Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Arjun Passi

Christopher M Boggs

Ramachandra J Sattigeri

Paxton Alsgaard

A system and method for identifying a safe path in a partially unknown environment in a time critical fashion includes identifying long range paths that avoid known obstacles. Short range paths within a receding horizon are identified corresponding to the long range paths, the short range paths avoiding known obstacles and unknown regions. Each short range path is broken into segments based on subsequent control operations or timing, and abort procedures are identified corresponding to each segment to enforce time critical availability of a safe action. Short range paths are excluded unless abort procedures can be identified for subsequent segments.

Time-critical obstacle avoidance path planning in uncertain environments

A system in a mobile platform creates a three-dimensional world model from sets of volume elements organized into sets of volume elements of increasing size and converted into an octree data structure. The system receives a request for a map of a specific, limited region and at a specific, limited level of detail and produces a reduced three-dimensional world model to conform to the limited region and level of detail. The reduced map is transmitted to the requesting platform and periodically updated. The map may be reduced by categorizing the lowest level of volume elements according to the worst case of any constituent volume elements. Alternatively, the system may indicate in the lowest level of volume elements whether the receiving platform would benefit from an increased level of detail.

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Arjun Passi