Systems and methods for remote operation of robot vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
As autonomous vehicle fleets grow, the number of vehicles vastly outnumbers remote human operators, making it challenging to efficiently manage and prioritize remote human intervention in situations where autonomous vehicles encounter unstructured environments, subsystem failures, or high-risk situations.
Innovation Solution
The system allows autonomous vehicles to request remote human operators based on captured information, including environment and subsystem data, and assigns available operators using a database of experience information to prioritize high-risk situations, enabling risk mitigation and control adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles operate independently without remote human operators, then productivity and autonomy are improved, but reliability deteriorates when vehicles encounter unstructured environments or subsystem failures
Solution Approach 1:
A remote human operator system acts as an intermediary between autonomous vehicles and fleet management. The system includes a communication module that enables vehicles to request remote assistance and a remote operator interface that allows human operators to assume control when needed, thereby maintaining high automation while providing a safety net for reliability-critical situations
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing communication channels and operator readiness before failures occur. Vehicles are pre-configured with the ability to request remote assistance, and operators are prepared to take control, ensuring that reliability is maintained without compromising autonomous operation during normal conditions
2Reliability
If remote human operators are assigned to all autonomous vehicles, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of assigning remote operators to all vehicles continuously, the system applies partial action by providing remote operator assistance only when specifically requested by vehicles encountering problems. This reduces device complexity and operational cost while maintaining reliability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicle performs self-service by monitoring its own subsystems and autonomously determining when remote assistance is needed. The vehicle's processor evaluates subsystem information and independently initiates requests for remote human operators, reducing the complexity of centralized monitoring systems
3Reliability
If remote human operators are deployed to assist autonomous vehicles, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to coordination overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a pool of ready remote operators and pre-establishing communication channels. When a vehicle requests assistance, operators can be rapidly assigned without extensive coordination overhead, reducing time loss while ensuring reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's processor continuously monitors subsystem information and provides feedback about vehicle status and environmental conditions. This enables rapid, informed decisions about when remote assistance is needed, reducing unnecessary coordination time while maintaining safety
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous robot vehicle in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a land vehicle conveyance system, a sensor system configured to capture information including surrounding environment information and/or vehicle subsystem information, a communication system configured to communicate with a remote human operator management system, at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor(s), cause the autonomous robot land vehicle to, autonomously, determine based on the captured information to request a remote human operator, and communicate a request to the remote human operator management system for a remote human operator to assume control of the land vehicle conveyance system, where the request includes at least a portion of the captured information.