Connected Vehicle Connectivity Data Display for Urban Dead Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connected vehicles, such as UAM vehicles, face challenges in urban environments due to low or non-existent connectivity areas, leading to communication difficulties and poor coverage, especially during critical phases like landing, due to obstructions and terrain topology.
Innovation Solution
Systems and methods for transmitting and displaying connectivity data to connected vehicles, allowing them to avoid low connectivity areas by receiving and processing data from ground operations stations, which include connectivity information from multiple sources like GPS, mobile networks, and building profiles, enabling the generation of updated routes that circumvent areas with weak or no connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If connected vehicles operate in urban environments with high-rise buildings, then transportation demand is met, but connectivity coverage deteriorates due to obstructions and dead zones
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by receiving connectivity data from multiple connected vehicles before the vehicle needs to navigate low-connectivity areas. The ground station processes this advance data to identify connectivity patterns and generate updated routes that avoid dead zones, enabling proactive route planning rather than reactive responses to connectivity issues
Solution Approach 2:
The ground station acts as an intermediary between multiple connected vehicles and the connectivity data sources. It receives connectivity data from various vehicles, processes and analyzes this information, then transmits relevant subset data back to vehicles needing route updates, serving as a mediating layer that aggregates and distributes connectivity information
2Ease of operation
If vehicles follow standard flight paths through urban areas, then route simplicity is maintained, but communication reliability deteriorates in dead zone areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamics to route planning by continuously updating flight paths based on real-time connectivity data. Instead of following static standard routes, the ground station generates dynamic updated routes that adapt to current connectivity conditions, adjusting the path to avoid dead zones while maintaining communication reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by customizing route recommendations based on specific local connectivity conditions. The ground station analyzes connectivity data to identify local dead zones and generates updated routes tailored to each vehicle's specific location and connectivity profile, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all route modification
3Reliability
If connectivity data from multiple vehicles is collected, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground station performs extraction by receiving connectivity data from multiple connected vehicles and identifying only the relevant subset of data needed for each individual vehicle's route planning. It filters out unnecessary information and transmits only the essential connectivity data back to vehicles, reducing processing complexity while maintaining data completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the connectivity data processing into distinct phases: collecting data from multiple vehicles, processing and analyzing the data at the ground station, and transmitting customized subset data back to individual vehicles. This segmentation allows comprehensive data collection while managing processing complexity through centralized coordination
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for displaying connectivity strength for vehicles are disclosed. For instance, the method may include receiving, from an off-board station, connectivity data relating to a connected vehicle, the connectivity data having been received from a plurality of connected vehicles other than the connected vehicle and selected based on relevance to the connected vehicle; identifying a portion of the received connectivity data to display on the connected vehicle; generating a display of the identified portion of the received connectivity data; and displaying on a display unit of the connected vehicle, the generated display of the identified portion of the received connectivity data. The method may also include generating and displaying an updated route based on the received connectivity data.