Competitive and collaborative autonomous vehicle task performance
A processing system including at least one processor may obtain a request for a performance of a task, where the task is to be performed by at least one autonomous vehicle, broadcast an offer for performing the task to a plurality of autonomous vehicles, obtain from a first autonomous vehicle of the plurality of autonomous vehicles, a bid to perform the task by the first autonomous vehicle and at least a second autonomous vehicle, and assign the task to the first autonomous vehicle and the at least the second autonomous vehicle in response to the bid.
1 . A method comprising:
obtaining, by a processing system including at least one processor deployed in a telecommunication network, a request for a performance of a task, wherein the task is to be performed by at least one autonomous vehicle;
determining, by the processing system, a plurality of task requirements for the task, wherein the determining of the plurality of task requirements comprises determining, based on parameters of the request including a start location and a destination location, a minimum range based upon a distance between the start location and the destination location of the task and determining a maneuvering capability requirement based upon a density of a location associated with the task;
broadcasting, by the processing system via at least one cellular base station of the telecommunication network, an offer for performing the task to a plurality of autonomous vehicles within a communication range of the at least one cellular base station, wherein the offer for performing the task includes at least a portion of the plurality of task requirements, wherein the at least the portion of the plurality of task requirements comprises: the minimum range, the maneuvering capability requirement, and a reputation requirement, and wherein the reputation requirement comprises an autonomous vehicle reputation score exceeding a threshold;
obtaining, by the processing system from a first autonomous vehicle of the plurality of autonomous vehicles via the at least one cellular base station, a bid to perform the task by the first autonomous vehicle and at least a second autonomous vehicle;
assigning, by the processing system, the task to the first autonomous vehicle and the at least the second autonomous vehicle in response to the bid;
verifying, by the processing system, a completion of the task by the first autonomous vehicle and the second autonomous vehicle, wherein the first autonomous vehicle and the at least the second autonomous vehicle coordinate to perform the task; and
transmitting, by the processing system, a knowledge element to the at least the second autonomous vehicle in response to the verifying.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of task requirements further comprises at least one of:
a task origin location;
a task destination location;
a security level requirement;
a task start time;
a task duration;
a speed capability;
an image capture capability;
a lift capacity;
a lighting capability;
a communication capability;
a map possession requirement; or
a minimum range capability.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least the portion of the plurality of task requirements is obtained with the request.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the task comprises at least one of:
a delivery of at least one item;
a retrieval of at least one item;
a mapping task;
an imaging task;
a sensor reading task;
a visual projection task;
a lighting projection task;
a search task;
a meter reading task; or
a security surveillance task.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bid is one of a plurality of bids, the method further comprising:
selecting the bid from among the plurality of bids.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the bid comprises at least reputation information and capability information of the at least the second autonomous vehicle, and wherein the selecting comprises verifying that the reputation information and the capability information of the at least the second autonomous vehicle match the plurality of task requirements for the task.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of autonomous vehicles comprises autonomous vehicles that are registered with the processing system.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the processing system is configured to manage a fleet of autonomous vehicles comprising the plurality of autonomous vehicles.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of autonomous vehicles to which the offer is broadcast is determined to be capable of performing at least a portion of the task based upon reputation information and capability information of each of the plurality of autonomous vehicles.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least the second autonomous vehicle is not registered with the processing system, and wherein the method further comprises:
obtaining reputation information and capability information of the at least the second autonomous vehicle; and
authorizing the at least the second autonomous vehicle to perform at least a portion of the task based upon the reputation information and the capability information of the at least the second autonomous vehicle.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
registering the at least the second autonomous vehicle with the processing system, wherein the registering includes storing the reputation information and the capability information of the at least the second autonomous vehicle.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least the second autonomous vehicle is enabled to receive at least one additional offer from the processing system to perform at least one additional task after the registering.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the offer for performing the task includes an incentive value.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the incentive value comprises at least one of:
a monetary value;
an increase of a reputation score; or
a commitment of at least one future task assignment.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first autonomous vehicle and the at least the second autonomous vehicle share the incentive value.
16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processing system including at least one processor deployed in a telecommunication network, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
obtaining a request for a performance of a task, wherein the task is to be performed by at least one autonomous vehicle;
determining a plurality of task requirements for the task, wherein the determining of the plurality of task requirements comprises determining, based on parameters of the request including a start location and a destination location, a minimum range based upon a distance between the start location and the destination location of the task and determining a maneuvering capability requirement based upon a density of a location associated with the task;
broadcasting, via at least one cellular base station of the telecommunication network, an offer for performing the task to a plurality of autonomous vehicles within a communication range of the at least one cellular base station, wherein the offer for performing the task includes at least a portion of the plurality of task requirements, wherein the at least the portion of the plurality of task requirements comprises: the minimum range, the maneuvering capability requirement, and a reputation requirement, and wherein the reputation requirement comprises an autonomous vehicle reputation score exceeding a threshold;
obtaining, from a first autonomous vehicle of the plurality of autonomous vehicles via the at least one cellular base station, a bid to perform the task by the first autonomous vehicle and at least a second autonomous vehicle;
assigning the task to the first autonomous vehicle and the at least the second autonomous vehicle in response to the bid;
verifying a completion of the task by the first autonomous vehicle and the second autonomous vehicle, wherein the first autonomous vehicle and the at least the second autonomous vehicle coordinate to perform the task; and
transmitting a knowledge element to the at least the second autonomous vehicle in response to the verifying.
17 . An apparatus comprising:
a processing system including at least one processor; and
a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processing system when deployed in a telecommunication network, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
obtaining a request for a performance of a task, wherein the task is to be performed by at least one autonomous vehicle;
determining a plurality of task requirements for the task, wherein the determining of the plurality of task requirements comprises determining, based on parameters of the request including a start location and a destination location, a minimum range based upon a distance between the start location and the destination location of the task and determining a maneuvering capability requirement based upon a density of a location associated with the task;
broadcasting, via at least one cellular base station of the telecommunication network, an offer for performing the task to a plurality of autonomous vehicles within a communication range of the at least one cellular base station, wherein the offer for performing the task includes at least a portion of the plurality of task requirements, wherein the at least the portion of the plurality of task requirements comprises: the minimum range, the maneuvering capability requirement, and a reputation requirement, and wherein the reputation requirement comprises an autonomous vehicle reputation score exceeding a threshold;
obtaining, from a first autonomous vehicle of the plurality of autonomous vehicles via the at least one cellular base station, a bid to perform the task by the first autonomous vehicle and at least a second autonomous vehicle;
assigning the task to the first autonomous vehicle and the at least the second autonomous vehicle in response to the bid;
verifying a completion of the task by the first autonomous vehicle and the second autonomous vehicle, wherein the first autonomous vehicle and the at least the second autonomous vehicle coordinate to perform the task; and
transmitting a knowledge element to the at least the second autonomous vehicle in response to the verifying.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of task requirements further comprises at least one of:
a task origin location;
a task destination location;
a security level requirement;
a task start time;
a task duration;
a speed capability;
an image capture capability;
a lift capacity;
a lighting capability;
a communication capability;
a map possession requirement; or
a minimum range capability.
19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least the portion of the plurality of task requirements is obtained with the request.
20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the task comprises at least one of:
a delivery of at least one item;
a retrieval of at least one item;
a mapping task;
an imaging task;
a sensor reading task;
a visual projection task;
a lighting projection task;
a search task;
a meter reading task; or
a security surveillance task.