Method and apparatus for data acquisition, data management, and report generation for tractor trailer subsystem testing and maintenance

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions for configuring a computing system to acquire data and generate reports for automatically testing systems of a vehicle, by a method comprising:

• coupling a portable testing unit to a plurality of subsystems of the vehicle via a connector, wherein the plurality of subsystems includes at least an electrical subsystem and a pneumatic subsystem and wherein the portable testing unit includes an electrical power supply and a pneumatic power supply;
• operating a selected subsystem of the plurality of subsystems by selectively delivering electrical and pneumatic power from at least one of the electrical power supply or the pneumatic power supply to the selected subsystem through the connector, wherein the selected subsystem includes at least one of an electrical light component or a pneumatic brake mechanism;
• capturing raw test data in a first electronic file, wherein the raw test data is generated in response to the operation of the selected subsystem and encodes information relating to the operational performance of the selected subsystem and wherein the raw data test data includes at least one of voltage, amperage, or air pressure;
• analyzing a data stream with a processor device, wherein the data stream includes the raw test data and historical test data of the vehicle or a plurality of vehicles of which the vehicle is a member;
• generating a processed data set based on the analysis of the data stream;
• generating a final test report with the processor device based on at least the processed data set;
• and
• storing the final test report in a second electronic file.

A portable testing unit for testing systems of a vehicle, the portable testing unit comprising:

• an electrical testing subsystem;
• a pneumatic testing subsystem;
• a connector configured to couple the electrical testing subsystem and the pneumatic testing subsystem to a plurality of subsystems of the vehicle;
• wherein the portable testing unit is configured to:
• operate a selected subsystem of the plurality of subsystems by selectively delivering electrical or pneumatic power from at least one of an electrical power supply or a pneumatic power supply to the selected subsystem through the connector, wherein the selected subsystem includes at least one of an electrical light component or a pneumatic brake, mechanism;
• and
• capture raw test data in a first electronic file, wherein the raw test data is generated in response to the operation of the selected subsystem and encodes information relating to the operational performance of the selected subsystem and wherein the raw test data includes at least one of voltage, amperage, or air pressure;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• analyze a data stream, wherein the data stream comprises the raw test data and historical test data;
• generate a processed data set based on the analysis of the data stream;
• generate a final test report based on at least the processed data set and a characterization of the subsystem;
• and
• store the final test report in a second electronic file.