Multi-Vehicle Task Planning to Reduce Operator Overload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Human operators face challenges in efficiently managing and planning tasks for multiple autonomous vehicles due to increased complexity, limited situational awareness, and the need to manually weigh and balance numerous tasks, which can lead to mental overload and errors.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a user interface and a control unit that receives data from multiple autonomous vehicles, generates a prioritized task plan based on urgency and temporal requirements, and displays it to the operator, allowing for automatic task execution if deadlines are missed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an operator manages multiple autonomous vehicles manually, then the operator can maintain control and make decisions, but the operator experiences mental overload and reduced situational awareness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator controlVSAvoidoperator task load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an automated task management intermediary that sits between the operator and multiple vehicles. This intermediary automatically generates, prioritizes, and manages tasks based on vehicle data and operational requirements, reducing the cognitive burden on the operator while maintaining operator control and decision-making authority over critical functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the complex task management function into distinct automated components: task generation from vehicle data, task prioritization based on urgency and temporal requirements, and task presentation to the operator. This segmentation allows the operator to focus on high-level decisions rather than managing individual task details.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If an operator manages multiple vehicles simultaneously, then more vehicles can be supervised, but the complexity of selecting and planning tasks increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of vehicles supervisedVSAvoidtask selection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service task management where the automated system independently generates tasks from vehicle data, prioritizes them according to predefined criteria (urgency, temporal requirements), and presents them to the operator in a structured format. This self-service capability allows the operator to supervise more vehicles without proportionally increasing task selection complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of task management by automatically prioritizing tasks based on objective criteria such as urgency levels and temporal requirements. This parameter-based prioritization transforms the complex, subjective task selection process into a more systematic approach that scales better with the number of vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the operator manually tracks procedures for multiple vehicles, then complete procedural coverage can be maintained, but the operator requires extensive training and memory capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural completenessVSAvoidoperator training requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the human cognitive system (memory and recall) with an automated electronic system that generates and manages procedural tasks. This substitution maintains complete procedural coverage through automated task generation from vehicle data while eliminating the need for operators to memorize extensive procedures, thereby reducing training requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where vehicle data automatically feeds into task generation, ensuring procedures remain current and complete. The automated prioritization system also provides feedback to the operator about which tasks require attention, reducing the cognitive burden of tracking multiple procedures across several vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Manufacturing precision

If the operator focuses on detailed task management for one vehicle, then task execution quality is high, but the operator cannot effectively manage multiple vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask execution qualityVSAvoidnumber of vehicles managed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated task management system acts as an intermediary that handles detailed task generation and prioritization, allowing the operator to focus on high-level supervision and critical decision-making. This intermediary maintains task execution quality by systematically managing detailed tasks while enabling the operator to effectively manage multiple vehicles simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12242265B2Vehicle task management systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A system for managing operation of a plurality of vehicles includes a user interface including a display. A control unit is in communication with the user interface and the plurality of vehicles. The control unit is configured to receive data from the plurality of vehicles and generate a task plan including tasks to be performed by an operator of the plurality of vehicles. The control unit is further configured to show the task plan on the display.