Granted Patent B2

US 12,524,005 · App. 17/982,374 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Inventor: Tim Lichti (Waterloo, CA)

G05D1/0038G05D1/0027G05D1/0077

Abstract

Claims (66)

1 . A processor-implemented method for managing remote oversight of a plurality of robots, each of the plurality of robots further comprising a processor, a controller and a sensor and configured to operate with a sensor system, the method comprising:

obtaining a dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots, the dynamic risk score associated with operational risk of robot operation;

assigning, based on the dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots, a set of robots to an operator for remote oversight; and

providing, to a display associated with the operator, a set of visual representations associated with the set of robots assigned to the operator for remote oversight;

wherein the dynamic risk score is based on a risk factor and assigning the set of robots to the operator is based on the risk factor;

wherein the risk factor includes identifying the number of people near the robot during operation;

wherein the method is configured for dynamic management of the plurality of robots, the method is further configured for:

assigning 1 to many remote oversight of the robots for a lower risk score; and

assigning 1 to 1 remote oversight of the robots with a higher risk score.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the risk factor comprises a robot risk factor selected from the group consisting of:

proximity of people per hour of operation; proximity to roads; time of day;

speed of movement; detected obstacles;

detected unknown objects;

detected high risk objects;

visibility rating;

lighting conditions; and

latency of connection between robot and operator.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the risk factor comprises an operator risk factor selected from the group consisting of:

quality of video feed received by operator;

measured reaction time of operator; alertness indicator;

length of time on current shift; and

speed test results.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, the dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots based on one or more risk factors; and

storing, in a memory associated with the processor, the determined dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the risk factor comprises a robot risk factor selected from the group consisting of:

proximity of people per hour of operation; proximity to roads;

time of day;

speed of movement;

detected obstacles;

detected unknown objects;

detected high risk objects;

visibility rating;

lighting conditions; and

latency of connection between robot and operator.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the risk factor comprises an operator risk factor selected from the group consisting of:

quality of video feed received by operator;

measured reaction time of operator;

alertness indicator;

length of time on current shift; and

speed test results.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning the set of robots to the operator for remote oversight is based on the dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots as well as on a received operator performance indicator.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the set of visual representations associated with the set of robots comprises:

providing a set of video feeds, the set of video feeds comprising a separate video feed associated with each robot in the set of robots, the number of video feeds being based on the dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the set of visual representations associated with the set of robots comprises providing a set of video streams, the set of video streams comprising a separate video stream associated with each robot in the set of robots.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots is based on real-time operational risk of proper robot operation.

11 . A non-transient computer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to perform a computer-implemented method for controlling a plurality of robots, each of the plurality of robots comprising a processor, a controller and a sensor and configured to operate with a sensor system, the computer-implemented method further comprising:

obtaining a dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots, the dynamic risk score associated with operational risk of robot operation;

assigning, based on the dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots, a set of robots to an operator for remote oversight; and

providing, to a display associated with the operator, a set of visual representations associated with the set of robots assigned to the operator for remote oversight;

wherein the dynamic risk score is based on a risk factor and assigning the set of robots to the operator is based on the risk factor;

wherein the risk factor includes identifying the number of people near the robot during operation;

wherein the storage medium is configured for dynamic management of the plurality of robots, the method is further configured for:

assigning 1 to many remote oversight of the robots for a lower risk score; and

assigning 1 to 1 remote oversight of the robots with a higher risk score.

12 . A computing platform configured for controlling a plurality of robots, each of the plurality of robots comprising a processor, a controller and a sensor and configured to operate with a sensor system, the computing platform further comprising:

a non-transient computer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied thereon; and

one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform a computer-implemented method for controlling the plurality of robots comprising:

obtaining a dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots, the dynamic risk score associated with operational risk of robot operation;

assigning, based on the dynamic risk score for each of the plurality of robots, a set of robots to an operator for remote oversight;

providing, to a display associated with the operator, a set of visual representations associated with the set of robots assigned to the operator for remote oversight;

wherein the dynamic risk score is based on a risk factor and assigning the set of robots to the operator is based on the risk factor;

wherein the risk factor includes identifying the number of people near the robot during operation;

wherein the computing platform is configured for dynamic management of the plurality of robots, the method is further configured for:

assigning 1 to many remote oversight of the robots for a lower risk score; and

assigning 1 to 1 remote oversight of the robots with a higher risk score.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (11)