle, after acceptance into the team, further stores needed capability data representing capabilities needed to perform the designated set of tasks, and further stores team capability data representing the capabilities of all vehicles who have joined the team; wherein each of the autonomous vehicles is equipped with a communications system operable to send and receive at least the following types of messages;
join request messages and join response messages;
wherein each join request message contains received agent capabilities data representing the sending vehicle'"'"'s capabilities;
wherein each join response message contains team capabilities data representing the capabilities of all current team members;wherein each of the autonomous vehicles is programmed, upon receipt of a join request message, to compare the needed capabilities data to the received capabilities data, thereby determining if there are matched capabilities, and if there are matched capabilities, to update the team capabilities data and to transmit a join response message; wherein each of the autonomous vehicles is programmed, upon receipt of a join response message from a sending vehicle, if the message indicates the sending vehicle has joined the team, to update the team capabilities data; and a new team member comprising a newly accepted autonomous vehicle that has been accepted into the team in response to a join request when no other autonomous vehicle and no other control process shad prior stored capabilities data representing capabilities of the newly accepted autonomous vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of forming a team of autonomous vehicles to perform a designated set of tasks:
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providing each of a number of autonomous vehicles with a processing system for storing an additional set of agent capability data representing those of the tasks that the additional autonomous vehicle is able to perform; wherein each autonomous vehicle, after acceptance into the team, further stores needed capability data representing capabilities needed to perform the designated set of tasks, and further stores team capability data representing the capabilities of all vehicles who have joined the team; providing each autonomous vehicle with a communications system operable to send and receive at least the following types of messages;
join request messages and join response messages;
wherein each join request message contains received agent capabilities data representing the sending vehicle'"'"'s capabilities;
wherein each join response message contains team capabilities data representing the capabilities of all current team members;wherein each of the autonomous vehicles is programmed, upon receipt of a join request message, to compare the needed capabilities data to the received capabilities data, thereby determining if there are matched capabilities, and if there are matched capabilities, to update the team capabilities data and to transmit a join response message; wherein each of the autonomous vehicles is programmed, upon receipt of a join response message from a sending vehicle, if the message indicates the sending vehicle has joined the team, to update the team capabilities data; and accepting a new team member as a newly accepted autonomous vehicle that has been accepted into the team in response to a join request when no other autonomous vehicle and no other control process had prior stored capabilities data representing capabilities of the newly accepted autonomous vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification