Autonomous Mobile Capacity Augment Unit for Network Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for providing physical infrastructure augments to networks are manual, time-consuming, and prone to delays, which can lead to capacity exhaustion and degradation of service quality.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous system that includes a capacity manager and dispatcher, along with a mobile physical capacity augment unit (MPCAU), which monitors network performance, determines the need for physical augments, configures and deploys pre-built units to prevent capacity exhaustion, and navigates to attach to the network autonomously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual step-by-step procedure is used for physical augment, then capacity planner can study and develop plans, but the process is arduous and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables autonomous self-service through the autonomous physical augment unit that automatically navigates to deployment locations, connects to networks, and activates capacity augment without human intervention. The capacity management system autonomously monitors network capacity, identifies augment needs, and triggers deployment operations, eliminating manual planning and execution steps while maintaining accurate capacity analysis through automated monitoring and threshold-based decision-making
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous physical augment unit is pre-configured with necessary equipment and software before deployment. The system performs preliminary capacity analysis and identifies augment locations in advance, preparing deployment plans beforehand. This preliminary preparation enables rapid response when capacity thresholds are exceeded, reducing the actual augment cycle time while maintaining thorough analysis capabilities
2Reliability
If manual procurement and installation process is followed, then equipment can be properly secured and installed, but the process involves many steps including funding, procurement, installation, software loading, confirmation, testing and turn-up
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and automates the complex manual processes into an autonomous unit that handles procurement, installation, software loading, testing, and activation automatically. The autonomous physical augment unit integrates multiple functions into a single self-contained system that can independently complete the entire augment process, reducing process complexity while maintaining reliable installation through automated quality checks and standardized procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous physical augment unit is designed as a multi-functional platform that can perform capacity analysis, navigate to various deployment locations, connect to different network types, install equipment, load software, and conduct testing. This universal design consolidates multiple specialized manual processes into a single autonomous system, reducing overall process complexity while ensuring reliable execution through integrated quality assurance
3Measurement precision
If traditional capacity management is used, then capacity thresholds can be monitored, but augments are not provided timely leading to exhaust and degradation of quality of service
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring of network capacity through the capacity management system, which tracks capacity utilization in real-time and compares it against predefined thresholds. When thresholds are exceeded, the system automatically triggers the autonomous physical augment unit for deployment. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures timely detection of capacity issues and rapid response, preventing exhaust and service degradation while maintaining precise threshold monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical processes with automated electronic monitoring and autonomous physical deployment. The capacity management system uses electronic sensors and software to monitor capacity thresholds continuously, and the autonomous physical augment unit uses automated navigation and connection systems to deploy rapidly. This substitution of mechanical manual operations with automated systems enables both precise monitoring and fast deployment response
Data Source
AI summary
A fully autonomous method includes defining a first key performance indicator for a network, monitoring the network based on the first key performance indicator, determining whether a physical capacity augment of the network is recommended based on established platform capacity engineering rules and regular network capacity usage monitoring, configuring a mobile physical capacity augment unit based on the determining step, and autonomously deploying the mobile physical capacity augment unit to implement a physical augment.