Abstract: The present invention is for a modular, extensible software system for use with multi-modal, autonomous, or semi-autonomous vehicles. The design of the present invention involves the coherent integration of modules with responsibilities for human-interaction, training, path planning, mission execution, navigation, and safety to develop and complete missions. The present invention provides a modular software system that expresses vehicle behaviors through numerous small-grain elements to complete a mission. The system can be easily adapted or modified by adding new software modules or modifying existing modules as missions change or expand, with the smaller-grain modules being easier to adapt and reuse.

Abstract: A first location determining receiver determines a first location estimate of a vehicle. The first location determining receiver is associated with satellite beacons. A second location determining receiver determines a second location estimate of a vehicle. The second location determining receiver is exclusively associated with terrestrial beacons. A selector selects the first location estimate of the vehicle as a preferential location in accordance with an initialization scheme for the vehicle in a work area. A filtering module applies a first weight to a first location and a second weight to the second location to derive a weighted estimate as the preferential location upon satisfactory completion of the initialization scheme.