Autonomous Vehicle Maintenance Scheduling via Self-Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver-based systems lack a platform to effectively manage and monitor the maintenance cycles of autonomous vehicles (AVs), including scheduling and resource allocation for maintenance tasks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that communicate with AVs to navigate them to maintenance facilities, assess their maintenance needs, and dynamically schedule maintenance steps and resources, optimizing the maintenance process through a user interface (UI) that guides multiple AVs through various stages of the maintenance cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a driver-based system is used for vehicle maintenance, then manual control and monitoring are possible, but the system cannot effectively manage or monitor AV maintenance cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The AV performs self-diagnosis and self-navigation to the maintenance facility. The system automatically assesses maintenance needs, schedules appropriate services, and guides the AV through the maintenance cycle without requiring manual driver intervention for each step.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors AV status through telemetry data, automatically updates maintenance schedules based on real-time conditions, and adjusts resource allocation dynamically. This closed-loop feedback enables effective AV maintenance management while reducing manual oversight requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If maintenance tasks are performed sequentially at single stations, then each maintenance step can be completed thoroughly, but the overall maintenance time and facility throughput increase
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance facility is divided into multiple specialized stations, each handling specific maintenance tasks. The AV maintenance cycle is segmented into discrete steps that can be performed in parallel at different stations, enabling thorough completion of each task while improving overall throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance schedule and station assignments are dynamically adjusted based on real-time AV status, resource availability, and facility throughput requirements. This dynamic optimization allows the system to maintain high-quality task completion while maximizing maintenance throughput.
3Device complexity
If maintenance resources are statically allocated, then resource assignment is simple, but the system cannot optimize resource utilization or adapt to changing AV maintenance needs
Solution Approach 1:
The resource allocation system dynamically adjusts maintenance resource assignment based on real-time AV maintenance needs, technician availability, and facility throughput requirements. This dynamic approach optimizes resource utilization efficiency while adapting to changing conditions without requiring overly complex manual management.
4Ease of operation
If AVs are manually guided through the maintenance facility, then monitoring and control are straightforward, but the time required for maintenance cycles and facility throughput increase
Solution Approach 1:
The AV autonomously navigates to the maintenance facility and moves between stations using its own propulsion and steering systems. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual guidance, reducing maintenance cycle time and increasing facility throughput while maintaining monitoring capabilities through automated telemetry.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, UI and computer program product embodiments for managing an autonomous vehicle (AV) multi-station maintenance cycle. The system determines an AV specific instance of the AV multi-station maintenance cycle, based on an evaluation of a current status of maintenance items for the AV, and matches the current status of the maintenance items to corresponding maintenance steps to be performed to complete the AV specific instance of the AV multi-station maintenance cycle. The system generates a schedule for performing ingestion and deployment of software maintenance items for the AV at one or more stations within the AV maintenance facility and assigns maintenance resources and dynamically modifies the schedule based on other AVs currently engaged in the current AV multi-station maintenance cycle. The system further schedules self-navigating movement of the AV within the AV maintenance facility to one or more stations in the AV maintenance facility to complete the maintenance cycle.