Operational Domain Design (ODD) refers to the specific conditions and environments in which an autonomous vehicle system is intended to operate safely and effectively. It defines the limits and parameters within which the system can function autonomously. This includes factors such as:

Why ODD is Important for Autonomous Vehicle System Design

  1. Ensures Safety: By clearly defining the boundaries within which the vehicle can operate safely, ODD helps prevent the system from being exposed to conditions beyond its capabilities, reducing the risk of accidents or malfunctions.
  2. Sets Performance Expectations: ODD outlines the specific tasks and environments the system is designed to handle (e.g., navigating narrow underground tunnels, or handling certain levels of dust or poor lighting). This ensures that both designers and users have realistic performance expectations.
  3. Helps in System Validation and Testing: ODD provides a framework for testing and validating the autonomous vehicle. By knowing the exact conditions the vehicle is designed for, engineers can simulate these environments during testing to ensure the system performs reliably within its ODD.
  4. Supports Regulatory Compliance: Autonomous systems must meet safety standards and regulations. A well-defined ODD ensures that vehicles operate only in conditions where they comply with regulatory requirements, reducing liability risks.
  5. Guides Infrastructure Design: Understanding the ODD helps in designing or modifying mine infrastructure (e.g., road quality, communication networks) to suit the autonomous system’s operational limits. It also ensures that the vehicle’s capabilities align with the physical and environmental characteristics of the operational environment.

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For more information about ODD applied to Underground Mining, please read the following paper from Malarden University. This information is also available under 6. References

AContext-SpecificOperationalDesignDomainforUndergroundMining.pdf

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