Leader-follower semi-autonomous vehicle with operator on side

A method for controlling movement of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving user input from an operator, wherein the user input selects a path for the vehicle to form a selected path;
• responsive to receiving the user input, moving the vehicle along the selected path in a manner that maintains the operator on a side of the vehicle;
• and
• entering the path on a map prior to receiving the user input.

A method for controlling movement of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving user input from an operator, wherein the user input selects a path for the vehicle to form a selected path;
• and
• responsive to receiving the user input, moving the vehicle along the selected path in a manner that maintains the operator on a side of the vehicle, wherein the moving step further comprises:
• moving the vehicle along the selected path in a single dimension such that the vehicle follows the operator that is moving in a forward direction with respect to the vehicle, but the vehicle does not follow the operator that is moving in a sideways or backwards motion with respect to the vehicle;
• and
• responsive to detecting an obstacle in the selected path, stopping the vehicle.

A method comprising:

• receiving user input from an operator, wherein the user input selects a path for a vehicle to form a selected path;
• and
• responsive to receiving the user input, moving the vehicle along the selected path in a manner that maintains the operator on a side of the vehicle, wherein the moving further comprises:
• responsive to detecting an obstacle in the selected path, executing a maneuver to avoid the obstacle.

A method comprising:

• a vehicle receiving a power-up command to power-up the vehicle;
• the vehicle receiving instructions to execute a planned path;
• the vehicle receiving information identifying a leader, wherein the leader is an operator of the vehicle;
• the vehicle executing the planned path using the information identifying the leader in order to follow a path of the leader;
• the vehicle moving along the path in a manner that maintains the leader in a position proximate to a side of the vehicle;
• receiving information describing obstacles in a path of the vehicle;
• retrieving obstacle avoidance instructions from a behavior database that comprises instructions for different modes of operation that may be performed by the vehicle;
• executing the obstacle avoidance instructions;
• and
• resuming moving along the path in the manner that maintains the leader in the position proximate to the side of the vehicle.

A method comprising:

• a vehicle receiving a power-up command to power-up the vehicle;
• the vehicle receiving instructions to execute a planned path;
• the vehicle receiving information identifying a leader, wherein the leader is an operator of the vehicle;
• the vehicle executing the planned path using the information identifying the leader in order to follow a path of the leader;
• the vehicle moving along the path in a manner that maintains the leader in a position proximate to a side of the vehicle;
• requesting positioning information from a high integrity perception system;
• receiving the positioning information from the high integrity perception system;
• and
• processing the positioning information in association with the planned path.

A vehicle comprising:

• a steering system;
• a propulsion system;
• a braking system;
• and
• a machine controller connected to the steering system, the propulsion system, and the braking system;
• wherein the machine controller receives user input from an operator with instructions for a planned path and sends commands to the steering system, the propulsion system, and the braking system to move the vehicle along the planned path in a manner that maintains the operator in a position proximate to a side of the vehicle, wherein the machine controller identifies a boundary to the planned path to form an identified boundary and maintains a fixed distance between the vehicle and the identified boundary, wherein the planned path is a ground surface appropriate for movement of the vehicle, and wherein the boundary is at least one of a curb and vegetation.

A vehicle comprising:

• a steering system;
• a propulsion system;
• a braking system;
• and
• a machine controller connected to the steering system, the propulsion system, and the braking system;
• wherein the machine controller receives user input from an operator with instructions for a planned path and sends commands to the steering system, the propulsion system, and the braking system to move the vehicle along the planned path in a manner that maintains the operator in a position proximate to a side of the vehicle, wherein the machine controller executes a maneuver to avoid an obstacle responsive to detecting the obstacle in the planned path.

A vehicle comprising:

• a steering system;
• a propulsion system;
• a braking system;
• and
• a machine controller connected to the steering system, the propulsion system, and the braking system;
• wherein the machine controller receives user input from an operator with instructions for a planned path and sends commands to the steering system, the propulsion system, and the braking system to move the vehicle along the planned path in a manner that maintains the operator in a position proximate to a side of the vehicle, wherein the machine controller distinguishes the operator from other objects.

A method for controlling movement of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving information for processing a selected path for the vehicle;
• and
• moving the vehicle along the selected path in a manner that maintains the operator on a side of the vehicle, wherein the operator is a human, and wherein the moving further comprises:
• moving the vehicle along the selected path in a single dimension such that the vehicle follows the operator that is moving in a forward direction with respect to the vehicle, but the vehicle does not follow the operator that is moving in a sideways or backwards motion with respect to the vehicle.