Vehicle Workflow Orchestration for Autonomous Task Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional workflow management systems lack the technical resources and capabilities to effectively manage operations related to autonomous vehicles, such as scheduling and instructing hardware and software to optimize vehicle operations for specific tasks.
Innovation Solution
A workflow management system that includes a server generating and sending task records to vehicles, which are executed by onboard computers to perform tasks such as driving to destinations, collecting sensor data, and performing driving tests, while also determining capable vehicles based on attributes and health status, and enabling/disabling sensors as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional workflow management systems are used, then general task management is possible, but they lack the technical resources and capabilities to effectively manage autonomous vehicle operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized workflow management server as an intermediary between general task management systems and autonomous vehicle operations. This server includes a vehicle operation management module that acts as a mediator, translating general workflow tasks into specific vehicle operations while managing hardware and software resources. This resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability for vehicle operations while maintaining reliable management through dedicated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow management server is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle both general workflow management and specific autonomous vehicle operations. The system can manage diverse tasks including driving operations, sensor data collection, software updates, and diagnostics within a unified platform, thereby achieving both versatility and reliability in vehicle operation management.
2Productivity
If comprehensive vehicle operation management is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow management system is segmented into distinct functional modules including a vehicle operation management module, task assignment module, resource management module, and monitoring module. Each module handles specific aspects of vehicle operations independently, which improves operational efficiency through specialized processing while managing complexity by dividing the system into manageable, modular components.
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed task records with multiple information sets are generated, then task execution precision is improved, but information processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates comprehensive task records in advance that include all necessary information sets (first set with route information, second set with resource information, third set with vehicle information) before task execution. This preliminary preparation ensures precise task execution by having all details ready, while reducing information processing overhead during actual task execution since the information is already organized and available.
Data Source
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AI summary
A workflow management system is described to manage tasks to be performed with vehicles. The workflow management system includes a workflow management server and a computer located in a vehicle. The workflow management server generates and sends to the computer a record that describes a task to be performed with a vehicle. The task may include collecting sensor data from one or more sensors on the vehicle, or performing a vehicle driving test using an updated operating system to be used by the vehicle. The record can include a starting location and a destination of a route on which the vehicle is to perform the task. The computer receives the record, executes an operating system of the vehicle to perform the task, determines that the task is completed, and sends to a database a record status information that indicates that the task is completed.