SYSTEM VALIDATION

• US 20130073138A1
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Callow, Glenn Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,989,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/04 involving the use of models or simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/00 Computing arrangements using knowledge-based models

Abstract

A method and apparatus for evaluating capabilities of a system (e.g. an autonomous vehicle) with respect to the performance of a task, the method including: providing a first model corresponding to the task; providing a further model corresponding to the system; providing a plurality of mappings from one model to another model; determining whether there exists a transformation trace either (i) from the first model to the further model, or (ii) from the further model to the first model, wherein each transformation trace includes one or more of the specified mappings; and evaluating the capabilities of the system with respect to the task dependent upon the existence of the transformation trace.

Claims

1. A method performed on an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

(a) evaluating, via one or more systems onboard an autonomous vehicle, capabilities of the autonomous vehicle with respect to performance of a task, the evaluating of capabilities including;

providing a first model, the first model corresponding to the task;

providing a further model, the further model corresponding to the autonomous vehicle;

providing a plurality of mappings from one model to another model;

determining whether there exists a transformation trace either (i) from the first model to the further model, or (ii) from the further model to the first model, wherein each transformation trace comprises one or more of the specified mappings; and

evaluating the capabilities of the autonomous vehicle with respect to the task, the evaluation outcome being dependent upon existence of the transformation trace;

(b) inputting data corresponding to a result of step (a) into other systems of the autonomous vehicle; and

(c) performing a specified action of the autonomous vehicle depending on the result.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

providing, via one or more sensors, data about environmental conditions in which the autonomous vehicle is operating.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

providing, via one or more sensors, information about actions that may be performed by the autonomous vehicle.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the capabilities of the autonomous vehicle with respect to the task comprises:

determining whether the autonomous vehicle is capable of performing the task.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein it is determined that the autonomous vehicle is capable of performing the task if the transformation trace exists.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

specifying a second further model, the second further model corresponding to the autonomous vehicle;

wherein

the determining whether there exists a transformation trace includes;

determining whether there exists either;

(i) a transformation trace from the first model to the second further model and a transformation trace from the second further model to the further model;

or

(ii) a transformation trace from the further model to the second further model and a transformation trace from the second further model to the first model; and

each transformation trace includes one or more of the specified mappings.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

a first meta-model provides a basis for the first model;

a second meta-model provides a basis for the further model; and

the determining whether there exists a transformation trace includes;

determining whether there exists a transform or mapping from the first meta-model to the second meta-model;

wherein

a transform or mapping from the first meta-model to the second meta-model provides a basis for the transformation trace either (i) from the first model to the further model, or (ii) from the further model to the first model.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first model is a Computation Independent Model.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein a further model is one of the following:

(i) a Platform Independent Model, or (ii) a Platform Specific Model.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented using Planning Domain Definition Language.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

there are two further models;

one of the two further models is a Platform Independent Model; and

the other of the two further models is a Platform Specific Model.

12. Apparatus for onboard an autonomous vehicle for evaluating capabilities of the autonomous vehicle with respect to the performance of a task, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors arranged to;

determine whether there exists a transformation trace either (i) from a first model to a further model, or (ii) from the further model to the first model, and each transformation trace comprising one or more of a plurality of mappings; and

evaluate the capabilities of the autonomous vehicle with respect to the task, the evaluation outcome being dependent upon the existence of a transformation trace;

wherein

the first model corresponds to the task;

the further model corresponds to the autonomous vehicle; and

the plurality of mappings are specified from one model to another model.

13. An apparatus of according to claim 12, in combination with an autonomous vehicle wherein the apparatus is mounted.

14. (canceled)

15. A machine readable storage medium for storing a program or at least one of a plurality of programs in non-transitory form, for placement into a computer system, such that when executed will cause the computer system to perform the functions of:

(a) evaluating, via one or more systems onboard an autonomous vehicle, capabilities of the autonomous vehicle with respect to performance of a task, the evaluating of capabilities including;

providing a first model, the first model corresponding to the task;

providing a further model, the further model corresponding to the autonomous vehicle;

providing a plurality of mappings from one model to another model;

determining whether there exists a transformation trace either (i) from the first model to the further model, or (ii) from the further model to the first model, wherein each transformation trace comprises one or more of the specified mappings; and

evaluating the capabilities of the autonomous vehicle with respect to the task, the evaluation outcome being dependent upon existence of the transformation trace;

(b) inputting data corresponding to a result of step (a) into other systems of the autonomous vehicle; and

(c) performing a specified action of the autonomous vehicle depending on the result.

16. A program or plurality of programs according to claim 15 arranged on a computer system such that when executed by the computer system or one or more processors will cause the computer system or the one or more processors to perform the functions of the stored program.