Autonomy

Levels of Autonomy

Autonomy exists on a spectrum, ranging from minimal to full independence . Systems can operate with varying degrees of human oversight, from requiring constant human intervention to performing tasks entirely independently. This spectrum often aligns with the concept of "sense, think, act": the ability to perceive the environment, process information, and make decisions accordingly. While some applications demand complete autonomy, others may benefit from a hybrid approach, combining human expertise with machine intelligence for optimal performance and safety.

Autonomy in Different Domains

Autonomy, defined as the ability of systems to operate with varying degrees of independence from human intervention, is at the core of the Autonomy Research Institute (ARI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. ARI is dedicated to advancing the capabilities of autonomous vehicles across air, land, water, and space. The level of autonomy required for a platform or system varies based on the specific application or mission, ranging from partial to full independence. In the air, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) or drones will perform flight tasks independently, such as delivery, surveillance, agriculture, and search and rescue. UASs offer increased efficiency, accuracy, and reach. On land, Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs) will include self-driving cars, robots, and drones that can operate on land with or without varying degrees human control, used in transportation, logistics, police, fire, and agriculture applications. AGVs hold the potential to transform transportation, enhance mobility for those with disabilities, and improve the safety and efficiency of industrial operations. In the water, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) are reshaping marine operations. AUVs excel at underwater exploration, data collection, and inspections, capable of operating independently to gather critical oceanographic information. USVs, capable of extended deployments, complement these efforts by conducting surface-based tasks and environmental monitoring. Together, these autonomous platforms are expanding the boundaries of oceanographic research and commercial maritime activities. Autonomous vehicles in space can perform a variety of tasks otherwise impossible for safe human travel, from surface exploration of celestial bodies and mining asteroids to constructing and maintaining space infrastructure and conducting scientific research. ARI's research, development, and testing of these autonomous systems will pave the way for innovative applications that enhance productivity, safety, and sustainability across various sectors.

Air

Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) have a wide range of applications:

• Commercial: Delivery, package transport, aerial photography, agriculture (crop monitoring, spraying), and infrastructure inspection.
• Public Safety: Search and rescue, disaster relief, firefighting, law enforcement, and border patrol.
• Scientific Research: Meteorology, climate studies, wildlife monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

Essentially, any task that can be performed from the air can potentially be done at the right level of  autonomy by a drone.

Land

Autonomous vehicles on land, known as self-driving cars or Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs), can perform the following tasks:

• Transportation: Provide passenger transport services (taxis, ride-sharing), deliver goods (packages, groceries), and transport people with disabilities.
• Logistics: Optimize delivery routes, reduce traffic congestion, and improve supply chain efficiency.
• Agriculture: Automate tasks like planting, harvesting, and livestock monitoring.
• Construction: Transport materials, operate heavy machinery, and perform site inspections.
• Mining: Transport materials, operate heavy equipment, and improve safety in hazardous environments.

Water

Autonomous vehicles in water, categorized as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs), can perform a variety of tasks. These include:  

• Exploration: Mapping ocean floors, discovering new species, and studying underwater ecosystems.
• Data collection: Gathering oceanographic data, such as temperature, salinity, and currents.
• Inspection: Examining underwater infrastructure, like pipelines and offshore platforms.  
• Search and rescue: Locating and rescuing people or objects in water.
• Commercial applications: Delivering goods, ocean farming, and environmental monitoring.
• Public operations: Oil spill clean-up, policing actions.

Space

Autonomous vehicles hold the potential to revolutionize space exploration and development by enabling missions to regions inhospitable to humans, such as those with extreme radiation levels or requiring exceptionally long travel times. Here are some of the tasks they could perform:

Exploration:

• Surface exploration: Autonomous vehicles could explore the surfaces of planets, moons, and asteroids, mapping terrain, collecting samples, and searching for signs of life.
• Orbital exploration: Formation flight around planets and moons, taking images and gathering data.
• Asteroid mining: Mining asteroids for valuable resources like water, minerals, and even precious metals.
• Deep space exploration: Venture into the depths of space, studying distant stars and galaxies.

Construction and maintenance:

• Space station construction: Build and maintain space stations, performing tasks like welding, installing panels, and repairing damage.
• Satellite maintenance: Refuel, repair, and upgrade satellites.
• Space debris removal: Clean up space debris, reducing the risk of collisions with other spacecraft.

Transportation and logistics:

• Cargo transport: Transport cargo between different spacecraft and space stations.
• Crew transportation: Transport astronauts to and from the surface of planets and moons.
• Emergency response: Emergency response in hazardous environments, such as fires or leaks, on space stations.

Scientific research:

• Data collection: Collect data on the environment, weather, and other conditions in space.
• Experimentation: Conduct experiments in space, such as testing new materials and technologies.
• Telescope deployment: Deploy and maintain telescopes in space, allowing for clearer observations of the universe.

Other potential applications:

• Tourism: Take tourists on sightseeing tours of planets and moons.
• Entertainment: They could be used for games and simulations.
• Terraforming: Advanced autonomous functions could expand mission objectives, including the creation of human-habitable environments through terraforming processes.