Self-Driving Network Drive Testing for Hazardous Area Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network testing methods using manned vehicles are limited by vehicle size constraints and safety risks, restricting data collection to accessible areas and failing to address inaccessible or hazardous locations.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing self-driving vehicles equipped with network measuring equipment for autonomous navigation and data collection, enabling testing in areas inaccessible to manned vehicles and improving data collection efficiency and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manned vehicles are used for network testing, then data collection can be conducted in accessible areas, but vehicle size constraints and safety risks prevent testing in inaccessible or hazardous locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting area accessibilityVSAvoidsafety risks to human drivers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle is equipped with autonomous driving capabilities that enable it to navigate and perform network testing independently without human intervention. The self-driving system processes sensor data, makes navigation decisions, and controls vehicle operations automatically, allowing the vehicle to serve itself in hazardous or inaccessible areas where human drivers cannot safely operate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Area of stationary object

If manned vehicles are used for network testing, then data collection is limited to areas accessible by vehicle, but this restricts coverage to only reachable locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverage testing areaVSAvoidaccessibility to inaccessible areas

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle system performs network testing independently in areas that would be inaccessible to manned vehicles, expanding the geographic coverage of network testing to include hazardous terrains, restricted zones, and remote locations without requiring human physical presence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If self-driving vehicles are used for network testing, then testing can be conducted in inaccessible areas, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting area accessibilityVSAvoidautonomous vehicle system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The self-driving vehicle is designed as a multi-functional platform that integrates network testing equipment with autonomous navigation capabilities. The vehicle can perform multiple functions including autonomous driving, network signal measurement, data collection, and communication, allowing a single system to handle diverse testing scenarios without requiring separate specialized vehicles for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12587873B2System, method, and medium for network drive testing via self-driving vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 RAKUTEN SYMPHONY INC

AI summary

A trigger associated with a network event is received. Based on the received trigger, a location associated with the network event is mapped. Computer navigation instructions are generated, based on the received trigger and location, to be used by a self-driving vehicle to collect network data associated with the network event. A self-driving vehicle is selected among a plurality of self-driving vehicles and deployed to collect network data based on the trigger. Network data collected by the self-driving vehicle is received and a network report is automatically generated to be used to adjust a network configuration.