Controller for autonomous device
First Claim
1. A controller for directing the actions of an autonomous device in response to the existence or actions of objects in the physical world comprising:
- a programmable computing system having at least one central processing unit, random access memory, and input/output channels, said input/output channels connected to data acquisition devices for gathering data about the physical world in the vicinity of the autonomous device and output effectors for outputting signals to effect the physical response of the autonomous device,program means stored in said random access memory for inputting the data relating to said physical world objects in the form of a stream of data vectors,program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a continuous inference network for generating inferred property confidence factors related to objects in the physical world,program means stored in said random access memory for repetitively fusing physical world data and inferred property confidence factors into a plurality of Representational instances, said Representational instances comprising a list of physical and inferred properties and their values and confidence factors, respectively,at least one Representational instance having an inferred behavior interface property for soliciting a response of the autonomous device,program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a plurality of independent behavior instances for carrying out response tasks,program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a mission control task by generating a task list of behavior instances to be performed wherein each said behavior instance includes at least one goal achievement function for testing for completion and/or modifying of the behavior response, andprogram means stored in said random access memory for implementing an execution engine for executing the behavior instance at the head of the task list.
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Abstract
A controller for directing the actions of an autonomous device in response to the existence or actions of objects in the physical world comprises program means for fusing physical world data and inferred property confidence factors into a plurality of representational instances, at least one representational instance having an inferred behavior interface property for soliciting a response of the autonomous device, program means stored in a random access memory for implementing a plurality of independent behavior instances for carrying out response tasks, program means stored in the random access memory for implementing a mission control task by generating a task list of behavior instances to be performed and program means stored in the random access memory for implementing an execution engine for executing the behavior instance at the head of the task list.
45 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A controller for directing the actions of an autonomous device in response to the existence or actions of objects in the physical world comprising:
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a programmable computing system having at least one central processing unit, random access memory, and input/output channels, said input/output channels connected to data acquisition devices for gathering data about the physical world in the vicinity of the autonomous device and output effectors for outputting signals to effect the physical response of the autonomous device, program means stored in said random access memory for inputting the data relating to said physical world objects in the form of a stream of data vectors, program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a continuous inference network for generating inferred property confidence factors related to objects in the physical world, program means stored in said random access memory for repetitively fusing physical world data and inferred property confidence factors into a plurality of Representational instances, said Representational instances comprising a list of physical and inferred properties and their values and confidence factors, respectively, at least one Representational instance having an inferred behavior interface property for soliciting a response of the autonomous device, program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a plurality of independent behavior instances for carrying out response tasks, program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a mission control task by generating a task list of behavior instances to be performed wherein each said behavior instance includes at least one goal achievement function for testing for completion and/or modifying of the behavior response, and program means stored in said random access memory for implementing an execution engine for executing the behavior instance at the head of the task list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A controller for directing the actions of an autonomous device in response to mission orders and the existence of actions or objects in the physical world comprising:
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a programmable computing system having at least one central processing unit, random access memory, and input/output channels, said input/output channels connected to data acquisition devices for gathering data about the physical world in the vicinity of the autonomous device and output effectors for outputting signals to effect the physical response of the autonomous device, program means stored in said random access memory for inputting the data relating to said physical world objects in the form of a stream of data vectors, program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a continuous inference network for generating inferred property confidence factors related to objects in the physical world, program means stored in said random access memory for repetitively fusing physical world data and inferred property confidence factors into a plurality of Representational instances, said Representational instances comprising a list of physical and inferred properties and their values and confidence factors, respectively, at least one Representational instance having an inferred behavior interface property for soliciting a response of the autonomous device, program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a plurality of independent behavior instances for carrying out responses, each said behavior response instance including at least one action function and associated goal achievement function for testing for completion of and/or modifying the action function, a behavior response decision function for polling the behavior interface properties of at least one of said Representational instances, making a decision whether or not to request activation of the behavior instance and generating activation requests, a plan designing function for generating a task list of action functions to be performed to carry out a behavior response, said action functions sending signals to said input/output channels, and at least one goal achievement function for testing for completion or modifying of the behavior response, program means stored in said random access memory for implementing a mission control task for defining said mission plan by generating a task list of behavior instances to be performed and arbitrating between activation requests from behavior instances, and program means stored in said random access memory for implementing an execution engine which seriatim; calls the current action function goal achievement function, calls the current behavior response goal achievement function, calls a response decision function that polls response behavior instances to determine if any instance requests activation based upon the observation of a behavior interface property and calls a mission response decision from the mission level, calls a function to activate the mission planning function to order or reorder the mission plan, and calls for the execution of the next behavior instance or the next action function, sets response directive and repeats. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification