Autonomous behaviors for a remote vehicle

1. A method for performing retrotraverse and self-righting behaviors for a remote vehicle having a control system comprising a memory and being configured to communicate with an operator control unit, the method comprising:

executing a persistent self-righting behavior on a computing processor, the self-righting behavior comprising sensing an orientation of the remote vehicle with respect to a supporting surface using an inertial measurement unit and performing a progression of flipper movements until the remote vehicle is righted; and

executing a retrotraverse behavior on a computing processor, the retrotraverse behavior comprising:

generating a list of time stamped waypoints separated by at least a minimum difference in time and distance;

storing the list of time stamped waypoints in the memory; and

generating, using a control system, a current return path interconnecting previously-traversed waypoints in reverse order of timestamps upon losing communication with the operator control unit or upon receiving a command from the operator control unit.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the remote vehicle to traverse the current return path.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a list of previously-performed retrotraverses by recording a list of start time and end time pairs for each retrotraverse period of time.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising excluding waypoints recorded during previously-performed retrotraverses from the current return path.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising excluding waypoints recorded during previously-performed retrotraverses by excluding waypoints recorded between the start time and end time pairs for each previously-performed retrotraverse.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising excluding waypoints from the current return path that were traversed during previously-performed retrotraverses along previous return paths included in the previously-traversed waypoints.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing a lookahead vector to allow smooth navigation along the path interconnecting previously-traversed waypoints.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising selecting a forward or backward direction for remote vehicle traversal along the current return path based on a determination of which direction requires the least rotation.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a strategy for righting the remote vehicle prior to performing the progression of flipper movements.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the remote vehicle's position by maintaining a global map and placing the remote vehicle's coordinates within the global map.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising maintaining a destination point within the global map and adjusting the remote vehicle's heading to move toward the destination point.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using one or more of a global positioning system or navigation beacon points to determine the remote vehicle's position.

13. A method for controlling a remote vehicle with persistent autonomous behaviors including a retrotraverse behavior and a self-righting behavior executing on a computing processor, the method comprising:

sensing an orientation of the remote vehicle with respect to a supporting surface using an inertial measurement unit, and, if the orientation indicates a non-righted remote vehicle, performing a progression of flipper motions until the remote vehicle is righted; and

determining whether the retrotraverse behavior is active;

if the retrotraverse behavior is active, erasing previously-used waypoints;

determining a current position of the remote vehicle and a current time, and pre-pending the current position and the current time to a list of time stamped waypoints;

generating additional waypoints and adding them to the list of time stamped waypoints;

storing the list of time stamped waypoints in non-transitory memory;

determining whether a control signal has been received from an operator control unit; and

if a control signal has not been received from the operator control unit:

setting a retrotraverse start time to the current time;

generating a return path interconnecting previously-traversed waypoints in reverse order of timestamps;

navigating the remote vehicle along the return path until a control signal is received from the operator control unit; and

setting a retrotraverse end time to the current time.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the time stamped waypoints are separated by at least a minimum difference in time and distance.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising maintaining a list of previously-performed retrotraverses by recording a list of start time and end time pairs for each retrotraverse period of time.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein excluding waypoints comprises excluding waypoints recorded during previously-performed retrotraverses from the return path.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising excluding waypoints recorded during previously-performed retrotraverses by excluding waypoints recorded between the start time and end time pairs for each previously-performed retrotraverse.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising excluding waypoints traversed during previously-performed retrotraverses from the return path.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a strategy for righting the remote vehicle prior to performing the progression of flipper movements.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining the remote vehicle's position using one or more of a global positioning system or navigation beacon points.