The concept of supervised autonomy is gaining attention as industries explore the potential of autonomous off-highway vehicles, particularly in sectors like mining, agriculture, and construction. These vehicles still benefit greatly from human oversight to ensure safety, efficiency, and adaptability in dynamic environments. The concept of supervised autonomy – autonomous technology with human supervision – provides a solution that showcases the strengths of both machines and operators.

One of the benefits of supervised autonomy is its ability to increase safety. Autonomous off-highway vehicles are equipped with advanced sensors, algorithms, and real-time decision-making capabilities that allow them to navigate complex terrains with precision. Human operators, overseeing the vehicle’s operation, can step in when the system encounters an unfamiliar or hazardous situation that the AI may not handle as effectively. This human intervention can prevent accidents or costly mistakes, ensuring that the vehicle operates in a way that adheres to safety standards and minimizes risk.

In addition to safety, supervised autonomy enhances productivity. Autonomous vehicles can work continuously without fatigue, allowing them to perform repetitive tasks like hauling materials or ploughing fields more efficiently than human workers alone. By combining machine efficiency with the situational awareness and decision-making skills of a human operator, companies can achieve higher output without bending on quality or flexibility. Supervisors can also adjust the vehicle’s operations in real-time, ensuring that it adapts to changing conditions, such as weather, terrain, or workload, which is a level of adaptability that fully autonomous systems may struggle with in unpredictable environments.

Supervised autonomy plays a crucial role in changing the nature of the workforce, instead of replacing operators entirely it offers an alternate solution of giving them training to manage and oversee a fleet of autonomous vehicles and changing their job role from something that was risky and involved manual labour to one that only demands supervision and optimisation. This change provides new opportunities for skilled operators, reducing the burden of physically demanding labour while still requiring their expertise in overseeing complex tasks. As automation continues to advance, this hybrid approach ensures that workers can still gain employment in their sector, while the machines handle the heavy labour.

TIER IV,  an exhibitor at our upcoming event DZOMUSA, has led the development of Autoware, the world’s first open-source software for autonomous driving, and applied Autoware in applications of last-mile driverless mobility and logistics. TIER IV offer remote monitoring for their L4 autonomous driving solution that uses cameras and microphones within the vehicle to recreate the real-time driving environment of autonomous cars. Remote operators can then monitor these vehicles from afar, significantly boosting the safety of autonomous driving services.

Supervised autonomy can change how labour is utilised by industries reliant on off-highway vehicles, combining the best of both human skill and machine efficiency. This median offers safer, more productive environments while enabling workers to remain in gainful employment and be given training to higher job roles. To discuss supervised autonomy and the future of autonomous off-highway vehicles, attend the DZOM EXPO, taking place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre in Chicago, IL, on December 3–4, 2024. 

For more information, visit our website or email us at info@innovatrix.eu for the event agenda.