Autonomous Vehicle Control Modules for Dynamic Battlespace Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have limited capability to respond dynamically to complex battlespace environments without human intervention, requiring continuous communication and significant human resources, which affects survivability in hostile conditions.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous vehicle system with a sensor management module, mission management module, effects management module, vehicle management module, situation awareness management module, communications management module, and information management module, integrated using a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) to enable autonomous operation, collaboration, and dynamic mission planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional UAS are remotely piloted or execute preplanned routes, then human control and predictability are maintained, but the system has limited capability to respond dynamically to changing battlespace environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic response capabilityVSAvoidautonomous operation level

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into multiple autonomous modules (sensor management, mission management, effects management, vehicle management, situation awareness management, communications management, information management) that can independently process and respond to battlefield changes, enabling dynamic adaptation without human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static preplanned routes to dynamic autonomous decision-making through real-time situation awareness and adaptive mission management, allowing the UAS to continuously adjust its operations based on changing battlefield conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If continuous communication between human operators and air vehicles is maintained, then dynamic response to changing battlespace is achieved, but human resources and communication bandwidth are significantly consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemission execution reliabilityVSAvoidhuman resources required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The UAS performs self-management through autonomous modules that independently handle sensor data processing, mission planning, vehicle control, and communication management, eliminating the need for continuous human operator intervention and reducing communication requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-processes sensor data and pre-plans mission adjustments autonomously before human operators need to be involved, enabling rapid response to battlefield changes without requiring continuous human communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional UAS architecture is used with limited autonomous capability, then system complexity is reduced, but collaboration between multiple aircraft without human intervention is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinter-vehicle collaboration capabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each autonomous module is designed with universal interfaces and standardized communication protocols that enable any UAS equipped with these modules to collaborate with others autonomously, facilitating multi-vehicle coordination without human intervention while managing complexity through standardization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8977410B2Apparatus and method for controlling an unmanned vehicle

Publication Date: 2015.03.10 RAYTHEON CO

AI summary

In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for operating an unmanned and autonomous vehicle includes a sensor management module configured to direct sensors as to what function they are to provide; a mission management module configured to provide execute function capabilities; an effects management module configured to provide launching and directing weapons to their target capabilities; a vehicle management module; a situation awareness management module configured to provide correlate sensor data of objects, threats, targets, geographic points of interest that the pilot requires in the immediate environment; a communications management module; an information management module configured to provide a database of intelligence-related data; a middleware module configured to interface with the sensor management module, the mission management module, the effects management module, the vehicle management module, the situation awareness management module, the communications management module, and the information management module.