Collection of crash data using autonomous or semi-autonomous drones

A computer-based method for processing vehicle crash data from a vehicle crash implemented by a vehicle crash data collection system including at least an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an emergency response vehicle, and at least one remote server, the UAV including at least one processor and a database, the vehicle crash data collected by the UAV including at least one sensor, the UAV in communication with the emergency response vehicle, the emergency response vehicle including at least one controller and a global positioning system (GPS) configured to detect that the emergency response vehicle is at a vehicle crash site of a vehicle crash, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the at least one processor of the UAV, vehicle crash data, wherein the UAV is configured to (i) automatically separate from the emergency response vehicle in response to receiving instructions to liftoff from the emergency response vehicle after the GPS detects that the emergency response vehicle has arrived at a GPS location proximate to the vehicle crash site, and (ii) collect the vehicle crash data and drone data from the vehicle crash site using the at least one sensor, the drone data used by the UAV to perform at least one of:
• i) generating an original flight path and ii) adjusting the original flight path based upon analysis of the drone data, wherein at least some of the vehicle crash data and the drone data are collected by the UAV while the UAV is disengaged from the emergency response vehicle;
• analyzing, by the at least one processor of the UAV in real-time while the UAV is disengaged from the emergency response vehicle, the vehicle crash data and the drone data;
• determining, by the at least one processor of the UAV based upon the analysis of the vehicle crash data and the drone data, an extent of damage at the vehicle crash site by comparing the analyzed vehicle crash data and the drone data to at least one of historical images of previous vehicle crashes and historical images of insurance-events/emergencies, the historical images of previous vehicle crashes and the historical images of insurance-events/emergencies stored within the database;
• storing, by the at least one processor of the UAV, the vehicle crash data within the database;
• detecting, by the at least one processor of the UAV, the vehicle crash data includes at least one vehicle identifier;
• and
• transmitting, by the at least one processor of the UAV, the vehicle crash data and the determined extent of damage to the at least one remote server for determining that a first insurance provider is associated with a first vehicle of the vehicle crash based, at least in part, on the at least one vehicle identifier to facilitate an insurance-related purpose or activity.

At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor included in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in communication with a database, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

• receive vehicle crash data collected by the UAV including at least one sensor and in communication with an emergency response vehicle and at least one remote server, the emergency response vehicle including at least one controller and a global positioning system (GPS) configured to detect that the emergency response vehicle is at a vehicle crash site of a vehicle crash, wherein the UAV is configured to (i) automatically separate from the emergency response vehicle in response to receiving instructions to liftoff from the emergency response vehicle after the GPS detects that the emergency response vehicle has arrived at a GPS location proximate to the vehicle crash site, and (ii) collect the vehicle crash data and drone data from the vehicle crash site using the at least one sensor, the drone data used by the UAV to perform at least one of:
• i) generating an original flight path and ii) adjusting the original flight path based on analysis of the drone data, wherein at least some of the vehicle crash data and the drone data are collected by the UAV while the UAV is disengaged from the emergency response vehicle;
• analyze, the UAV in real-time while the UAV is disengaged from the emergency response vehicle, the vehicle crash data and the drone data;
• determine an extent of damage at the vehicle crash site based upon the analysis of the vehicle crash data and the drone data by comparing the analyzed vehicle crash data and the drone data to at least one of historical images of previous vehicle crashes and historical images of insurance-events/emergencies, the historical images of previous vehicle crashes and the historical images of insurance-events/emergencies stored within the database;
• store the vehicle crash data within the database;
• detect the vehicle crash data includes at least one vehicle identifier;
• and
• transmit the vehicle crash data and the determined extent of damage to the at least one remote server for determining that a first insurance provider is associated with a first vehicle of the vehicle crash based, at least in part, on the vehicle identifier.