Reconfigurable autonomous device networks
First Claim
1. An autonomous device for collaboratively identifying objects in an environment, the autonomous device comprising:
- a sensor unit adapted for sensing signals due to the objects;
a storage unit containing object template information corresponding to the objects;
a computation unit adapted for processing the sensed signals, wherein the computation unit can compute a match between the sensed signals and the object template information;
a communication unit adapted for communicating information relating to operation of the autonomous device with other devices; and
a control unit adapted for making a decision effecting a status of the autonomous device based at least on a result of the match, wherein the autonomous device operatively collaborates with other devices, similarly constructed, for identifying the objects in the environment.
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Abstract
The present invention describes the use of autonomous devices, which can be arranged in networks, such as neural networks, to better identify, track, and acquire sources of signals present in an environment. The environment may be a physical environment, such as a battlefield, or a more abstract environment, such as a communication network. The devices may be mobile, in the form of vehicles with sensors, or may be information agents, and may also interact with one another, thus allowing for a great deal of flexibility in carrying out a task. In some cases, the devices may be in the form of autonomous vehicles which can collaboratively sense, identify, or classify a number of sources or targets concurrently. The autonomous devices may function as mobile agents or attractors in a network, such as a neural network. The devices may also be aggregated to form a network of networks and provide scalability to a system in which the autonomous devices are operating.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An autonomous device for collaboratively identifying objects in an environment, the autonomous device comprising:
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a sensor unit adapted for sensing signals due to the objects;
a storage unit containing object template information corresponding to the objects;
a computation unit adapted for processing the sensed signals, wherein the computation unit can compute a match between the sensed signals and the object template information;
a communication unit adapted for communicating information relating to operation of the autonomous device with other devices; and
a control unit adapted for making a decision effecting a status of the autonomous device based at least on a result of the match, wherein the autonomous device operatively collaborates with other devices, similarly constructed, for identifying the objects in the environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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15. A method for identifying objects in an environment, comprising:
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providing at least one autonomous device for operation in the environment;
providing object template data, corresponding to the objects, in a database coupled to the autonomous device;
sensing a signal from an object using a sensor coupled to the autonomous device;
evaluating a match between an object template and the sensed signal; and
taking an action based at least on a result of the evaluation.
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19. A system for identifying at least one object in an environment, comprising:
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a first autonomous device which detects at least a first signal from the object;
a second autonomous device which detects at least a second signal from the object; and
a communication network which connects the first and second autonomous devices and passes information between said first and second autonomous devices;
wherein each of said first and second autonomous devices each comprises a control module, a sensor module, and a communications module;
wherein the first autonomous device can evaluate a first match between the first signal and a first reference object template;
wherein the second autonomous device can evaluate a second match between the second signal and a second reference object template; and
wherein said first and second matches being indicative of an identity of the at least one object in the environment.
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22. A network, comprising:
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a plurality of nodes;
a plurality of branches connecting said nodes; and
at least one autonomous agent capable of moving information from a first node to a second node;
wherein said at least one autonomous agent comprises a network condition sensor and can carry information pertaining to a network condition. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for determining an optimum configuration of agents operating in an environment, the method comprising:
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sensing, on a first agent in the environment, a first environmental signal;
forming a first representation of the first environmental signal;
sensing, on a second agent in the environment, a second environmental signal;
forming a second representation of the second environmental signal;
exchanging, between the first and second agents, the respective first and second representations;
computing a performance metric corresponding to a first configuration of the first and second agents; and
reconfiguring the first and second agents, based on the performance metric, to arrive at a new configuration of the first and second agents. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification