Patent ID: 8914182

Claim:
A computer system for use in an unmanned vehicle capable of use in a co-operative network of unmanned vehicles, wherein the computer system is programmed to allow autonomous operation of an unmanned vehicle and comprises: an executive level configured to send control signals for controlling propulsion and steering of the unmanned vehicle, and to receive a status signal regarding a status of the unmanned vehicle; and an automatic decision level configured to communicate with a ground control station and other unmanned vehicles, to receive task descriptions, to participate in task allocation, and to provide descriptions of tasks to be performed to the executive level for execution, wherein the automatic decision level comprises a task refining module and a task manager module; wherein the task refining module is configured to receive an unallocated task description describing a task to be undertaken by one of the unmanned vehicle in the co-operative network, to determine if the unmanned vehicle is able to perform the task, and to calculate an execution cost for the unmanned vehicle to execute that task; and wherein the task manager module is configured to receive elementary task descriptions, store the elementary task descriptions and forward the elementary task descriptions in a format suitable for the executive level to execute.