The different illustrative embodiments provide a system for autonomous machine management comprising a number of autonomous machines, a number of nodes, a performance estimation module, and a navigation system. The number of autonomous machines is configured to perform area coverage tasks in a worksite. The number of nodes is configured to define a number of worksite areas for the worksite. The performance estimation module is executed by a processor unit and configured to calculate a percentage of work completed in the number of worksite areas. The navigation system is configured to operate an autonomous machine to perform the area coverage tasks and move between the number of worksite areas.