System(s) for Validating Implement Control on an Autonomous Vehicle

A method for driving an autonomous vehicle comprising:

• instructing an implement control system of the autonomous vehicle to adjust a position and/or orientation of an implement to an expected position and/or orientation,
• receiving LiDAR signal data from a LiDAR sensor, wherein the LiDAR signal data indicates a position and/or orientation of the implement,
• calculating an implement confidence value associated with the implement based on an expected position and/or orientation of the implement and the LiDAR signal data, wherein the implement confidence value represents a degree of difference between the expected position and/or orientation of the implement and the position and/or orientation of the implement indicated by the LiDAR signal data,
• when the implement confidence value is greater than or equal to a confidence threshold, instructing the implement control system to operate the implement within an operating environment based on the LiDAR signal data, and
• when the implement confidence value is less than the confidence threshold, instructing the implement control system to enter a low-risk state.

An autonomous vehicle comprising:

• a steering control system for autonomously controlling a driving direction of the autonomous vehicle;
• a speed control system for autonomously controlling a speed of the autonomous vehicle;
• an implement control system in communication with an implement;
• one or more sensors, including a LiDAR sensor and an implement sensor, wherein the implement sensor is in communication with the implement control system;
• one or more processors communicatively coupled with the one or more sensors, the steering control system, the speed control system, and the implement control system;
• and
• one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions that when executed cause the one or more processors to:
• receive implement sensor signal data from the implement sensor via the implement control system, wherein the implement sensor signal data indicates a position and/or orientation of the implement,
• receive LiDAR signal data from the LiDAR sensor, wherein the implement is within a sensor field of view of the LiDAR sensor and wherein the LiDAR signal data indicates the position and/or orientation of the implement,
• calculate an implement confidence value associated with the implement based on the implement sensor signal data and the LiDAR signal data, wherein the implement confidence value represents a degree of difference between the position and/or orientation of the implement indicated by the implement sensor signal data and the position and/or orientation of the implement indicated by the LiDAR signal data,
• when the implement confidence value is greater than or equal to a confidence threshold, instruct the implement control system to operate the implement within an operating environment based on the implement sensor signal data and/or the LiDAR signal data, and
• when the implement confidence value is less than the confidence threshold, instruct the implement control system to enter a low-risk state.

An autonomous mower comprising:

• a mower reel configurable between an elevated position and a lowered position;
• a steering control system for autonomously controlling a driving direction of the autonomous mower;
• a speed control system for autonomously controlling a speed of the autonomous mower;
• a reel control system in communication with the mower reel;
• one or more sensors, including a LiDAR sensor;
• one or more processors communicatively coupled with the one or more sensors, the steering control system, the speed control system, and the reel control system;
• and
• one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions that when executed cause the one or more processors to:
• instruct the reel control system to adjust a position of the mower reel to an expected position,
• receive LiDAR signal data in predetermined time packets from the LiDAR sensor, wherein the LiDAR signal data indicates the position of the mower reel,
• calculate an implement confidence value associated with the mower reel based on an expected position of the mower reel and the LiDAR signal data, wherein the implement confidence value represents a degree of difference between the expected position of the implement and the position of the implement indicated by the LiDAR signal data,
• when the implement confidence value is greater than or equal to a confidence threshold, instruct the reel control system to operate the mower reel within an operating environment based on the LiDAR signal data, and
• when the implement confidence value is less than the confidence threshold, instruct the reel control system to enter a low-risk state.