System, computing device, and method for unmanned vehicle fleet control

A computing device, comprising:

• a communications interface for connection to a plurality of unmanned vehicles via a network;
• memory storing (i) a dynamic attribute respective to each of the plurality of unmanned vehicles, the dynamic attribute defining an operational capability of the respective vehicle that is variable during vehicle operation and (ii) a static attribute respective to each of the plurality of unmanned vehicles, the static attribute defining an operational capability of the respective vehicle that is invariable during vehicle operation;
• and
• a processor connected to the communications interface and the memory, the processor configured to:
• receive a task request, the task request including (i) an item identifier of an item, (ii) an action type defining an action to be performed respective to the item, and (iii) a location identifier of a location at which to perform the action;
• responsive to receiving the request, retrieve the stored dynamic attributes and static attributes from the memory;
• for each unmanned vehicle, evaluate the dynamic attribute and the static attribute against at least one criterion;
• when the at least one criterion is satisfied, add the unmanned vehicle to a selection set;
• optimize the selection set to identify one of the unmanned vehicles in the selection set as a selected unmanned vehicle that best matches the task request;
• and
• transmit, via the communications interface, a command to the selected unmanned vehicle to perform the action respective to the item at the location.

A method, comprising:

• storing, in a memory, (i) a dynamic attribute respective of each of a plurality of unmanned vehicles, the dynamic attribute defining an operational capability of the respective vehicle that is variable during vehicle operation and (ii) a static attribute respective of each of the plurality of unmanned vehicles, the static attribute defining an operational capability of the respective vehicle that is invariable during vehicle operation;
• receiving, at a processor connected to the memory, a task request, the task request including (i) an item identifier of an item, (ii) an action type defining an action to be performed respective to the item, and (iii) a location identifier of a location at which to perform the action;
• responsive to receiving the request, retrieving the stored dynamic attributes and static attributes from the memory;
• for each unmanned vehicle, evaluating the dynamic attribute and the static attribute against at least one criterion;
• when the at least one criterion is satisfied, add the unmanned vehicle to a selection set;
• optimizing the selection set to identify one of the unmanned vehicles as a selected unmanned vehicle that best matches the task request;
• and
• transmitting, via a communications interface connected to the processor, a command to the selected unmanned vehicle to perform the action respective to the item at the location.