In-Cabin Command Control for Autonomous Vehicle Disturbance Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in autonomously mitigating disturbance conditions, such as a plugged seed tube, which can disrupt their operation, requiring external intervention and increasing the need for improved control and monitoring systems to manage multiple vehicles efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A control system is implemented that includes command and autonomous modules in multiple autonomous vehicles, allowing for centralized control and monitoring, with the ability to switch between autonomous and manual modes, and dynamically adjust the command module's location to optimize operator interaction and reduce travel time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles operate independently with limited human direction, then automation level and operational independence are improved, but the ability to handle disturbance conditions deteriorates when external intervention is needed
Solution Approach 1:
A command module is introduced as an intermediary component that can operate in either autonomous mode or manual mode. This intermediary allows the system to maintain high automation during normal operations while enabling seamless transition to manual control when disturbance conditions require external intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between automation level and reliability.
2Productivity
If multiple autonomous vehicles are monitored and controlled from a single command module location, then operator efficiency and system coordination are improved, but travel time and response delay increase when operators need to relocate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines the optimal location for the command module based on real-time operational needs and disturbance conditions. This dynamic relocation capability allows the command module to maintain high operator efficiency by consolidating control of multiple vehicles while minimizing travel time by strategically positioning itself where it can most effectively monitor and respond to disturbances.
3Ease of operation
If autonomous vehicles have full manual control capabilities, then ease of operation during disturbances is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manual control capability is extracted from individual autonomous vehicles and consolidated into a separate command module. This extraction allows vehicles to maintain simple autonomous operation while providing full manual control capabilities where needed, reducing overall system complexity while preserving ease of operation during disturbances.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment describes a control system in an automation system including a first portion located at a first vehicle, which includes a first autonomous module that autonomously controls operation of the first vehicle to perform operations in a first area based at least in part on a first target operation result while the first portion is in an autonomous mode; and a second portion located at a second vehicle, in which the second portion includes a second autonomous module that autonomously controls operation of the second vehicle to perform operations in a second area based at least in part on a second target operation result while the second portion is in the autonomous mode and a first command module that determines the first target operation result and the second target operation result based at least in part on a global plan that indicates a total target operation result.