Control system with task manager

A method, comprising:

• initiating performance of a task on a target object, the task having an associated series of sub-tasks, with the sub-tasks having one or more capability requirements;
• evaluating a plurality of robotic machines to identify a subset of robotic machines available for task assignment;
• determining rankings of the available robotic machines for each of the sub-tasks of the associated series of sub-tasks;
• assigning to a first robotic machine of plural robotic machines a first sequence of sub-tasks within the associated series of sub-tasks based on the ranking of the first robotic machine for the first sequence of sub-tasks, the first robotic machine having a first set of capabilities for interacting with the target object and configured to operate according a first mode of operation;
• assigning to a second robotic machine of the plural robotic machines a second sequence of sub-tasks within the associated series of sub-tasks based on the ranking of the second robotic machine for the second sequence of sub-tasks, the second robotic machine having a second set of capabilities for interacting with the target object and configured to operate according to a second mode of operation;
• operating at least one of the first robotic machine to identify the target object and determine information comprising at least two of:
• a position of the target object, a position of the first robotic machine, or a position of the second robotic machine,
• receiving the identity of the target objection and the information from the first robotic machine,
• sending a command to at least one of the first robotic machine or the second robotic machine to move from a first location to a second location such that the second location is closer to the target object than the first location,
• determining whether the second robotic machine is to proceed with the second sequence of sub-tasks based on the information from the first robotic machine, and
• operating the first robotic machine in the first mode of operation and based on determining that the second robotic machine is to proceed, operating the second robotic machine in the second mode of operation to manipulate the target object, and
• moving at least one of the first robotic machine or the second robotic machine from a first location to a second location such that the second location is closer to the target object than the first location, and
• performing by the first robotic machine one or more sub-tasks of the first sequence of sub-tasks by moving the second robotic machine from a first location to a second location such that the second robotic machine in the second location is positioned relative to a zone of the target object to complete one or more sub-tasks of the second sequence of sub-tasks.

A system, comprising:

• means for initiating performance of a task on a target object, the task having an associated series of sub-tasks, with the sub-tasks having one or more capability requirements;
• means for evaluating a plurality of robotic machines to identify a subset of robotic machines available for task assignment;
• means for determining rankings of the available robotic machines for each of the sub-tasks of the associated series of sub-tasks;
• means for assigning to a first robotic machine of plural robotic machines a first sequence of sub-tasks within the associated series of sub-tasks based on the ranking of the first robotic machine for the first sequence of sub-tasks, the first robotic machine having a first set of capabilities for interacting with the target object and configured to operate according a first mode of operation;
• means for assigning to a second robotic machine of the plural robotic machines a second sequence of sub-tasks within the associated series of sub-tasks based on the ranking of the second robotic machine for the second sequence of sub-tasks, the second robotic machine having a second set of capabilities for interacting with the target object and configured to operate according to a second mode of operation;
• means for operating at least one of the first robotic machine to identify the target object and determine information comprising at least two of:
• a position of the target object, a position of the first robotic machine, or a position of the second robotic machine,
• means for receiving the identity of the target objection and the information from the first robotic machine,
• means for sending a command to at least one of the first robotic machine or the second robotic machine to move from a first location to a second location such that the second location is closer to the target object than the first location,
• means for determining whether the second robotic machine is to proceed with the second sequence of sub-tasks based on the information from the first robotic machine, and
• means for operating the first robotic machine in the first mode of operation and based on determining that the second robotic machine is to proceed, operating the second robotic machine in the second mode of operation to manipulate the target object, and
• wherein at least one of the first robotic machine or the second robotic machine moves from a first location to a second location such that the second location is closer to the target object than the first location, and
• wherein the first robotic machine is configured to perform one or more sub-tasks of the first sequence of sub-tasks by moving the second robotic machine from a first location to a second location such that the second robotic machine in the second location is positioned relative to a zone of the target object to complete one or more sub-tasks of the second sequence of sub-tasks.