System and method for managing access to a resource in an autonomous vehicle system
First Claim
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1. A system for managing a resource shared by a plurality of autonomous vehicles, comprising:
- navigator means, on each autonomous vehicle, for enabling each autonomous vehicle to travel a specified route to the resource and for generating a queue position request upon approach to the resource; and
queue manager means for establishing a queue to control access to the resource, and for generating a queue position in response to receipt of said queue position request from an approaching autonomous vehicle, whereby said plurality of autonomous vehicles pass through said queue and access said resource in a first-in, first-out manner.
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Abstract
The invention is a system and method for managing a resource shared by a plurality of autonomous vehicles. Each vehicle includes a navigator for causing the vehicle to travel a specified route to the resource and for generating a queue position request upon approach to the resource. A queue or fleet manager establishes a queue to control access to the resource. The queue manager generates a queue position in response to receipt of the queue position request from an approaching vehicle. Under control of the queue manager, autonomous vehicles are passed through the queue and allowed to access the resource in a first-in, first-out manner.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for managing a resource shared by a plurality of autonomous vehicles, comprising:
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navigator means, on each autonomous vehicle, for enabling each autonomous vehicle to travel a specified route to the resource and for generating a queue position request upon approach to the resource; and queue manager means for establishing a queue to control access to the resource, and for generating a queue position in response to receipt of said queue position request from an approaching autonomous vehicle, whereby said plurality of autonomous vehicles pass through said queue and access said resource in a first-in, first-out manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for managing a resource shared by a plurality of autonomous vehicles, each autonomous vehicle having navigator means for enabling the autonomous vehicle to travel a specified route to the resource, the method comprising:
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(a) establishing a queue to control access to the resource; (b) communicating a queue position request from an approaching autonomous vehicle to a queue manager upon approach of said approaching autonomous vehicle to the resource; (c) communicating a queue position from said queue manager to said approaching autonomous vehicle in response to said queue position request, said queue position being assigned to said approaching autonomous vehicle based on a number of other autonomous vehicles in said queue; (d) communicating a resource ready signal to a first autonomous vehicle in a first position of said queue; and (e) allowing, in response to said resource ready signal, said first autonomous vehicle to leave said first position of said queue and to access said resource. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for managing a resource shared by a plurality of autonomous vehicles, comprising:
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navigator means, on each autonomous vehicle, for enabling each autonomous vehicle to travel a specified route to the resource and for generating a queue position request upon approach to the resource; queue manager means the establishing a queue to control access to the resource, and for generating a queue position in response to receipt of said queue position request from an approaching autonomous vehicle; first communication means for communicating said queue position to said approaching autonomous vehicle, wherein said navigator means instructs said approaching autonomous vehicle to take said queue position; ready means for generating a resource ready signal; second communication means for communicating said resource ready signal to an autonomous vehicle in a first position of said queue; and move means responsive to said resource ready signal for instructing said autonomous vehicle in said first position of said queue to depart said first position to access said resource. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for loading a plurality of autonomous dump trucks at a loader site, comprising:
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navigator means, on each autonomous dump truck, for enabling each autonomous dump truck to travel a specified route to the loader site and for generating a queue position request upon approach to the loader site; queue manager means for establishing a queue to control access to the loader site, and for generating a queue position in response to receipt of said queue position request from an approaching autonomous dump truck, wherein said navigator means instructs said approaching autonomous dump truck to take said queue position; and loader site control means for generating a loader ready signal when said loader site is ready to receive one of said plurality of autonomous dump trucks and a loader done signal when said loader site has finished with said one of said plurality of autonomous dump trucks, said loader ready signal instructing an autonomous dump truck in a first position of said queue to depart said first position to access said loader site, said loader site done signal instructing an autonomous dump truck at said loader site to leave said loader site. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for unloading a plurality of autonomous dump trucks at a dump site, comprising:
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navigator means, on each autonomous dump truck, for enabling each autonomous dump truck to travel a specified route to the dump site and for generating a queue position request upon approach to the dump site; and queue manager means for establishing a queue to control access to the dump site, and for generating a queue position in response to receipt of said queue position request from an approaching autonomous dump truck; wherein said navigator means instructs said approaching autonomous dump truck to take said queue position, and wherein said plurality of autonomous dump trucks are permitted to flow in and out of said queue and to access said dump site in a first-in, first-out manner. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification