Integrated automation system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of effecting autonomous operations within a defined geographical region, the method comprising:
- establishing an autonomous system of a management party for the defined geographical region;
establishing in the autonomous system of the management party a plurality of localized zones having operation-defined geographical boundaries within the geographical region, the autonomous system of the management party using parameters of the plurality of localized zones to create a plurality of controllers such that each one of the plurality of controllers is associated with a respective one of the localized zones, wherein each controller is configured in a hierarchy determined by the spatial location of the localized zones in the geographical region;
employing autonomous entities having autonomous operating systems to perform specific autonomous operations within respective ones of the localized zones, wherein the autonomous entities comprise at least one mobile autonomous entity;
combining information from a plurality of sensors to form a common operating picture of the geographic region and the autonomous entities; and
integrating the autonomous system of the management party with the autonomous operating systems of the autonomous entities, wherein said integrating comprises;
registering, in the autonomous system of the management party, the autonomous entities with respective corresponding controllers of the localized zones so as to associate supervisory control of the autonomous entities with the respective corresponding controllers; and
the autonomous system of the management party, through the associated controllers of the respective localized zones, issuing commands to the autonomous operating systems of the registered autonomous entities in order to direct the autonomous operations of the registered autonomous entities within the respective localized zones;
controlling movement of the mobile autonomous entity between localized zones by the autonomous system of the management party;
registering the mobile autonomous entity with a respective corresponding controller of a different localized zone if the mobile autonomous entity moves into the different localized zone.
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Abstract
Autonomous operations are conducted within a defined geographical region. In an autonomous system of a management party a plurality of localized zones are established having operation-defined geographical boundaries within the geographical region. Entities having autonomous operating systems to perform specific autonomous operations within respective ones of the localized zones. The autonomous system of the management party is integrated with the autonomous operating systems of the entities.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of effecting autonomous operations within a defined geographical region, the method comprising:
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establishing an autonomous system of a management party for the defined geographical region; establishing in the autonomous system of the management party a plurality of localized zones having operation-defined geographical boundaries within the geographical region, the autonomous system of the management party using parameters of the plurality of localized zones to create a plurality of controllers such that each one of the plurality of controllers is associated with a respective one of the localized zones, wherein each controller is configured in a hierarchy determined by the spatial location of the localized zones in the geographical region; employing autonomous entities having autonomous operating systems to perform specific autonomous operations within respective ones of the localized zones, wherein the autonomous entities comprise at least one mobile autonomous entity; combining information from a plurality of sensors to form a common operating picture of the geographic region and the autonomous entities; and integrating the autonomous system of the management party with the autonomous operating systems of the autonomous entities, wherein said integrating comprises; registering, in the autonomous system of the management party, the autonomous entities with respective corresponding controllers of the localized zones so as to associate supervisory control of the autonomous entities with the respective corresponding controllers; and the autonomous system of the management party, through the associated controllers of the respective localized zones, issuing commands to the autonomous operating systems of the registered autonomous entities in order to direct the autonomous operations of the registered autonomous entities within the respective localized zones; controlling movement of the mobile autonomous entity between localized zones by the autonomous system of the management party; registering the mobile autonomous entity with a respective corresponding controller of a different localized zone if the mobile autonomous entity moves into the different localized zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21)
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15. An automation system for integrating operation of a plurality of autonomous entities within a defined geographic region, comprising:
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a picture compilation system that combines information from a plurality of sensors to form a common operating picture of the geographic region and the autonomous entities, wherein the geographic region comprises a plurality of localized zones having operation-defined geographical boundaries and wherein the autonomous entities have autonomous operating systems to perform specific autonomous operations within respective ones of the localized zones; and a control system in communication with the picture compilation system, comprising at least one controller corresponding to each localized zone, the control system using the parameters of the plurality of localized zones to create the at least one controller and associate each controller with a respective one of the localized zones, wherein each controller is configured in a hierarchy determined by the spatial location of the localized zones in the geographical region, wherein the autonomous entities are registered with respective corresponding controllers of the localized zones so as to associate supervisory control of the autonomous entities with the respective corresponding controllers, and wherein the autonomous entities are associated with respective controllers and the controllers are arranged to issue commands to the autonomous operating systems of the registered autonomous entities in order to direct the autonomous operations of the associated autonomous entities to integrate operation of the plurality of autonomous entities within the defined geographic region; wherein at least one of the autonomous entities is mobile and the control system is arranged to control movement of the mobile autonomous entity between localized zones; wherein the control system is arranged to associate the mobile entity with a different controller if the mobile autonomous entity moves into a localized zone corresponding to the different controller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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Specification