Systems and methods for maintaining a self-driving vehicle

A vehicle controlling (“VC”) computer system used to schedule and perform maintenance on a self-driving vehicle, the VC computer system installed in a self-driving vehicle, the VC computer system comprising:

• at least one non-transitory memory device storing executable instructions;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device, the at least one processor programmed to:
• determine that a maintenance operation is required for the self-driving vehicle;
• electronically retrieve an operator schedule for an operator of the self-driving vehicle from an operator computing device in networked connection with the VC computer device, wherein the operator schedule includes a plurality of times and locations that the operator is scheduled to be at over a period of time and is stored on the operator computing device;
• electronically retrieve a plurality of facility schedules from a corresponding plurality of facility computing devices in networked connection with the VC computing device, wherein each facility schedule of the plurality of facility schedules includes an identification of maintenance operations capable of being performed by a respective facility and a plurality of times that the respective facility is available to perform the maintenance operations;
• select a facility capable of performing the required maintenance operation based on the plurality of facility schedules and at least one of the operator schedule and the required maintenance operation;
• determine a time for performing the required maintenance operation based upon the operator schedule, the facility schedule of the selected facility, and an amount of time required to (i) complete the required maintenance operation, (ii) drive the self-driving vehicle from a first location to the selected facility to arrive at the determined time, and (iii) drive the self-driving vehicle to a second location;
• control the self-driving vehicle to drive from the first location to the selected facility to arrive at the determined time;
• and
• after completion of the required maintenance operation, control the self-driving vehicle to drive from the selected facility a second location.

At least one non-transitory computer readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:

• determine that a maintenance operation is required for a self-driving vehicle;
• electronically retrieve an operator schedule for an operator of the self-driving vehicle from an operator computing device in networked connection with the VC computer device, wherein the operator schedule includes a plurality of times and locations that the operator is scheduled to be at over a period of time;
• electronically retrieve a plurality of facility schedules from a corresponding plurality of facility computing devices in networked connection with the VC computing device wherein each facility schedule of the plurality of facility schedules includes an identification of maintenance operations capable of being performed by a respective facility and a plurality of times that the respective facility is available to perform the maintenance operations;
• select a facility capable of performing the required maintenance operation based on the plurality of facility schedules and at least one of the operator schedule and the required maintenance operation;
• determine a time for performing the required maintenance operation based upon the operator schedule, the facility schedule of the selected facility, and an amount of time required to (i) complete the required maintenance operation, (ii) drive the self-driving vehicle from a first location to the selected facility to arrive at the determined time, and (iii) drive the self-driving vehicle to a second location;
• control the self-driving vehicle to drive from the first location to the selected facility to arrive at the determined time;
• and
• after completion of the required maintenance operation, control the self-driving vehicle to drive from the selected facility a second location.

A computer-based method for maintaining a self-driving vehicle, the method comprising:

• determining, by a remote server in communication with the self-driving vehicle, that a maintenance operation is required for the self-driving vehicle;
• generating, by the remote server, a first message representing the maintenance operation is required for the self-driving vehicle;
• transmitting, by the remote server, the first message to the self-driving vehicle, wherein the first message causes the self-driving vehicle to perform automatic maintenance scheduling, the automatic maintenance scheduling including:
• electronically retrieving an operator schedule, from an operator computing device in networked connection with the VC computer device, for an operator of the self-driving vehicle, wherein the operator schedule includes a plurality of times and locations that the operator is scheduled to be at over a period of time, wherein the operator schedule is stored on the operator computing device;
• electronically retrieving a plurality of facility schedules from a corresponding plurality of facility computing devices in networked connection with the VC computing device, wherein each facility schedule of the plurality of facility schedules includes an identification of maintenance operations capable of being performed by a respective facility and a plurality of times that the respective facility is available to perform the maintenance operations;
• selecting a facility capable of performing the required maintenance operation based on the plurality of facility schedules and at least one of the operator schedule and the required maintenance operation;
• determining a time for performing the required maintenance operation based upon the operator schedule, the facility schedule of the selected facility, and an amount of time required to (i) complete the required maintenance operation, (ii) drive the self-driving vehicle from a first location to the selected facility to arrive at the determined time, and (iii) drive the self-driving vehicle to a second location;
• and
• driving from the first location to the selected facility to arrive at the determined time;
• and
• receiving, from the self-driving vehicle, a second message representing that the required maintenance operation is complete.