Remotely Engaging Autonomous Vehicles

A computing system for verifying operational state changes of an autonomous vehicle to cause the autonomous vehicle to launch a mission, the computing system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations, wherein the operations comprise:
• (a) outputting a request to initiate a computer-controlled operational state of the autonomous vehicle, the request comprising an operational profile identifying (i) the autonomous vehicle, (ii) a route for execution by the autonomous vehicle, (iii) an expected software version, and (iv) an expected map version;
• (b) receiving data describing a first human-machine interface (“HMI”) input confirming a configuration of the autonomous vehicle;
• (c) receiving automated verification data from an automated verification system confirming:
• verification that a control subsystem of the autonomous vehicle is configured to execute the expected software version and that a map subsystem of the autonomous vehicle is configured to execute the expected map version;
• verification that the control subsystem of the autonomous vehicle has received the goal list;
• and
• verification that one or more environmental conditions associated with the route for execution by the autonomous vehicle satisfy one or more criteria;
• (d) rendering a confirmation indicator associated with verification of an autonomous control system of the autonomous vehicle and verification of the route for execution by the autonomous vehicle using the autonomous control system;
• and
• (e) generating a launch signal input that is conditioned on the first HMI input and the automated verification data, wherein generating the launch signal input comprises:
• receiving data describing a second HMI input;
• responsive to the second HMI input, updating an authentication status of a user associated with the second HMI input;
• and
• outputting the launch signal input;
• wherein the launch signal input is configured for transmission to a launch system to initiate launch of the autonomous vehicle on the route.

A method for initiating an operational state change of an autonomous vehicle to cause the autonomous vehicle to launch a mission, wherein the method comprises:

• (a) receiving a request to initiate a computer-controlled operational state of the autonomous vehicle, the request comprising an operational profile identifying (i) the autonomous vehicle, (ii) a route for execution by the autonomous vehicle, (iii) an expected software version, and (iv) an expected map version;
• (b) verifying, using a cryptographically signed identifier, an identity of the autonomous vehicle and an authorization status associated with the autonomous vehicle;
• (c) verifying that a control subsystem of the autonomous vehicle is configured to execute the software version and that a map subsystem of the autonomous vehicle is configured to execute the map version;
• (d) verifying that one or more environmental conditions associated with the route for execution by the autonomous vehicle satisfy one or more criteria;
• (e) receiving, from a human-machine interface device, a launch signal input;
• and
• (f) transmitting a launch signal to the autonomous vehicle to initiate execution of the route, wherein the launch signal is output responsive to the launch signal input and conditioned on successfully verifying the identity and the authorization status and verifying (b)-(d).