Operational and Financial Implications of Transactionalizing Multi-Machine Maneuvers in Self-Organizing Autonomous Systems

Abstract

The control of self-organizing systems of autonomous machines (e.g., roadway vehicles and drones) need not mimic the legacy human-centric systems they are poised to replace. In fact, new operational paradigms based on transactionalizing episodic multi-machine interactions may have the potential to resolve key legacy issues linking system financial self-sustainment and efficient operations. This chapter discusses the fundamentals of machine negotiation over shared space and considers the interplay between earned trust and priority that is critical to the integrity of collective maneuver planning. Collective maneuver planning is systematized into an iterative process that includes conflict identification, negotiation, and priority determination and, when complete, transformed into a multi-machine transaction. The power of the multi-machine maneuver transaction is examined in more detail to align operational and financial policies considering the full self-organizing ecosystem including the role of supporting infrastructure.