Human augmentation of robotic work
AssigneeInternational Electronic Machines Corp.
InventorZahid F. Mian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solution for performing a set of tasks using one or more robotic devices is provided. The robotic device can be configured to perform each task using one or more effector devices, one or more sensor devices, and a hybrid control architecture including a plurality of dynamically changeable levels of autonomy. The levels of autonomy can include: full autonomy of the robotic device, teleoperation of the robotic device by a human user, and at least one level of shared control between the computer system and the human user.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a robotic device including:
- a set of effector devices;
- a set of sensor devices;
- and
- a first computer system including at least one computing device, wherein the first computer system implements a machine cognition engine configured to perform a task on a target object using the set of effector devices, the set of sensor devices, and a hybrid control architecture including a plurality of levels of autonomy dynamically changeable by the robotic device, wherein the plurality of levels of autonomy include:
- full autonomy of the robotic device while performing the task, teleoperation of the robotic device by a human user to perform at least one action of the task, and at least one level of shared control between the computer system and the human user to perform at least one action of the task, wherein the robotic device initially attempts to complete the task using the full autonomy level of autonomy, and wherein the robotic device automatically increases or decreases a current level of autonomy in response to determining an ability to perform a current action of the task.
A method of performing a task using a robotic device, the method comprising:
- the robotic device initially attempting to complete the task on a target object using a full autonomy level of autonomy;
- in response to the robotic device encountering a problem completing at least one action of the task using the full autonomy level of autonomy, the robotic device:
- determining a criticality of the at least one action;
- adjusting a level of autonomy in response to the at least one action being a critical action, wherein the adjusted level of autonomy includes at least some human assistance for the robotic device;
- and
- bypassing the at least one action in response to the action being a non-critical action.
A mobile robotic device comprising:
- a set of effector devices including an arm having a plurality of degrees of freedom and a manipulator located adjacent to an end of the arm;
- a set of sensor devices including at least one imaging device;
- and
- a computer system including at least one computing device, wherein the computer system implements a machine cognition engine configured to perform a set of railroad maintenance tasks using the set of effector devices, the set of sensor devices, and a hybrid control architecture including a plurality of levels of autonomy dynamically changeable by the robotic device during performance of a task of the set of railroad maintenance tasks, wherein the plurality of levels of autonomy include:
- full autonomy of the robotic device while performing the task, teleoperation of the robotic device by a human user to perform at least one action of the task, and at least one level of shared control between the computer system and the human user to perform at least one action of the task, wherein the robotic device initially attempts to complete the task using the full autonomy level of autonomy, and wherein the robotic device automatically increases or decreases a current level of autonomy in response to determining an ability to perform a current action of the task.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.