GB2583102A

GB2583102A - Vehicle-distributed asset management

Info

Publication number: GB2583102A
Application number: GB1905355.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Murray James; Moffatt Benjamin; Barker Will
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2019-04-16
Filing date: 2019-04-16
Publication date: 2020-10-21
Also published as: GB201905355D0

Abstract

Managing assets distributed between vehicles, such as tools 6A, 6B stored in a van 2A or storage spaces 5A, 5B, 5C available in a truck. An asset determination module 7 on the vehicle determines whether an asset is available on the vehicle. The vehicle transmits asset availability data to a remotely located control module and/or to another vehicle. A control module may arrange access to the asset in response to a request, such as arranging for a user to borrow a tool from another vehicle. This control module may be remotely located or may be local to the vehicle. The asset availability data may comprise an inventory of assets available on the vehicle, a time period during which each asset is available for use or access, vehicle location data or vehicle identification data. The asset determination module may comprise an asset locating device, such as: a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, a video or image recognition system, a barcode reader, a weight sensor, an optical sensor, a presence sensor, or another automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) system. The vehicle thus acts as a hire station for lending tools and storage spaces to other vehicles in a fleet.

Description

VEHICLE-DISTRIBUTED ASSET MANAGEMENT

Field

The present disclosure concerns methods and systems for managing vehicle-distributed assets, as well as vehicles and control modules for use in such methods and systems.

Background

Vehicles are commonly used to transport assets such as devices or tools used by workers such as engineers, mechanics, electricians or surveyors. Assets are commonly distributed over a fleet of vehicles in such a way that not every vehicle in the fleet carries all of the possible assets required for every situation. For example, where the fleet of vehicles is used to carry out maintenance at a number of different locations, it is difficult to provide each vehicle in the fleet with all the necessary tools, fasteners and consumables that drivers of the vehicles may need to carry out each possible type of job at each location the drivers visit. For example, the driver of a vehicle may only determine which tools are necessary once they have arrived at the job, at which point it may be too late to acquire the tools. The driver may be unable to complete the job. Alternatively, the driver may be required to return to a depot to collect the necessary tools, wasting time and fuel.

Vehicles may also be used to store assets, such as devices or tools, when they are not required for use. For example, a driver of a vehicle in a fleet may require a space to store unneeded tools while they are carrying out a particular job. It can be difficult to find a secure location to store such assets, particularly at short notice.

Summary

In a first aspect, there is provided a method of managing vehicle-distributed assets, the method comprising: an asset determination module, located on a vehicle, determining the availability of an asset on the vehicle; and the vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to a remote control module and/or to one or more other vehicles.

The asset may be an object such as a tool. For example, the asset may be a mechanical or electrical tool, such as a hammer, a drill or a screwdriver. Alternatively, the asset may be a storage space, such as a storage space for a device or a tool. It will be appreciated that vehicle-distributed assets comprise assets distributed across (e.g. stored in) one or more vehicles.

The vehicle may be of any type suitable for the transportation of assets such as tools. For example, the vehicle may be a motor vehicle. Examples of motor vehicles include cars or automobiles, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), trucks, lorries and vans. The vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle such as a self-driving van or car. The vehicle may be a connected vehicle, i.e. a vehicle comprising one or more transmitters and receivers (e.g. transceivers) for enabling internet access and/or for enabling communication between the vehicle and one or more other connected vehicles.

The method may comprise a control module arranging access to the asset on the vehicle in response to receiving a request for the asset.

Arranging access to the asset may comprise selecting a time and/or location for a requestor of the asset to access the asset. Accessing the asset may require the requestor and/or the provider of the asset (i.e. the vehicle on which the asset is located, or the driver of said vehicle) to travel to the selected location, for example at the selected time. Accordingly, arranging access to the asset may comprise transmitting details of the selected time and/or location to the requestor and/or the provider. The selected location may be the location of the requestor at the time of making the request, the location of the provider at the time of receipt of the request, or a location intermediate the provider and requestor. Arranging access to the asset may therefore comprise transmitting (e.g. to the remote control module and/or to the one or more other vehicles) data relating to a time and/or location for accessing the asset on the vehicle.

In examples in which the asset is an object such as a device or a tool, accessing the asset may comprise removal of the object from the vehicle. In examples in which the asset is a storage space, accessing the asset may comprise depositing an object in the storage space. Accessing the asset may comprise pick-up of the asset by the requestor or delivery of the asset to the requestor by the provider.

It will be appreciated that, throughout this description and the appended claims, the term "module" may refer to physical hardware (e.g. a processor and/or device), software (e.g. a computer program running on a processor), or a combination thereof.

The asset determination module may comprise (e.g. be) an asset locating device. The asset locating device may be operable to determine the presence or absence of an asset on the vehicle. The asset locating device may be further operable to determine the location of the asset on the vehicle. The asset locating device may operate automatically, for example in response to addition or removal of assets to or from the vehicle. Alternatively, the asset locating device may operate in response to a user input.

For example, the asset determination module may comprise (e.g. be) an automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) system. The asset determination module may comprise a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader for determining the presence or absence of RFID-tagged assets on the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the asset determination module may comprise a visual asset recognition system, such as a video camera in communication with a processor programmed to carry out image processing steps for determining the presence or absence of assets on the vehicle. In some examples, the asset determination module comprises a barcode reader for reading barcodes of barcode-labelled assets. In some examples, the asset determination module comprises one or more sensors for (directly or indirectly) determining the presence or absence of an asset on the vehicle. For example, the asset determination module may comprise one or more weight sensors or optical sensors for determining the presence or absence of an object in a storage space on the vehicle.

Accordingly, the method may comprise the asset locating device, located on the vehicle, determining that the asset is present on the vehicle and the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle transmitted by the vehicle may indicate that the asset is present on the vehicle.

The vehicle may be capable of transporting a plurality of assets. The method may comprise the asset determination module determining the availability of the plurality of assets on the vehicle. The method may comprise the asset locating device determining the presence or absence of the plurality of assets on the vehicle. The method may comprise the vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the plurality of assets on the vehicle to the remote control module and/or to the one or more other vehicles. The method may comprise the control module arranging access to an asset of the plurality of assets from the vehicle in response to receiving a request for the said asset.

The data relating to the availability of the or each asset may include data indicating the presence or absence of the or each asset on the vehicle. The data relating to the availability of the or each asset may include an inventory (i.e. list) of assets available on the vehicle. The data relating to the availability of the or each asset may include data relating to a time period for which the or each asset is available for use. The data relating to the availability of the or each asset may include data relating to a time period during which the or each asset is available for access (e.g. for pick-up or delivery). The data relating to the availability of the or each asset may include an inventory of assets on the vehicle and data relating to the time period for which for which each asset is available for use and/or during which each asset is available for access.

The vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to the remote control module and/or to the one or more other vehicles may comprise a transmitter (e.g. transceiver) on the vehicle transmitting the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to the remote control module and/or to the one or more other vehicles.

It may be that the control module is a local control module located on the same vehicle as the asset determination module.

It may be that the asset determination module outputs data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the vehicle. It may be that the local control module receives the data from the asset determination module relating to the availability of the or each asset on the vehicle.

It may be that the local control module is in communication with the asset determination module to receive the data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the vehicle. Alternatively, it may be that the local control module forms part of (i.e. is integrated with) the asset determination module. For example, the asset determination module may comprise the local control module and the asset locating device. In such embodiments, the control module receiving data from the asset determination module may comprise the local control module receiving data from the asset locating device.

The method may be a method of managing vehicle-distributed assets, the assets being distributed across a plurality of vehicles. Each vehicle may comprise a respective asset determination module operable to determine the availability of an asset on the said vehicle. Each vehicle may comprise a respective local control module.

It may be that the method comprises the vehicle transmitting (e.g. by way of the transmitter) the data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the vehicle to one or more other vehicles of the plurality of vehicles. For example, it may be the vehicle on which the asset determination module is located is a provider vehicle (i.e. a vehicle capable of carrying assets) and the method comprises the provider vehicle transmitting the data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the provider vehicle to one or more requestor vehicles (i.e. vehicles which may request access to an asset). It may be that the method comprises the local control module on the provider vehicle arranging access to the asset on the provider vehicle in response to receiving a request for the asset from a requestor vehicle.

It may be that the method comprises: first, the provider vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the provider vehicle to one or more requestor vehicles; and second, the local control module arranging access to an asset on the provider vehicle in response to receiving the request for the asset from the requestor vehicle. It may be that the method comprise: first, the provider vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the provider vehicle to one or more requestor vehicles; second, the local control module receiving a request for an asset from a requestor vehicle; and third, the local control module arranging access to the requested asset on the provider vehicle. It may be that the method comprises: first, the provider vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the provider vehicle to one or more requestor vehicles; second, the local control module receiving a request for an asset from a requestor vehicle; third, the local control module determining that the requested asset is available on the provider vehicle, for example based on the data provided by the asset determination module; and fourth, the local control module arranging access to the requested asset on the provider vehicle. It may be that the method comprises: first, the local control module receiving a request for an asset from the requestor vehicle; second, the local control module determining that the requested asset is available on the provider vehicle, for example based on the data provided by the asset determination module; and third, the provider vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the requested asset on the provider vehicle to the requestor vehicle and arranging access to the requested asset on the provider vehicle.

Alternatively, it may be that the control module is the remote control module. The remote control module may be located remote from the vehicle. For example, it may be that the remote control module is a server located remote from the vehicle.

The method may comprise the vehicle transmitting the data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the vehicle to the remote control module. In embodiments in which the vehicle is a provider vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, it may be that the method comprises: the provider vehicle transmitting the data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the provider vehicle to the remote control module; and the remote control module arranging access to the asset on the provider vehicle in response to receiving a request for the asset from a requestor vehicle. It may be that the remote control module also transmits data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the provider vehicle to the one or more requestor vehicles prior to receiving the request for the asset from the requestor vehicle.

It may be that the method comprises: first, the provider vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the provider vehicle to the remote control module; second, the remote control module receiving a request for an asset from a requestor vehicle; and third, the remote control module arranging access to the requested asset on the provider vehicle. It may be that the method comprises: first, the remote control module receiving a request for an asset from a requestor vehicle; second, the remote control module determining that the requested asset is available on the provider vehicle, for example based on the data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the provider vehicle previously transmitted to the remote control module (e.g. stored in a memory); and third, the remote control module arranging access to the requested asset on the provider vehicle. It may be that the method comprises: first, the remote control module receiving a request for an asset from the requestor vehicle; second, the remote control module requesting from the provider vehicle data relating to the availability of the requested asset on the provider vehicle; third, the provider vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the requested asset on the provider vehicle to the remote control module; and fourth, the remote control module arranging access to the requested asset on the provider vehicle.

In a second aspect, there is provided a vehicle comprising: an asset determination module operable to determine the availability of an asset on the vehicle; and a transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to a remote control module and/or to one or more other vehicles.

It may be that the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises an inventory of assets available on the vehicle. It may be that the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises data relating to a time period for which the or each asset on the vehicle is available for use and/or during which the or each asset is available for access.

The vehicle may comprise a local control module configured (e.g. programmed) to arrange access to the asset in response to receiving a request for the asset from the remote control module and/or another vehicle.

The vehicle, asset determination module, asset or control module may be of any type disclosed herein with respect to the first, third, fourth, fifth or sixth aspects.

In a third aspect, there is provided a method of managing vehicle-distributed assets, the method comprising: a control module receiving data, generated by an asset determination module located on a vehicle, indicating that an asset is available on the vehicle; the control module receiving a request for the asset; and the control module arranging access to the asset on the vehicle.

The control module may be a remote control module located remote from the vehicle.

For example, it may be that the remote control module is a server remote from the vehicle.

The data indicating that the asset is available on the vehicle may be received as part of data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle. It may be that the data comprises an inventory of assets available on the vehicle. It may be that the data comprises data relating to a time period for which the or each asset on the vehicle is available for use and/or during which the or each asset on the vehicle is available for access.

The method may comprise the control module receiving the data indicating that the asset is available on the vehicle prior to receiving the request for the asset. Alternatively, the method may comprise the control module receiving the data indicating that the asset is available on the vehicle after receiving the request for the asset. For example, the method may comprise: first, the control module receiving the request for the asset; second, the control module transmitting a request to the vehicle for data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle; third, the control module receiving the data indicating that the asset is available on the vehicle; and fourth, the control module arranging access to the asset from the vehicle. Alternatively, the method may comprise: first, the control module receiving data relating to the availability of the or each asset on the vehicle, the said data indicating that an asset is available on the vehicle; second, the control module receiving a request for the asset; third, the control module determining that the requested asset is available on the vehicle based on the data received from the vehicle; and fourth, the control module arranging access to the requested asset on the vehicle.

The method may comprise the control module transmitting the data indicating that the asset is available on the vehicle. For example, in embodiments in which the vehicle is a provider vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, the method may comprise the control module transmitting data indicating that the asset is available on the provider vehicle to one or more requestor vehicles. The method may comprise the control module transmitting the data indicating that the asset is available on the provider vehicle prior to receiving the request for the asset from a requestor vehicle or in response to receiving the request for the asset from the requestor vehicle.

It may be that the method comprises: the control module receiving data including an inventory of a plurality of assets on the vehicle, the said data indicating that one or more of the plurality of assets is available on the vehicle; the control module receiving a request for an asset from the plurality of assets; the control module determining that the requested asset is available on the vehicle based on the inventory; and the control module, in response to the request, arranging access to the asset from the vehicle.

The vehicle, asset determination module, asset or control module may be of any type disclosed herein with respect to the first, second, fourth, fifth or sixth aspects.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a control module configured (e.g. programmed) to carry out the method according to the third aspect. The control module may be a remote control module such as server. The control module may comprise a processor in communication with a computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the third aspect.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a system for managing vehicle-distributed assets, the system comprising: a vehicle comprising an asset determination module operable to determine the availability of an asset on the vehicle and a transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to a remote control module and/or to one or more other vehicles; and a control module configured (e.g. programmed) to arrange access to the asset on the vehicle in response to receiving a request for the asset.

The control module may be configured (e.g. programmed) to receive data from the asset determination module relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle and to transmit data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to one or more other vehicles.

Alternatively, it may be that the control module is a remote control module located remote from the vehicle.

It may be that the vehicle is one of a plurality of vehicles (e.g. a fleet of vehicles). Each vehicle may comprise a respective asset determination module operable to determine the availability of an asset on the said vehicle. Each vehicle may further comprise a respective transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the availability of the asset on the said vehicle to the remote control module and/or to one or more other vehicles of the plurality of vehicles.

Each vehicle may comprise a respective local control module. Each local control module may be configured (e.g. programmed) to transmit (i.e. by way of the transmitter) data relating to the availability of the asset on the corresponding vehicle. Each local control module may be configured (e.g. programmed) to transmit (i.e. by way of the transmitter) data relating to the availability of the asset on the corresponding vehicle to each other vehicle in the plurality of vehicles (i.e. the fleet). Each local control module may be configured (e.g. programmed) to receive data relating to the availability of assets on one or more other vehicles in the plurality of vehicles (i.e. the fleet). Each local control module may be configured (e.g. programmed) to arrange access to an asset on the corresponding vehicle in response to receiving a request for the asset from another vehicle the plurality of vehicles (i.e. the fleet). Each local control module may be configured (e.g. programmed) to transmit (i.e. by way of the transmitter) a request for an asset on another vehicle of the plurality of vehicles (i.e. the fleet) in response to a user input, for example a user input selecting an asset to be accessed.

In embodiments in which the system comprises a remote control module (e.g. a server) remote from each of the vehicles, each vehicle in the fleet may be configured to transmit data relating to the availability of assets on the corresponding vehicle to the remote control module, to receive data relating to the availability of assets on one or more other vehicles in the plurality of vehicles (i.e. the fleet) from the remote control module, and/or to transmit a request for an asset on another vehicle of the plurality of vehicles (i.e. the fleet) in response to a user input, for example a user input selecting an asset to be accessed.

With any of the methods, systems, control modules or vehicles mentioned herein, the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle may comprise vehicle location data (e.g. provided by a satellite navigation system of the vehicle) and/or vehicle identifier data (such as vehicle type, colour, registration number or any other identifying parameter).

The vehicle, asset determination module, asset or control module may be of any type disclosed herein with respect to the first, second, third, fourth or fifth aspects.

Indeed, the skilled person will appreciate that, except where mutually exclusive, a feature described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied mutatis mutandis to any other aspect. Moreover, except where mutually exclusive, any feature described herein may be applied to any aspect and/or combined with any other feature described herein.

Figures Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the Figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of first fleet of connected vehicles distributed across three different locations; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section through an example vehicle of the fleet of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a control module of the example vehicle of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the control module of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the control module of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the control module of Figure 3; and Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a second fleet of connected vehicles distributed across three different locations.

Detailed description

With reference to Figure 1, a fleet of vehicles 1 includes three connected vehicles 2A, 2B and 2C. Vehicle 2A is located at location 3A; vehicle 2B is located at location 3B; and vehicle 2C is located at location 3C. Locations 3A, 3B and 3C are remote from one another.

Figure 2 provides a schematic illustration of vehicle 2A. Vehicle 2A includes a tool storage area 4. Tool storage area 4 includes three tool storage spaces 5A, 5B and 5C. As shown in Figure 2, tools 6A and 6B are stored in storage spaces 5A and 5B respectively. Storage space 5C is empty in Figure 2.

Tool storage area 4 includes an asset determination module operable to determine the presence or absence of a tool in each of the storage spaces 5A, 5B and 5C. In the example shown in Figure 2, the asset determination module includes three radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers (not shown), each located adjacent a corresponding one of the storage spaces 5A, 5B and 5C. The RFID readers are operable to detect the presence of RFID-tagged tools in each of the spaces 5A, 5B and 5C. In the example shown in Figure 2, tools 6A and 6B each include corresponding RFID tags. Accordingly, the asset determination module 7 is able to determine that tools 6A and 6B are present in storage spaces 5A and 5B, while storage space 5C is empty. In other examples, one or more RFID readers may be provided. By way of example, a single RFID reader may detect the presence (and/or absence) of one or more RFID tagged tools in the vehicle.

It will be appreciated, however, that the asset determination module may include any suitable devices known in the art for determining the presence or absence of assets, such as tools in the storage spaces, available spaces or any other item. For example, in alternative embodiments, the asset determination module includes one or more of: RFID readers; barcode readers; visual asset recognition systems (e.g. an image capturing system, such as a camera, in communication with a processor programmed to carry out analysis of an image captured by the image capturing system to determine the presence or absence of a tool in the image); position sensors, such as optical position sensors; and/or weight sensors. The asset determination module may include a processor for processing outputs from any asset locating devices to determine the presence or absence of tools in the storage spaces.

The asset determination module is operably connected to a local control module 8. The asset determination module is operable to output data indicative of the presence or absence of tools in the storage spaces 5A, 5B and 5C to the local control module 8. The local control module 8, as shown in more detail in Figure 3, includes a processor 9 in communication with a receiver 10 and a transmitter 11. The receiver 10 and transmitter 11 provide the processor 9 with wireless access to a network, such as the internet, (for example, over 3G, 4G or 5G telecommunication networks, Wi-Fi (RTM) or any other wireless communication protocol). The local control module 8 also has a user interface 12 (for example, a touchscreen interface accessible to a driver of the vehicle).

The local control module 8 is configured to coordinate access to the tools and storage spaces on board each of vehicles 2A, 2B and 2C. In particular, as shown in Figure 3, the processor 9 is provided in communication with a computer readable medium 13 containing computer executable program instructions 14 for coordinating access to the tools and storage spaces on board each of vehicles 2A, 2C and 2C, as explained in more detail below.

Vehicles 2B and 2C may be essentially identical to vehicle 2A, at least in respect of the features described herein.

As illustrated schematically in Figure 4, the local control module 8 of each vehicle is configured to: receive data output by the asset determination module indicative of the presence or absence of tools in the storage spaces of the said vehicle (block 100); update an inventory of tools and/or storage spaces on the said vehicle (block 101); and transmit, by way of the transmitter, data including the inventory of tools and/or storage spaces on the vehicle to the other vehicles in the fleet (block 102). Each local control module may be configured to carry out the steps shown in Figure 4 automatically, i.e. without prompting by a user. Alternatively, each local control module may be configured to carry out the steps shown in Figure 4 in response to receiving a request for an inventory of tools and storage spaces on the respective vehicle. For example, a request for transmission of the inventory may be received via the user interface (i.e. by a user located at the respective vehicle) or by the receiver (i.e. a request transmitted by one of the other vehicles in the fleet).

As illustrated schematically in Figure 5, each control module is also configured to: receive an input via the user interface containing a request for access to a tool or storage space available on another vehicle in the fleet (block 103); and transmit, by way of the transmitter, a request for access to the tool or storage space on the other vehicle in the fleet (block 104). The input may be generated by the user selecting a tool or storage space for access from a list of available tools and storage spaces displayed on the user interface.

As illustrated schematically in Figure 6, each control module is also configured to: receive a request, by way of the receiver, for access to a tool or storage space on the said vehicle (block 105); and arrange access to the said tool or storage space (block 106) in response to receiving the request. Arranging access to a tool or storage space typically involves the control module: communicating to a user, by way of the user interface, information enabling access to the requested tool; and/or communicating to another vehicle in the fleet, by way of the transmitter, information enabling access to the requested tool. The information enabling access to the requested tool may include, for example, a location and/or a time at which the requested tool or storage space may be accessed. The location may be the location of the vehicle on which the requested tool or storage space is located, the location where the requested tool or storage space is required, or an intermediate location therebetween. The time may be a time period for which the tool or storage space is available for access.

It will be appreciated that the data transmitted by the local control modules may contain more than just an inventory of the tools or storage spaces on board the vehicle. The data may also contain details of a time period for which each tool or storage space on the inventory is available for use and/or during which each tool or storage space on the inventory is available for access. Such data relating to the availability of each tool or storage space on board the vehicle may be input by a user via the user interface or may be predetermined (e.g. based on data stored in a memory). For example, a user may indicate that a tool or storage space, although present on the vehicle, is not available for access (for example, because the user intends to use the tool or storage space at a later time). Additionally or alternatively, a user may indicate that a particular tool or storage space, although present on the vehicle, is only available for use during a particular time period. The control module may prompt the user, via the user interface, to input such additional information prior to transmission of the data to the other vehicles. The data may also contain the location of the vehicle transmitting the data, for example obtained using a satellite navigation system such as GPS. The data may also comprise vehicle identifier data, such as vehicle type, colour, registration number or any other identifying parameter that helps a user locate the particular vehicle.

A first example method of managing tools and storage spaces distributed across the fleet 1 will now be described. In this first example method, vehicle 2A (which may be referred to as a 'provider vehicle'), located at 3A, is storing tool type or item X in its storage area. A user of vehicle 2B (which may be referred to as a tequestor vehicle'), at location 3B, requires tool type X to carry out work at location 3B. However, there is no tool X on board vehicle 2B. The asset determination module of vehicle 2A determines that tool X is on board vehicle 2A. The user of vehicle 2A also indicates, via the user interface, that tool X is available, e.g. is not required for use at location 3A. The control module of vehicle 2A updates an inventory of tools and storage spaces available on vehicle 2A and transmits this inventory to vehicles 2B and 2C. The inventory indicates that tool X is available for access on vehicle 2A. The control module of vehicle 2B receive the inventory and displays the inventory on the user interface of vehicle 2B. The user at vehicle 2B requests access to tool type X from the inventory by way of the user interface on vehicle 2B. In response to receiving this request, the control module of vehicle 2B transmits a request for access to tool type X to vehicle 2A. In response to receiving the request for access to tool type X from vehicle 2B, the control module of vehicle 2A transmits the location of vehicle 2A to vehicle 2B. The control module of vehicle 2B displays the location of vehicle 2A on the user interface of vehicle 2B. The user of vehicle 2B then goes (e.g. drives) to location 3A to collect tool X from vehicle 2A.

In a second example method of managing tools and storage spaces distributed across the fleet 1, vehicle 2A (a provider vehicle), located at 3A, has an empty storage space in its storage area. A user of vehicle 2B (a requestor vehicle), at location 3B, needs to store a tool or item Y, e.g. while maintenance work is carried out at location 3B. However, vehicle 2B has no available storage spaces. The asset determination module of vehicle 2A determines that vehicle 2A has an empty storage space. The user of vehicle 2A indicates via the user interface that the empty storage space is not required for storage of tools at location 3A. The control module of vehicle 2A updates an inventory of tools and storage spaces available on vehicle 2A and transmits this inventory to vehicles 2B and 2C. The control module of vehicle 2B receives the inventory and displays the inventory on the user interface of vehicle 2B. The user at vehicle 2B selects, via the user interface, the storage space on vehicle 2A for access from the inventory. In response to receiving this request, the control module of vehicle 2B transmits a request to access the empty storage space to vehicle 2A. The request for access includes the location 3B of vehicle 2B. In response to receiving the request for access from vehicle 2B, the control module of vehicle 2A displays the location of vehicle 2B on the user interface of vehicle 2A. The user of vehicle 2A then drives to location 3B to collect tool Y or the user of vehicle 2B goes to vehicle 2A to deposit tool Y. In another example, vehicle 2A located at 3A may have an asset Z (such as a tool or available storage space). The asset determination module of vehicle 2A determines that asset Z is on board vehicle 2A. The control module of vehicle 2A updates an inventory of assets available on vehicle 2A and transmits this inventory (optionally together with the location of vehicle 2A) to an intermediate server (which vehicles 2B and 2C may receive such data from) or directly to vehicles 2B and/or 2C. The control module may optionally transmit the location of vehicle 2A (and thus asset Z). The control module may optionally ask the user of vehicle 2A to confirm the availability of asset Z and such confirmation may also be transmitted. A user of vehicle 2B, at location 3B, requires asset Z. The user of vehicle 2B may via their user interface and control module determine that asset Z is present on vehicle 2A. The control module of vehicle 2B may receive the inventory data of other vehicles directly or via the intermediate server. The user at vehicle 2B may request access to asset Z from the inventory by way of the user interface on vehicle 2B. In response to receiving this request, the control module of vehicle 2B transmits a request for access to asset Z to vehicle 2A. The user of vehicle 2A may receive such a request and if not already confirmed, the user may indicate, via the user interface, that asset Z is indeed available, e.g. is not required for use at location 3A. The control module of vehicle 2A may also transmit the location and/or identifier data of vehicle 2A to vehicle 2B if not already provided. If the user of vehicle 2A confirms that the asset Z is available, the user of vehicle 2B may then go (e.g. drive) to location 3A to avail of asset Z. The control module on each vehicle may update an inventory of tools and storage spaces each time the corresponding asset determination module detects that a tool is added to or removed from the vehicle. Alternatively, the control module and asset determination module may periodically check for the availability of tools and storage spaces on the vehicle. Further alternatively, the control module and asset determination module may update the inventory on receipt of a request for access to a tool or storage space, or on receipt of a request to update the inventory by a user via the user interface.

The control module may transmit the inventory and/or any other data relating to the availability of tools or storage spaces on the vehicle each time the inventory is updated or the availability of a tool or storage space changes (for example, whenever a user changes the availability of a tool or storage space via the user interface). Alternatively, the control module may transmit the inventory and/or any other data relating to the availability of tools or storage spaces periodically, or in response to a request for access to a tool or storage space, or on receipt of a request to update the inventory by a user via the user interface.

It will be appreciated that a user may require access to tools or storage spaces available on more than one other vehicle in the fleet. Accordingly, in a third example method of managing tools and storage spaces distributed across the fleet 1, vehicle 2A (a first provider vehicle), located at 3A, is storing tool type X in its storage area and vehicle 2B (a second provider vehicle), located at 3B, is storing tool type Y in its storage area. A user of vehicle 2C (a requestor vehicle), at location 3C, requires tools type X and Y to carry out maintenance work at location 3C. However, there are no tools X or Y on board vehicle 2C. The asset determination module of vehicle 2A determines that tool X is on board vehicle 2A and the control module of vehicle 2A updates an inventory of tools and storage spaces available on vehicle 2A and transmits this inventory to vehicles 2B and 2C. The asset determination module of vehicle 2B determines that tool Y is on board vehicle 2B and the control module of vehicle 2B updates an inventory of tools and storage spaces available on vehicle 2B and transmits this inventory to vehicles 2A and 2C. The control module of vehicle 2C displays, on the user interface of vehicle 2C, the inventory of tools and storage spaces available on vehicles 2A and 2B. The user at vehicle 2C requests access to tool type X and tool type Y from the inventories via the user interface. In response to receiving this request, the control module of vehicle 2C transmits a request for access to tool type X to vehicle 2A and a request for access to tool type Y to vehicle 2B. The control module of vehicle 2C also transmits details of location 3C to vehicles 2A and 2B. In response to receiving the request for access to tool type X from vehicle 2C, the control module of vehicle 2A displays the location of vehicle 2C on the user interface of vehicle 2A. Similarly, in response to receiving the request for access to tool type Y from vehicle 2C, the control module of vehicle 2B displays the location of vehicle 2C on the user interface of vehicle 2B. The users of vehicles 2A and 2B then drive vehicles 2A and 2B to location 3C to deliver tools X and Y to the user of vehicle 2C. Alternatively, the control module of vehicle 2C displays the location of vehicles 2A and 2B on the user interface of vehicle 2C and the user of vehicle 2C may go (e.g. drive) to vehicles 2A and 2B to collect tools X and Y. Each vehicle in the fleet therefore functions as a 'sub-hire station' for lending tools and storage spaces to other vehicles in the fleet. This reduces the likelihood of vehicles in the fleet needing to return to a depot to collect or deposit tools. The distance travelled by vehicles in the fleet during a working day is therefore reduced. The number (and therefore value) of tools required across a fleet may also be reduced.

Figure 7 illustrates schematically an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a fleet of vehicles 20 includes three vehicles 21A, 21B and 21C. Vehicle 21A is located at location 22A; vehicle 21B is located at location 22B; and vehicle 21C is located at location 22C. Locations 22A, 22B and 22C are remote from one another. A server 23 is located at location 24 remote from each of locations 22A, 22B and 22C.

Each of the vehicles 21A, 21 B and 21C is essentially identical to the vehicles 2A, 2B and 2C of fleet 1. However, the local control modules of each vehicle in fleet 20 are configured to communicate with one another via the intermediary server 23, which functions as a remote control module. In particular, each local control module is configured to transmit data containing the inventory of tools and storage spaces on each vehicle, as well as any other data relating to the availability of tools and storage spaces on the vehicles, to the server 23. Each control module is also configured to transmit requests for access to tools and storage spaces to the server. The server is configured to: receive a request for access to tools or storage spaces from a requestor vehicle in the fleet; to determine whether the requested tools or storage spaces are available on a provider vehicle in the fleet; and to arrange access to the tools or storage spaces on the provider vehicle by transmitting, for example, the location of the provider vehicle to the requestor vehicle (so that the user of the requestor vehicle may go to the location of the provider vehicle) or the location of the requestor vehicle to the provider vehicle (so that the user of the provider vehicle may go to the location of the requestor vehicle).

The server 23 may maintain a list of all tools and storage spaces available across the fleet 20, for example by cross-referencing inventories and availability data transmitted periodically to the server by the vehicles in the fleet. The combined inventory across the fleet may be accessed by users of the fleet vehicles, for example via a user interface. The user interface may be provided by an application running on a fixed terminal associated with the vehicle or on a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may be paired to a particular vehicle and may communicate with the asset determination module of that vehicle. The application may display to the user assets, their respective locations and/or their availability.

The present disclosure may apply within a trusted network of vehicles in which the users belong to a fleet network or a network of trusted users. For example, each user may belong to a common organisation (or related organisations) or each user may have signed up to an asset sharing scheme. The or each user may have provided a deposit or payment details prior to availing of assets and the above described application may facilitate such payments. Use of the assets may also attract a fee, for which users pay, e.g. to borrow a tool. The application may also administer payment of such fees.

When the borrowed asset is no longer required, the user may return the borrowed item to the provider vehicle or collect the item stored in the space of the provider vehicle.

Failing that, the provider vehicle may determine that the asset is missing (or occupied) and may issue a reminder to the requestor vehicle/user to return (or collect) the item.

It will be appreciated that the methods described herein may also be implemented in a fleet comprising or consisting of autonomous vehicles such as driverless vans or cars.

In such systems, a human user will typically still request access to tools or storage spaces distributed across the fleet. However, the vehicles may drive autonomously between locations to provide access to those tools or storage spaces once access has been arranged.

Although the examples described herein include user interfaces integrated into the respective vehicles, it will be appreciated that user interfaces could be provided by remote devices such as smartphones which interact with the local control modules. In addition, although the local control modules are shown as separate modules from the asset determination modules, it will be appreciated that the local control modules and asset determination modules could be integrated. For example, the local control module could consist of software running on a processor within the asset determination module. Additionally or alternatively, the local control module may be integrated with any other vehicle systems, such as an integrated vehicle navigation system (e.g. an on-board computer).

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.

Claims

Claims 1. A method of managing vehicle-distributed assets, the method comprising: an asset determination module, located on a vehicle, determining the availability of an asset on the vehicle; and the vehicle transmitting data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to a remote control module and/or to one or more other vehicles.
The method according to claim 1 further comprising: a control module arranging access to the asset on the vehicle in response to receiving a request for the asset.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the control module is the remote control module.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the control module is a local control module located on the same vehicle as the asset determination module.
The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises an inventory of assets available on the vehicle.
The method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises data relating to a time period for which the or each asset on the vehicle is available for use and/or during which the or each asset is available for access.
A vehicle comprising: an asset determination module operable to determine the availability of an asset on the vehicle; and a transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to a remote control module and/or to one or more other vehicles. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises an inventory of assets available on the vehicle.
The vehicle according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises data relating to a time period for which the or each asset on the vehicle is available for use and/or during which the or each asset is available for access.
The vehicle according to any of claims 7 to 9 comprising a local control module configured to arrange access to the asset in response to receiving a request for the asset from the remote control module and/or another vehicle.
A method of managing vehicle-distributed assets, the method comprising: a control module receiving data, generated by an asset determination module located on a vehicle, indicating that an asset is available on the vehicle; the control module receiving a request for the asset; and the control module arranging access to the asset on the vehicle.
The method according to claim 11, wherein the data comprises an inventory of assets available on the vehicle.
The method according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the data comprises data relating to a time period for which the or each asset on the vehicle is available for use and/or during which the or each asset on the vehicle is available for access.
A control module configured to carry out the method of any of claims 11 to 13.
A system for managing vehicle-distributed assets, the system comprising: a vehicle comprising: an asset determination module operable to determine the availability of an asset on the vehicle; and a transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle to a remote control module and/or to one or more other vehicles; and a control module configured to arrange access to the asset on the vehicle in response to receiving a request for the asset. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.
The system according to claim 15, wherein the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises an inventory of assets available on the vehicle.
The system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises data relating to a time period for which the or each asset on the vehicle is available for use and/or during which the or each asset is available for access.
The system according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the control module is a local control module located on the same vehicle as the asset determination module.
The system according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the control module is a remote control module located remote from the vehicle.
The system according to any of claims 15 to 19, wherein the vehicle is one of a plurality of vehicles, each said vehicle comprising: a respective asset determination module operable to determine the availability of an asset on the said vehicle; and a respective transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the availability of the asset on the said vehicle to the remote control module and/or to one or more other vehicles of the plurality of vehicles.
The method, system, control module or vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the asset determination module comprises an asset locating device operable to determine the presence or absence of an asset on the vehicle.
The method, system, control module or vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the asset locating device comprises: a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader for determining the presence or absence of RFID-tagged assets on the vehicle; and/or a visual asset recognition system.
The method, system, control module or vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein arranging access to an asset comprises transmitting data relating to a time and/or location for accessing the asset on the vehicle.
24. The method, system, control module or vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the asset is a storage space.
25. The method, system, control module or vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the data relating to the availability of the asset on the vehicle comprises vehicle location data and/or vehicle identifier data.