High integrity coordination for multiple off-road vehicles
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a machine controller;
a steering system;
a propulsion system;
a braking system;
a sensor system having a plurality of different types of sensors;
a communication system capable of providing communications using a plurality of different types of communications links;
a library of machine behaviors; and
a coordination system,wherein the machine controller is connected to the steering system, the propulsion system, the braking system, the sensor system, the communication system, the library of machine behaviors, and the coordination system;
wherein the communications system provides communication between the vehicle and at least each vehicle in a plurality of vehicles and the coordination system;
wherein the library of machine behaviors comprises coordinating behaviors associated with one or more tasks and specific behaviors associated with one or more subtasks for carrying out aspects of the one or more tasks; and
wherein the coordination system assigns a role for each one of the plurality of vehicles for carrying out the aspects of the one or more tasks, assigns a number of machine behaviors from the library of machine behaviors to the each one of the plurality of vehicles depending upon the role assigned, and coordinates the vehicle to perform the one or more tasks using the communication system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling and coordinating multiple vehicles. In one illustrative embodiment, machine behaviors are assigned to multiple vehicles performing a task. The vehicles are coordinated to perform the task using the assigned behaviors and a number of signals received from other vehicles and the environment during performance of the task. In another illustrative embodiment, a role is identified for each vehicle in a group of vehicles. A number of machine behaviors are assigned to each vehicle depending upon the identified role for the vehicle. The machine behaviors are selected from coordinating machine behaviors stored in a behavior library. Each vehicle is then coordinated to perform the task according to the role and machine behaviors assigned.
61 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a machine controller; a steering system; a propulsion system; a braking system; a sensor system having a plurality of different types of sensors; a communication system capable of providing communications using a plurality of different types of communications links; a library of machine behaviors; and a coordination system, wherein the machine controller is connected to the steering system, the propulsion system, the braking system, the sensor system, the communication system, the library of machine behaviors, and the coordination system;
wherein the communications system provides communication between the vehicle and at least each vehicle in a plurality of vehicles and the coordination system;
wherein the library of machine behaviors comprises coordinating behaviors associated with one or more tasks and specific behaviors associated with one or more subtasks for carrying out aspects of the one or more tasks; and
wherein the coordination system assigns a role for each one of the plurality of vehicles for carrying out the aspects of the one or more tasks, assigns a number of machine behaviors from the library of machine behaviors to the each one of the plurality of vehicles depending upon the role assigned, and coordinates the vehicle to perform the one or more tasks using the communication system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method performed by a machine controller for coordinating a plurality of vehicles to perform a task, the method comprising:
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the machine controller assigning a machine behavior to each of the plurality of vehicles to perform the task to form a plurality of assigned machine behaviors; and the machine controller coordinating the plurality of vehicles to perform the task using the plurality of assigned machine behaviors assigned and a number of signals received during performance of the task, wherein the number of signals received include a status of at least one of the plurality of the vehicles and an external environmental factor.
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9. A method performed by a machine controller for coordinating a plurality of controllable vehicles to perform a task, the method comprising:
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the machine controller identifying a role for each one of the plurality of controllable vehicles for carrying out an aspect of the task; the machine controller assigning a number of machine behaviors to the each one of the plurality of controllable vehicles depending upon the identified role associated with the each one of the plurality of controllable vehicles, wherein the number of machine behaviors are selected from a plurality of coordinating machine behaviors, wherein the plurality of coordinating machine behaviors are stored in a library of machine behaviors, wherein the plurality of coordinating machine behaviors correspond to a plurality of tasks, and wherein each of the plurality of coordinating machine behaviors include specific behaviors for carrying out the aspect of the task; and the machine controller coordinating the each one of the plurality of controllable vehicles to perform the task according to the number of machine behaviors assigned and signals received during performance of the task, wherein the signals received include at least one of a status of at least one of the plurality of controllable vehicles and an external environmental factor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for coordinating a plurality of controllable vehicles, the system comprising:
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a data store having a library of machine behaviors, wherein the library of machine behaviors comprises coordinating behaviors that are used in coordinating operations performed by the plurality of controllable vehicles in executing one or more tasks and specific behaviors for carrying out aspects of the one or more tasks; and a high integrity coordination system for coordinating each of the plurality of controllable vehicles according to the coordinating behaviors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for coordinating a plurality of controllable vehicles by a coordination controller, the method comprising:
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the coordination controller identifying a task to be performed by the plurality of controllable vehicles; the coordination controller identifying a respective role to be assigned to each respective one of the plurality of controllable vehicles to facilitate performing the task; the coordination controller assigning the task to the plurality of controllable vehicles; the coordination controller assigning the respective role for the task to each respective one of the plurality of controllable vehicles; and initiating the plurality of controllable vehicles to execute the task according to the role assigned to each of the plurality of controllable vehicles.
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21. A method for coordinated machine behavior, the method comprising:
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receiving a power up command; receiving a task assignment; receiving a role assignment for the task assignment; receiving an initiate task assignment command; and executing the task assignment according to the role assignment received. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification