Automated Controls for Unmanned Systems
Autonomous control systems provide unmanned vehicles with the ability to operate without human intervention, enabling them to carry out their objectives in highly dynamic and uncertain environments and to compensate for system failures. Such autonomy reduces operator error and fatigue, and can improve the cost-effectiveness of operations with unmanned vehicles.
Levels of Autonomy
The industry denotes levels of autonomy with six different grades, from no autonomy at level 0 to full autonomy at level 5. At levels 1 and 2 the vehicle is still primarily operated by a human operator, with the system providing assistance. At levels 3 to 5, decreasing levels of monitoring are provided by the operator.