Autonomous Systems

The Internet is a network of networks and Autonomous Systems are the big networks that make up the Internet. More specifically, an autonomous system (AS) is a large network or group of networks that has a unified routing policy. Every computer or device that connects to the Internet is connected to an AS.

Imagine an AS as being like a town's post office. Mail goes from post office to post office until it reaches the right town, and that town's post office will then deliver the mail within that town. Similarly, data packets cross the Internet by hopping from AS to AS until they reach the AS that contains their destination Internet Protocol (IP) address. Routers within that AS send the packet to the IP address.

Every AS controls a specific set of IP addresses, just as every town's post office is responsible for delivering mail to all the addresses within that town. The range of IP addresses that a given AS has control over is called their IP address space.

Autonomy requires that the system be able to do the following:

• Sense the environment and keep track of the system’s current state and location.
• Perceive and understand disparate data sources.
• Determine what action to take next and make a plan.

Act only when it is safe to do so, avoiding situations that pose a risk to human safety, property or the autonomous system itself.

Examples of Autonomous Systems

Autonomous Robots

Autonomous robots vary from simple robot floor cleaners to complex autonomous helicopters. Otto, the first autonomous snowplow in North America, keeps runways clear at an airport in Manitoba. 

Autonomous Warehouse and Factory Systems

From mail sorting systems to material conveyors to assembly robots, a diverse array of autonomous systems performs routine and repetitive tasks, enabling better use of human labor. One type of warehouse autonomous system is a robot forklift that moves products around an ecommerce giant’s automated distribution center. On assembly lines, autonomous factory robot arms perform many heavy and precision tasks such as arc welding, painting, finishing and packaging.

Autonomous Drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles, known as UAVs or drones, are small self-piloting autonomous aircraft. Drones have long been used for reconnaissance, surveying, asset inspection and environmental studies. Two common uses for drones are agriculture and oil well inspection.

Sensors and Sensor Fusion

Sensors and sensor fusion play a vital role in autonomous systems. They enable such systems to gather data from sources in the environment and make use of the data to plan and take action. In this section, you’ll learn about the diverse types of sensors used in autonomous systems and how sensor fusion helps an autonomous system acquire and develop a more accurate assessment of its environment.