Risk Management in the Risk-Aware Mixed-Initiative Dynamic Replanning (RMDR) System for UxVs

摘要

Missions performed by unmanned vehicles involve various risks, including risks of accidental collisions, equipment malfunctions, unfortunate weather perturbations, and sometimes a risk of encountering hostile forces. Some risks jeopardize vehicle safety, some jeopardize mission success, and the consequences of some may far exceed the value of the vehicles themselves. As more is put at stake in the use of unmanned vehicles for commercial, civilian, and military purposes, it is imperative to systematically and rationally address the risks involved in these operations-that is, to manage risk. As stated in [1], "the objective of managing risk is not to remove all risk, but to eliminate unnecessary risk." A significant challenge in managing risks is weighing very disparate factors against each other. Another is that risks are inherently related to uncertainties, which add complexity to any analysis. Furthermore, the effort expended on managing risk should not overshadow its benefits.