Teleoperations Queue for Fleet Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency of dedicated teleoperations systems and operators for large fleets of autonomous vehicles, where vehicles often operate autonomously for most of their use, leading to resource wastage and impracticality in deployment, as each vehicle requires a dedicated system and operator for safe operation when autonomous mode is not possible.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a single teleoperations monitoring station that can monitor multiple vehicles, with a teleoperations queue to efficiently allocate resources by assigning control to available operators, allowing vehicles to request monitoring and prioritize operator assignments based on expertise and vehicle conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated teleoperations system and operator are assigned to each autonomous vehicle, then the vehicle can be safely controlled when autonomous mode is not possible, but the resource consumption and system complexity increase significantly for large fleets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a shared teleoperations system where a single operator can control multiple vehicles simultaneously through a centralized platform. The system allows operators to switch between vehicles and provides virtual cockpit interfaces that aggregate data from multiple vehicle sources, enabling one operator to perform the safety monitoring function for several vehicles rather than requiring dedicated operators for each vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple vehicle monitoring functions into a single teleoperations platform. The system merges data feeds from multiple vehicles, consolidates control interfaces, and integrates scheduling mechanisms to allow a single operator to manage multiple vehicles. This merging reduces the total number of operators needed while maintaining safety standards through the queue-based allocation system
2Reliability
If a dedicated teleoperations system is deployed for each autonomous vehicle, then safe operation is ensured when autonomous mode fails, but the cost and resource requirements become impractical for large fleets
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables operators to perform multiple functions by allowing them to monitor and control multiple vehicles within their capacity. The platform assigns vehicles to operators based on availability and workload, enabling a smaller number of operators to cover the same fleet size that would otherwise require one operator per vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The teleoperations system implements dynamic resource allocation where operator assignments are not fixed but adjusted in real-time based on vehicle needs, operator availability, and workload conditions. The queue-based system allows flexible reassignment of vehicles to different operators as conditions change, optimizing the utilization of human resources
3Productivity
If multiple vehicles share a single teleoperations monitoring station, then resource efficiency improves, but the complexity of allocating and managing operator assignments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the monitoring station continuously receives status information from multiple vehicles and operator availability data. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts vehicle assignments to operators, prioritizing critical situations and balancing workloads. The feedback loop enables dynamic optimization of resource allocation without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized monitoring station acts as an intermediary between vehicles and operators, managing the complex allocation logic. Rather than having direct one-to-one connections, the monitoring station mediates all interactions, matching vehicles with appropriate operators based on predefined criteria and real-time conditions, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture
4Quantity of substance
If teleoperations resources are shared across multiple vehicles, then the number of operators needed is reduced, but the response time for taking control may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning vehicles in a queue and pre-assessing their readiness for teleoperations intervention. When an operator becomes available, the system can quickly assign the next appropriate vehicle from the pre-sorted queue rather than searching for available vehicles at that moment. Critical vehicles are prioritized in advance to ensure rapid response when safety issues arise
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operator workloads and vehicle assignments in real-time to maintain optimal response times. When a vehicle requires immediate attention, the system can reassign operators from less critical tasks and adjust the queue priorities dynamically, ensuring that response time requirements are met even with shared resources
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, a method includes obtaining, at a monitoring arrangement, a first supervisory request from a first vehicle, the first supervisory request arranged to indicate that the first vehicle has identified a first potential issue. The method also includes processing, at the monitoring arrangement, the first supervisory request, wherein processing the first supervisory request includes determining whether the first potential issue is to be mitigated. When it is determined that the first potential issue is to be mitigated, information is provided from the monitoring arrangement to a control arrangement, and the control arrangement takes control of the first vehicle based on the information.