AV Communication System Dynamic Mesh Network Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated or autonomous vehicles (AVs) face unacceptable transmission delays due to network latency when communicating with backend systems, particularly when managing multiple AVs, which hinders fluid operations on public roads and highways.
Innovation Solution
A backend system dynamically configures AVs' communication systems to switch between multiple channels and establish mesh networks, using network resource maps to optimize routes and connections based on latency, cost, and availability, ensuring reliable communication by prioritizing critical data and using mesh networks in areas with limited connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a backend system manages multiple AVs through centralized communication, then fleet coordination capability is improved, but network latency increases causing unacceptable transmission delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments communication into two types: centralized backend communication for non-critical fleet management data, and decentralized mesh network communication for critical AV-to-AV interactions. This segmentation allows critical communications to occur locally without backend intervention, eliminating latency while maintaining fleet coordination through the backend for non-time-sensitive operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh network acts as an intermediary layer between AVs, enabling direct peer-to-peer communication for critical data exchange. This intermediary communication path bypasses the backend system for time-sensitive operations, reducing transmission delay while the backend remains available for overall fleet coordination and non-critical communications.
2Loss of time
If mesh networks are established for AV communication, then transmission latency is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between centralized backend communication and decentralized mesh network communication based on the criticality of the data being transmitted. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to use the simpler centralized model for non-critical communications while activating the more complex mesh network only when low-latency critical communications are required, thereby managing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If critical data is prioritized in communication, then operational reliability is improved, but network resource management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different communication qualities to different data types: critical data receives prioritized handling through the mesh network with guaranteed transmission, while non-critical data uses standard backend communication. This local quality differentiation ensures operational reliability for critical operations without requiring complex resource management across all communications, as only critical data streams receive special treatment.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated vehicle (AV) can be managed by a backend system and include an acceleration, braking, and steering system, an AV control system to maneuver the AV through road traffic throughout a given region, a memory to store a network resource map indicating locations of base stations and available network types providing coverage from the base stations throughout the given region, a communications array to transmit and receive communications from the backend system, and a communications system. The communications system can utilize the network resource map to dynamically select optimal network types from proximate base stations to communicate data with the backend system, and dynamically configure the communications array to connect with the optimal network types to transmit and receive data with the backend system.