METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COORDINATING DEPLOYMENT OF A FLEET OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

A scheduling controller in communication with a plurality of autonomous vehicles is described, and includes an operator request compiler, a fleet state-of-health database, an environmental conditions compiler and a fleet scheduling controller. The fleet scheduling controller is configured to deploy the autonomous vehicles based upon inputs from the operator request compiler, the fleet state-of-health database and the environmental conditions compiler. A process for coordinating a fleet of autonomous vehicles includes determining states of health for the autonomous vehicles, and determining a desired autonomous vehicle use requirement from each of a plurality of operators that are associated with the autonomous vehicles. A usage schedule for each of the autonomous vehicles is determined based upon the states of health and the desired autonomous vehicle use requirements from the operators. The autonomous vehicles are deployed based upon the usage schedule.