Measurement system, mobile body, measurement method, and measurement program

Abstract

A measurement system according to one embodiment comprises a base station and a mobile body connected to an information processing device via a network and measures propagation characteristics of a radio wave, wherein: a plurality of measurement positions for the radio wave are set, by the mobile body, in a target region in which the propagation characteristics of the radio wave transmitted by the base station are to be measured; the shortest route along which the mobile body sequentially passes the measurement positions while the number of times of direction changes of the mobile body is suppressed is calculated; the mobile body is moved along the calculated shortest route; the mobile body receives the radio wave transmitted by the base station, when passing each of the measurement positions, and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio wave; and either the mobile body or the information processing device visualizes, on the basis of the measured propagation characteristics of the radio wave, the propagation characteristics of the radio wave with respect to the entire target region.

Description

Measurement system, moving body, measurement method and measurement program

[0001] The present invention relates to a measurement system, a moving object, a measurement method, and a measurement program.

[0002] In recent years, new wireless communication systems, such as 5G and local 5G, have been introduced. In order to provide these wireless communication systems with high quality, it is important to install the optimal wireless base station for the wireless communication system. Methods for this include evaluation using propagation simulation and on-site wireless propagation characteristic surveys.

[0003] Conventionally, in on-site radio propagation surveys, a person typically holds a radio and measures the area of ​​interest. However, this method has drawbacks in terms of manpower and work time. Therefore, to improve the efficiency of measurement work, studies are being conducted to install a radio on an automated vehicle such as an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) and automatically measure radio wave propagation characteristics (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0004] Issei Makino and two others, "Indoor Local 5G Wireless Performance Measurement Using Automated Guided Vehicles", Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, IEICE Technical Report, 2021, pp. 34-39

[0005] When measuring radio wave propagation with high accuracy using autonomous vehicles such as AGVs, it is necessary to significantly increase the number of measurement points within the target area. Furthermore, wireless communication systems such as 5G are increasingly using radio waves in the high-frequency band. As a result, the short wavelength of radio waves requires finer measurement intervals, and measurement points need to be three-dimensional to diversify use cases. This increases the number of measurement points, which significantly increases measurement time, posing a challenge.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a measurement system, a mobile body, a measurement method, and a measurement program that can efficiently measure the propagation characteristics of radio waves within a target area.

[0007] A measurement system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a measurement system that measures the propagation characteristics of radio waves and includes a base station and a mobile body network-connected to an information processing device.The mobile body has an operation route control unit that sets multiple radio wave measurement positions within a target area where the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station are to be measured, and calculates the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile body changes direction, an automatic operation unit that moves the mobile body according to the shortest route calculated by the operation route control unit, and a receiving unit that receives the radio waves transmitted by the base station when the mobile body passes each of the measurement positions and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves, and either the mobile body or the information processing device is characterized by having a visualization unit that visualizes the propagation characteristics of radio waves for the entire target area based on the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit.

[0008] In addition, a mobile body according to one embodiment of the present invention is a mobile body that is network-connected to an information processing device and moves while measuring the propagation characteristics of radio waves transmitted by a base station.The mobile body is characterized by having: an operation route control unit that sets multiple radio wave measurement positions within a target area where the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station are to be measured, and calculates the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile body changes direction; an automatic operation unit that moves the mobile body according to the shortest route calculated by the operation route control unit; a receiving unit that receives radio waves transmitted by the base station when the mobile body passes each of the measurement positions and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves; and a visualization unit that visualizes the propagation characteristics of radio waves for the entire target area based on the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit, or a communication unit that transmits the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit to the information processing device.

[0009] In addition, a measurement method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a measurement method performed by a measurement system that includes a base station and a mobile body network-connected to an information processing device and that measures the propagation characteristics of radio waves, wherein the mobile body performs the following steps: a route control process that sets multiple measurement positions for radio waves within a target area where the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station are to be measured, and calculates the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile body changes direction; an automatic operation process that moves the mobile body according to the calculated shortest route; a reception process that receives radio waves transmitted by the base station when the mobile body passes each of the measurement positions and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves; and a visualization process that visualizes the propagation characteristics of radio waves for the entire target area based on the measured propagation characteristics of the radio waves, or a communication process that transmits the measured propagation characteristics of the radio waves to the information processing device.

[0010] In addition, a measurement program according to one embodiment of the present invention is a measurement program executed by a mobile body that is network-connected to an information processing device and moves while measuring the propagation characteristics of radio waves transmitted by a base station, and includes an operation route control unit that sets multiple radio wave measurement positions within a target area where the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station are to be measured, and calculates the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile body changes direction; an automatic operation unit that moves the mobile body according to the shortest route calculated by the operation route control unit; a receiving unit that receives radio waves transmitted by the base station when the mobile body passes each of the measurement positions and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves; and a visualization unit that visualizes the propagation characteristics of radio waves for the entire target area based on the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit, or a communication unit that transmits the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit to the information processing device.This measurement program causes a computer to function as each part of the mobile body.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently measure the propagation characteristics of radio waves within a target area.

[0012] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a measurement system according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the measurement system; FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of the measurement system according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of a first modified example of the measurement system according to an embodiment; FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of the first modified example of the measurement system; FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration of a moving object according to an embodiment; (a) is a diagram illustrating a target area for measuring propagation characteristics and an overview of the measurement system; (b) is a diagram illustrating an example received power map of radio waves measured by the measurement system;

[0013] First, the background to the invention will be described. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an overview of a measurement system 1 for measuring the propagation characteristics of radio waves used in wireless communication. Fig. 7(a) is a diagram showing a target area for measuring propagation characteristics and an overview of the measurement system 1. Fig. 7(b) is a diagram showing an example of a received power map 5 of radio waves measured by the measurement system 1.

[0014] 7(a), in a measurement system 1 for measuring the propagation characteristics of radio waves used in wireless communication, for example, a mobile object 3 such as an AVG moves along an automatic driving route 4 within a target area 100 where the propagation characteristics of radio waves transmitted by a base station (wireless base station) 2 are to be measured. The mobile object 3 is provided with a receiver (not shown) and has the function of measuring the propagation characteristics of radio waves while moving.

[0015] The propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the mobile object 3 are visualized, for example, as a received power map shown in Fig. 7(b) . At this time, data for areas other than the measurement points where the mobile object 3 measured the radio waves within the target area 100 is interpolated using the results of measurements made by the mobile object 3.

[0016] Next, a measurement system that enables efficient measurement of the propagation characteristics of radio waves used in wireless communication will be described in detail.

[0017] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a measurement system 10 according to one embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the measurement system 10 according to one embodiment includes, for example, a base station 20 and a mobile object 30 that receives radio waves transmitted from the base station 20. It is assumed that the settings of each device included in the measurement system 10 have been completed in advance.

[0018] The mobile body 30 is, for example, a measurement robot that has the function of an AVG for the target area 100 and is capable of automatically traveling along the automatic traveling route 4, or a measurement robot such as a drone that is capable of automatically traveling to any three-dimensional position within the three-dimensional measurement target area 102.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the measurement system 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the measurement system 10 includes, for example, a base station 20, a mobile object 30, and an information processing device 40. The mobile object 30 is connected to the information processing device 40 via a network 400, and measures the propagation characteristics of radio waves (target radio waves) transmitted by the base station 20.

[0020] The mobile object 30 also includes, for example, a driving route control unit 300 , an automatic driving unit 302 , a measurement unit (receiving unit) 304 , a visualization unit 306 , and a communication unit 308 .

[0021] The driving route control unit 300 functions as a driving route control unit that sets multiple radio wave measurement positions within a target area where the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station 20 are measured, and controls the driving route according to a policy that calculates the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile body 30 changes direction.

[0022] For example, the travel route control unit 300 performs processing to impose a penalty (time loss) on the moving body 30 when the moving body 30 changes direction while moving, thereby reducing the number of times the moving body 30 changes direction.

[0023] The travel route control unit 300 may also be configured to control the travel route by performing a process of excluding routes on which the mobile object 30 cannot travel (for example, due to walls, obstacles, etc.) or a process of imposing penalties.

[0024] In addition, the travel route control unit 300 may have a function to calculate and control the travel speed of the moving body 30 at each position on the travel route based on prior information indicating the relationship between the travel speed of the moving body 30 and measurement accuracy (this relationship may differ depending on the location).

[0025] The automatic driving unit 302 functions as an automatic operation unit that moves the moving object 30 along the shortest route calculated by the driving route control unit 300. The automatic driving unit 302 may also have a function of adjusting the moving speed of the moving object 30.

[0026] The measurement unit 304 functions as a receiver that receives radio waves transmitted from the base station 20 when the mobile unit 30 passes through each measurement position and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves (received power, throughput, delay profile, fading, etc.) The measurement unit 304 may be equipped with an omnidirectional antenna or a directional antenna.

[0027] The visualization unit 306 visualizes the propagation characteristics of radio waves for the entire target area using a propagation characteristics map or the like, based on the propagation characteristics of radio waves measured by the measurement unit 304. Note that the visualization unit 306 may be configured to be included in the information processing device 40.

[0028] For example, the visualization unit 306 performs data interpolation using a general interpolation method such as linear interpolation for areas within the target area where there are no measurement positions.

[0029] The communication unit 308 transmits information (data) processed by the mobile object 30 , such as the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the measurement unit 304 , to the information processing device 40 .

[0030] The information processing device 40 has a function of storing data processed by the mobile object 30 and visualizing the data.

[0031] Next, an operation example of the measurement system 10 will be described. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the measurement system 10 according to one embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, in the measurement system 10, for example, the mobile object 30 analyzes target area information (S100) and calculates a travel route (shortest route) of the mobile object 30 (S102).

[0032] The mobile unit 30 automatically measures the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station 20 (S104).

[0033] Then, the moving body 30 determines whether measurements have been completed at all measurement locations along the travel route (S110), and if not (S110: No), returns to processing S104, and if completed (S110: Yes), ends processing.

[0034] In other words, the measurement system 10 can obtain the propagation characteristics (received power, throughput, delay profile, fading) of radio waves within a target area with high accuracy using limited measurement locations, while also shortening the measurement time.

[0035] In this way, the measurement system 10 according to one embodiment can efficiently measure the propagation characteristics of radio waves within a target area.

[0036] Next, a first modified example of the measurement system 10 will be described. Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the first modified example of the measurement system 10 according to one embodiment. In each measurement system according to one embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to designate substantially identical components, and the same reference numerals are used to designate substantially identical processes.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, in the first variant of the measurement system 10, the mobile body 30a has, for example, a driving route control unit 300, an automatic driving unit 302, a measurement unit (receiving unit) 304, a visualization unit 306, a communication unit 308, and an obstacle detection unit 310.

[0038] The obstacle detection unit 310 detects obstacles such as walls that exist along the travel route, and performs a process of excluding routes along which the mobile body 30 cannot travel (e.g., walls, obstacles, etc.) or a process of imposing a penalty, and outputs the processing results to the travel route control unit 300.

[0039] In other words, the travel route control unit 300 performs control to recalculate the travel route so as to efficiently avoid routes on which the mobile object 30 cannot travel.

[0040] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first modified example of the measurement system 10. In the process of S106, the mobile object 30 determines whether or not there is an obstacle such as a wall along the travel route, and if there is an obstacle (S106: Yes), the process returns to the process of S102, and if there is no obstacle (S106: No), the process proceeds to the process of S110.

[0041] Furthermore, the first variant of the measurement system 10 can obtain the propagation characteristics (received power, throughput, delay profile, fading) of radio waves within the target area with high accuracy using limited measurement locations, and can also shorten the measurement time.

[0042] In addition, each function possessed by the above-mentioned mobile bodies 30, 30a, and information processing device 40, etc. may be configured in part or in whole by hardware such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may be configured as a program executed by a processor such as a CPU.

[0043] For example, the mobile units 30, 30a and the information processing device 40 can be realized using a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded on a storage medium or provided via a network.

[0044] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a mobile object 30 (mobile object 30a or information processing device 40) according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the mobile object 30 has an input unit 600, an output unit 601, a communication unit 602, a CPU 603, a memory 604, and an HDD 605 connected via a bus 606, and thus has the functionality of a computer. The mobile object 30 is also configured to be able to input and output data to and from a computer-readable storage medium 607.

[0045] The input unit 600 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The output unit 601 is, for example, a display device. The communication unit 602 is a communication interface for performing communication.

[0046] The CPU 603 controls each component of the mobile object 30 and performs predetermined processing, etc. The memory 604 and HDD 605 store data, etc.

[0047] The storage medium 607 is capable of storing programs and the like that cause the mobile unit 30 to execute the functions of the mobile unit 30. Note that the architecture that configures the mobile unit 30 is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0048] 1... measurement system, 2... base station, 3... mobile body, 4... automatic driving route, 5... reception power map, 10... measurement system, 20... base station, 30, 30a, ... mobile body, 40... information processing device, 100... target area, 300... driving route control unit, 302... automatic driving unit, 304... measurement unit, 306... visualization unit, 308... communication unit, 310... obstacle detection unit, 600... input unit, 601... output unit, 602... communication unit, 603... CPU, 604... memory, 605... HDD, 606... bus, 607... storage medium

Claims

1. A measurement system for measuring radio wave propagation characteristics comprising a base station and a mobile body network-connected to an information processing device, wherein the mobile body has: a navigation route control unit that sets a plurality of radio wave measurement positions within a target area in which the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station are to be measured, and calculates the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile body changes direction; an automatic navigation unit that moves the mobile body along the shortest route calculated by the navigation route control unit; and a receiving unit that receives radio waves transmitted by the base station and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves when the mobile body passes each of the measurement positions; and either the mobile body or the information processing device is equipped with a visualization unit that visualizes the radio wave propagation characteristics for the entire target area based on the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit.

2. A mobile body that is network-connected to an information processing device and moves while measuring the propagation characteristics of radio waves transmitted by a base station, comprising: a driving route control unit that sets a plurality of measurement positions for radio waves within a target area in which the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station are measured, and calculates the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile body changes direction; an automatic driving unit that moves the mobile body along the shortest route calculated by the driving route control unit; a receiving unit that receives radio waves transmitted by the base station and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves when the mobile body passes each of the measurement positions; and a visualization unit that visualizes the propagation characteristics of radio waves for the entire target area based on the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit, or a communication unit that transmits the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit to the information processing device.

3. A measurement method performed by a measurement system that includes a base station and a mobile object network-connected to an information processing device and measures the propagation characteristics of radio waves, wherein the mobile object performs the following steps: a route control step for setting a plurality of measurement positions for radio waves within a target area in which the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station are to be measured, and calculating the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile object changes direction; an automatic operation step for moving the mobile object according to the calculated shortest route; a reception step for receiving radio waves transmitted by the base station and measuring the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves as the mobile object passes through each of the measurement positions; and a visualization step for visualizing the propagation characteristics of radio waves for the entire target area based on the measured propagation characteristics of the radio waves, or a communication step for transmitting the measured propagation characteristics of the radio waves to the information processing device.

4. A measurement program executed by a mobile object that is network-connected to an information processing device and moves while measuring the propagation characteristics of radio waves transmitted by a base station, comprising: a driving route control unit that sets multiple radio wave measurement positions within a target area in which the propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted by the base station are measured, and calculates the shortest route that passes through each of the measurement positions in sequence while minimizing the number of times the mobile object changes direction; an automatic driving unit that moves the mobile object along the shortest route calculated by the driving route control unit; a receiving unit that receives radio waves transmitted by the base station and measures the propagation characteristics of the received radio waves when the mobile object passes each of the measurement positions; and a visualization unit that visualizes the propagation characteristics of radio waves for the entire target area based on the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit, or a communication unit that transmits the propagation characteristics of the radio waves measured by the receiving unit to the information processing device.

Images