Drone Line-of-Sight Detection for Millimeter-Wave Network Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless systems, particularly millimeter-wave communication systems, establishing a wireless link between nodes requires a line of sight (LoS) due to weak diffraction properties of high-frequency millimeter-waves, making it crucial to determine LoS conditions between nodes to ensure effective network planning and operation.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing drones to perform optical tests and determine the existence of line-of-sight between geospatial locations, with a network-planning tool suggesting millimeter-wave communication links and instructing drones to verify these links, allowing for feasible network topology planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If millimeter-wave communication nodes are deployed to provide wireless coverage, then network capacity and speed are improved, but the requirement for strict line-of-sight conditions worsens network planning complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses drones to autonomously perform optical tests and determine line-of-sight conditions between millimeter-wave communication nodes. The drones independently navigate to specified locations, conduct optical measurements, and report results back to the network planning tool, eliminating the need for manual line-of-sight assessment and reducing planning complexity while enabling high-capacity millimeter-wave network deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical surveying methods with automated drone-based optical testing systems. Instead of human operators physically measuring line-of-sight conditions, the system uses drones equipped with optical sensors to automatically determine whether clear paths exist between communication nodes, simplifying the network planning process while supporting high-capacity millimeter-wave networks
2Measurement precision
If optical tests are performed to determine line-of-sight conditions, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the time and resources required for network planning increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs optical tests using drones to determine line-of-sight conditions before finalizing the millimeter-wave network deployment. By conducting these measurements in advance during the planning phase, the system ensures accurate line-of-sight determination while preventing delays during actual network operation, as all location assessments are completed beforehand
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces drones as intermediary devices between the network planning tool and the physical environment. The drones serve as mobile measurement platforms that fly to specified locations and conduct optical tests, acting as a bridge that enables accurate line-of-sight determination without requiring human personnel to physically traverse difficult terrain or expose themselves to hazardous conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of line-of-sight conditions, facilitating the planning of millimeter-wave networks by identifying feasible communication links and adapting network topologies to ensure effective communication despite obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first drone operative to perform optical tests, in which each of the optical tests is operative to determine an existence of a line-of-sight between a particular two of the geospatial locations
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for: suggesting network topologies for a wireless communication network such as a millimeter-wave network; using drones for determining a line-of-sight condition between pairs of geospatial locations where communication nodes in the network are to be placed; and wirelessly interconnecting pairs of nodes in the network according to the a line-of-sight conditions previously determined using the drones. The drones may test for a line-of-sight condition using any number of methods, including laser range-finding, signaling between two of the drones, and pattern matching of visual imagery. A network planning tool may be used to suggest the network topologies, communicate and control the drones, and come to a final conclusion regarding the actual network topology selected, the placement of the communication nodes, and the specific wireless links to be used in interconnecting the nodes in the final network.