Abstract: Systems and methods of improving a stability of an unmanned vehicle having a moveable mass. The method involves operating a processor to: determine an initial center of gravity for the unmanned vehicle, the moveable mass being at an initial position; monitor an operating state of the unmanned vehicle for an instability condition; in response to detecting an instability condition, determine a corrective response at the moveable mass for maintaining the stability at the unmanned vehicle; and apply the corrective response to the moveable mass to maintain the stability of the unmanned vehicle by moving the moveable mass from the initial position.

Abstract: Systems and method of adapting operating characteristics of a self-driving vehicle to a terrain change within a vehicle path characterized by a base plane. The method involves operating a processor at the self-driving vehicle to: detect the terrain change from sensor data collected by one or more sensors coupled to the self-driving vehicle and in communication with the processor; determine, from the sensor data, an absence of navigable terrain along the base plane of the vehicle path; in response to identifying the absence of navigable terrain: continue operation while monitoring for a transition from the base plane at a downward slope; and collect slope data related to the downward slope for characterizing the terrain change; adapt the operating characteristics of the self-driving vehicle in response to the terrain change to facilitate navigation of the self-driving vehicle when entering a terrain characterized with the downward slope.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a self-driving material-transport vehicle under various safety modes is disclosed. Each of the safety modes is determined autonomously based at least on one or more payload characteristics. The method involves operating a processor to: initiate a mission involving a payload; receive an initial set of payload characteristics prior to engaging the payload; defining an initial safety mode based on the initial set of payload characteristics; monitor the payload to detect one or more characteristic variations from the initial set of payload characteristics; and in response to determining one or more characteristic variations, automatically adapting the initial safety mode into an active safety mode to align an operation of the self-driving vehicle with the payload. In the absence of a payload, the self-driving vehicle can enter a basic safety mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a self-driving material-transport vehicle under various safety modes is disclosed. Each of the safety modes is determined autonomously based at least on one or more payload characteristics. The method involves operating a processor to: initiate a mission involving a payload; receive an initial set of payload characteristics prior to engaging the payload; defining an initial safety mode based on the initial set of payload characteristics; monitor the payload to detect one or more characteristic variations from the initial set of payload characteristics; and in response to determining one or more characteristic variations, automatically adapting the initial safety mode into an active safety mode to align an operation of the self-driving vehicle with the payload. In the absence of a payload, the self-driving vehicle can enter a basic safety mode.