Backup control systems and methods for autonomous vehicles

A control server comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to:

• receive an indication of an anomalous event;
• determine an automation system of a plurality of automation systems of an autonomous vehicle potentially impacted by the anomalous event;
• conduct a threat assessment regarding the anomalous event to determine a severity level, of a plurality of predefined severity levels associated with respective mitigating actions, associated with a severity of the anomalous event, wherein the severity level is determined based at least in part upon a criticality of the automation system associated with how frequently the automation system is used during operation of the autonomous vehicle and a type of the anomalous event associated with a likelihood of the anomalous event impacting one or more of the plurality of automation systems;
• determine one or more mitigating actions to perform based upon the threat assessment, wherein the one or more mitigating actions are configured to reduce a danger to the autonomous vehicle presented by the anomalous event;
• and
• cause the one of the one or more mitigating actions to be performed on the automation system, thereby reducing the danger to the autonomous vehicle presented by the anomalous event.

A computer-implemented method for reducing dangers to automation systems of autonomous vehicles, the method implemented using a control computing device including at least one processor and a memory, the computer-implemented method comprising, by the at least one processor:

• determining an anomalous event has occurred;
• determining an automation system of a plurality of automation systems of an autonomous vehicle that is likely impacted by the anomalous event;
• performing a threat assessment regarding the anomalous event relative to the automation system to determine a severity level, of a plurality of predefined severity levels associated with respective mitigating actions, associated with a severity of the anomalous event, wherein the severity level is determined based at least in part upon a criticality of the automation system associated with how frequently the automation system is used during operation of the autonomous vehicle and a type of the anomalous event associated with a likelihood of the anomalous event impacting one or more of the plurality of automation systems;
• determining one or more mitigating actions to perform based upon the threat assessment, wherein the one or more mitigating actions are configured to reduce a risk to the autonomous vehicle presented by the anomalous event;
• and
• performing the one of the one or more mitigating actions on the automation system, thereby reducing the risk to the autonomous vehicle presented by the anomalous event.