Systems and methods for centralized management of vehicle fleets

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and methods useful in the management of vehicle fleets. Preferred embodiments include a software platform for predictive analytics in fleet management, enabling methods of determining the causes of problems in the field, based on aggregated and consolidated shared data from multiple sources, asset management and improved safety and regulatory compliance. Illustrative embodiments are applicable to the management of aerial vehicle fleets such as fleets of unmanned aerial systems. Users of the system may be de-identified and various encryption and security techniques implemented to keep the system secure and access limited to authenticated users. User hierarchies are implemented wherein users within various role-based categories have visibility to different data inputs and outputs. It is an object of the invention to generate reports useful to regulators in continuing to develop improved aviation safety and regulatory compliance while optimizing user experience for fleet managers and other industry participants.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 985,534, filed on Mar. 5, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]The invention described in the present disclosure was conceived and reduced to practice without the benefit of federal funding.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention of the present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle fleet and maintenance management, and in certain embodiments relates to a centralized management system for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the like. It is an object of the invention of the present disclosure to improve the efficiency of scheduling and performing maintenance activities required for UAS and the like, thereby significantly reducing the risk that recommended maintenance intervals lapse and maintenance tasks are performed late or...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a system that uses machine learning techniques to analyze data inputs from manufacturers, suppliers, and field operators of vehicle fleets. The system synthesizes data outputs and generates customized visual presentations or machine-readable data for improved safety, performance, and efficiency in the field. The system is user-friendly, secure, and can manage multiple vehicle fleets within a single system. Its technical effect is improved decision-making and operational efficiency for vehicle fleet operators and other industry participants.

Problems solved by technology

Existing solutions for vehicle fleet management and operation, such as applied to UAS fleets, comprise a limited suite of services, such as flight logging, mapping of signal strength between control and vehicle, flight range tracking, system warnings, battery monitoring, weather tracking and other basic services desirable in vehicle fleet management, but lack the ability to leverage field data and inputs from suppliers, manufacturers and the like to execute predictive analytics to inform operators of performance issues before a vehicle ever takes flight.

Current solutions also lack the ability to transform safety, compliance and certification data for more efficient compliance with federal and international aviation regulations and overall improvements in safety across multiple vehicle manufacturers and models.

Indeed, many vendors offer services to fleet managers only useful with vehicles made by specific manufacturers, often limited to only a subset of manufacturer models and typically do not include component information.

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