Human-in-Command for UGV Systems

Human-in-command means the machine performs hazardous physical work while people retain defined decisions, intervention authority and responsibility. The level of automation should be described by function rather than the broad word “autonomy”.

Mission context

Waypoint movement, stabilisation, return and health monitoring can be automated to different degrees. Each function needs activation conditions, boundaries, failure behaviour and an understandable operator interface.

Engineering approach

HARDY builds automation around observable system state, event logging and predictable transition to a safer mode. The operator should understand what the machine is doing and why.

What must be demonstrated

Control is demonstrated through normal and degraded scenarios, not a presentation.

• correct state and warning display;
• operator intervention time and outcome;
• behaviour after loss of a sensor, link or energy reserve.