System for controlling unmanned vehicles

• US 7,415,331 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Szczerba, Robert J., Dapp, Michael C., Tleon, Joel J., Jung, Adam, Thurm, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/188,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/25
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0077 using redundant signals or controls
• 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

Abstract

A system ensures safety and security of teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles in executing a mission plan. The system includes a plurality of components, a first device, a second device, and a third device. The plurality of components perform situation analysis, mission planning, mission replanning, mission plan execution, and collaboration between the autonomous unmanned vehicles. The first device identifies safety critical components of the plurality of components. The second device identifies security sensitive components of the plurality of components. The third device isolates the safety critical components from contamination by other components of the plurality of components. The third device isolates security sensitive data from contaminating non-security sensitive components of the plurality of components.

Claims

1. A system for ensuring safety and security of teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles in executing a mission plan, said system comprising:

a plurality of components for performing situation analysis, mission planning, mission replanning, mission plan execution, and collaboration between the autonomous unmanned vehicles;

a first device for identifying safety critical components of said plurality of components;

a second device for identifying security sensitive components of said plurality of components; and

a third device for isolating said safety critical components from contamination by other components of said plurality of components, said third device isolating security sensitive data from contaminating non-security sensitive components of said plurality of components.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said components include a said mission planning component for performing said mission planning for creating a mission plan for the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said components include a said collaboration component for performing said collaboration for assigning roles for each member of the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including a vehicle management component for generating route commands for the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the route commands are based on a mission plan created by said mission planning component and roles assigned by said collaboration component.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5 further including a contingency management component for monitoring unexpected influences that affect success of the team mission plan.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including a situational awareness component for performing fusion of data from the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 further including a resource meta-control component for providing processing and memory resources for the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said components include a said mission planning component for developing a collaborative synchronized plan for the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles, said collaborative synchronized plan governing sensor deployment, flight paths, communication, and engagements.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said collaborative synchronized plan further governs information dissemination to the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

11. A computer readable medium having a computer program product for ensuring safety and security of teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles in executing a mission plan, said computer program product comprising:

a first instruction for performing situation analysis, mission planning, mission replanning, mission plan execution, and collaboration between the autonomous unmanned vehicles;

a second instruction for identifying safety critical components;

a third instruction for identifying security sensitive components;

a fourth instruction for isolating the safety critical components from contamination by other components; and

a fifth instruction for isolating security sensitive data from contaminating non-security sensitive components.

12. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further including a sixth instruction for creating a mission plan for the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

13. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further including a sixth instruction for assigning roles to the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

14. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further including a sixth instruction for generating route commands for the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

15. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 14 further including a seventh instruction for basing the route commands on a mission plan and assigned roles.

16. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further including a sixth instruction for detecting a contingency, assessing an impact of the contingency, and identifying the contingency as a mission plan violation.

17. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further including a sixth instruction for issuing alerts to the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles that a mission plan no longer satisfies objectives and constraints.

18. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further including a sixth instruction for dynamically re-teaming the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles for executing a mission plan.

19. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further including a sixth instruction for distinguishing disciplines of members of the teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles.

20. A method for ensuring safety and security of teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles in executing a mission plan, said method comprising the steps of:

performing situation analysis, mission planning, mission replanning, mission plan execution, and collaboration between the autonomous unmanned vehicles;

identifying safety critical components;

identifying security sensitive components;

isolating the safety critical components from contamination by other components; and

isolating security sensitive data from contaminating non-security sensitive components.