Autonomous Driving Expansion Device Host Client Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous driving systems require scalable and dynamic configurable hardware computation and storage resources, with traditional methods often necessitating multiple hardware devices to meet different requirements, limiting flexibility in host and client configurations.
Innovation Solution
A compute and storage expansion device that can function as both a client and a host, or both, with firmware updates allowing it to adapt its configuration without hardware modifications, using a switch device to enable communication via PCIe and Ethernet protocols, and allowing host-to-host communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional methods use multiple different hardware devices to build a system satisfying different requirements, then system functionality is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion device is designed with universal functionality to operate in multiple roles. It can function as a client device when connected to a host system, or as a standalone host system with its own processing modules and switch device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized hardware devices, reducing system complexity while maintaining adaptability to different configuration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion device incorporates dynamic configurability through firmware that can change its operational mode. The device can dynamically switch between operating as a client, operating as a standalone host, or functioning as both simultaneously. This dynamic adaptability allows a single hardware device to satisfy different system requirements without requiring physical reconfiguration or additional hardware components.
2Ease of manufacture
If expansion devices are designed with fixed host-client roles, then hardware implementation is simplified, but adaptability to different system requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion device utilizes firmware parameter changes to alter its operational characteristics without modifying the underlying hardware. By changing firmware parameters and configuration settings, the device can adapt its behavior to function as a client, host, or both simultaneously. This approach maintains simple hardware implementation while achieving high adaptability through software-based parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs universal hardware design with processing modules and switch devices that can operate in multiple capacities. The same hardware components serve different functions depending on the operational mode, allowing the device to be manufactured with simplified hardware while maintaining the ability to adapt to various host-client configuration requirements through firmware control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hardware devices are used to achieve different configuration requirements, then system functionality is satisfied, but loss of time for system setup and configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion device enables rapid reconfiguration through dynamic firmware updates that can change operational modes without physical hardware changes. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different host-client requirements quickly, significantly reducing the time needed for system setup and reconfiguration compared to traditional methods requiring physical hardware changes or multiple pre-configured devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes firmware copies and software-based configuration profiles to replicate different operational modes. Instead of requiring multiple physical hardware devices with fixed configurations, the system can load different firmware configurations to achieve the desired host-client setup, dramatically reducing setup time while maintaining full configuration flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing system includes a host system and one or more expansion devices coupled to the host system over a bus. The host system may include one or more processors and a memory storing instructions, which when executed, cause the processors to perform autonomous driving operations to drive an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV). Each expansion device includes a switch device and one or more processing modules coupled to the switch device. Each processing module can be configured to perform at least one of the autonomous driving operations offloaded from the host system. At least one of the processing modules can be configured as a client node to perform an action in response to an instruction received from the host system. Alternatively, it can be configured as a host node to distribute a task to another client node within the expansion device. This host node in the expansion device can further cooperate with the host system via a host-to-host connection.