System and method for operating utility vehicles

A system for operating a driverless utility vehicle in a restricted area, for installation in a control unit of the utility vehicle, comprising:

• a transfer module for transferring control of the utility vehicle at an entrance from the driver of the utility vehicle to the system, and at an exit from the system to the driver of the utility vehicle, wherein the restricted area has the entrance, the exit and a predetermined target point, wherein the utility vehicle has a sensor unit and vehicle actuators for operating the utility vehicle and the sensor unit includes surroundings sensors;
• a movement module for autonomously moving the utility vehicle from the entrance to the predetermined target point and from the predetermined target point to the exit, wherein the movement module is configured to obtain sensor data from the sensor unit and to drive the vehicle actuators on the basis of the sensor data in order to operate the utility vehicle autonomously, and wherein the movement module is configured to recognize obstacles during the autonomous movement using the surroundings sensors and, on the basis of this, to change a movement path from the entrance to the predetermined target point or from the predetermined target point to the exit, to use an alternative path or to interrupt a movement;
• a performance module for autonomously performing an action on the utility vehicle while the utility vehicle is situated at the predetermined target point, so as to change a state of the utility vehicle by the action;
• and
• an assistance module to request support from an operator of the system when the movement module is not able to take an alternative path or interrupt the movement.

A management system, comprising:

• a communication interface to establish a communication connection with a system for operating a driverless utility vehicle in a restricted area, for installation in a control unit of the utility vehicle, wherein the system includes:
• a transfer module for transferring control of the utility vehicle at an entrance from the driver of the utility vehicle to the system, and at an exit from the system to the driver of the utility vehicle, wherein the restricted area has the entrance, the exit and a predetermined target point, wherein the utility vehicle has a sensor unit and vehicle actuators for operating the utility vehicle and the sensor unit includes surroundings sensors;
• a movement module for autonomously moving the utility vehicle from the entrance to the predetermined target point and from the predetermined target point to the exit, wherein the movement module is configured to obtain sensor data from the sensor unit and to drive the vehicle actuators on the basis of the sensor data in order to operate the utility vehicle autonomously, and wherein the movement module is configured to recognize obstacles during the autonomous movement using the surroundings sensors and, on the basis of this, to change a movement path from the entrance to the predetermined target point or from the predetermined target point to the exit, to use an alternative path or to interrupt a movement;
• a performance module for autonomously performing an action on the utility vehicle while the utility vehicle is situated at the predetermined target point, so as to change a state of the utility vehicle by the action;
• and
• an assistance module to request support from an operator of the system when the movement module is not able to take an alternative path or interrupt the movement;
• and
• a control unit to perform planning and coordination for an autonomously driven utility vehicle in the restricted area.

A method for operating a driverless utility vehicle in a restricted area, the method comprising:

• transferring control of the utility vehicle at an entrance from the driver of the utility vehicle to the system, and at an exit from the system to the driver of the utility vehicle, wherein the restricted area has the entrance, the exit and a predetermined target point, wherein the utility vehicle has a sensor unit and vehicle actuators for operating the utility vehicle and the sensor unit includes surroundings sensors;
• autonomously moving the utility vehicle from the entrance to the predetermined target point and from the predetermined target point to the exit;
• autonomously performing an action on the utility vehicle while the utility vehicle is situated at the predetermined target point, so as to change a state of the utility vehicle by the action;
• obtaining of sensor data from the sensor unit and driving the vehicle actuators on the basis of the sensor data in order to operate the utility vehicle autonomously;
• recognizing obstacles during the autonomous movement using the surroundings sensors and, on the basis of this, changing a movement path from the entrance to the predetermined target point or from the predetermined target point to the exit, to use an alternative path or to interrupt a movement;
• and
• requesting, by the assistance module in the utility vehicle, of support from an operator of the system when the movement module is not able to take an alternative path or interrupt the movement;
• wherein the steps are performed by a control unit in the utility vehicle.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor of a control unit, comprising:

• a program code arrangement having program code for operating a driverless utility vehicle in a restricted area, by performing the following:
• transferring control of the utility vehicle at an entrance from the driver of the utility vehicle to the system, and at an exit from the system to the driver of the utility vehicle, wherein the restricted area has the entrance, the exit and a predetermined target point, wherein the utility vehicle has a sensor unit and vehicle actuators for operating the utility vehicle and the sensor unit includes surroundings sensors;
• autonomously moving the utility vehicle from the entrance to the predetermined target point and from the predetermined target point to the exit;
• autonomously performing an action on the utility vehicle while the utility vehicle is situated at the predetermined target point, so as to change a state of the utility vehicle by the action;
• obtaining of sensor data from the sensor unit and driving the vehicle actuators on the basis of the sensor data in order to operate the utility vehicle autonomously;
• recognizing obstacles during the autonomous movement using the surroundings sensors and, on the basis of this, changing a movement path from the entrance to the predetermined target point or from the predetermined target point to the exit, to use an alternative path or to interrupt a movement;
• and
• requesting, by the assistance module in the utility vehicle, of support from an operator of the system when the movement module is not able to take an alternative path or interrupt the movement;
• wherein the steps are performed by a control unit in the utility vehicle.