Fleet Tracking Unicast Multicast Bandwidth Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fleet tracking systems require excessive communication bandwidth and computing power due to the large number of messages exchanged between machines and a central computer, which can lead to unreliable information transmission and is not suitable for applications where machine control is critical, such as in autonomous or semi-autonomous heavy machinery operations.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system that includes onboard locating and communicating devices in each machine, with a central controller that receives unacknowledged position messages and updates a location listing, which is then multicast to all machines, reducing the need for acknowledged messages and minimizing bandwidth and computing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acknowledged message transmission is used between machines and central computer, then reliable information transmission is achieved, but communication bandwidth and computing power requirements increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments communication into two types: unicast for position data (reliable delivery needed) and multicast for map data (broadcast to multiple machines). This segmentation allows optimized communication strategies for different data types, reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining reliability where critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges position information from multiple machines into a single centralized map data structure, which is then multicast to all machines simultaneously. This eliminates the need for each machine to receive and process individual position updates from the central computer, significantly reducing communication overhead.
2Reliability
If excessive confirmation messages are exchanged between machines and central computer, then message transmission reliability is ensured, but the number of messages and computing power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the confirmation mechanism from the main communication flow by implementing selective acknowledgment only for position messages, while map messages are broadcast without requiring individual confirmations. This removes the excessive confirmation overhead while maintaining essential reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial acknowledgment - only critical position messages require confirmation, while non-critical map data is broadcast without acknowledgment. This partial action approach maintains reliability for essential data while reducing overall communication complexity and computing requirements.
3Reliability
If unicast communication with acknowledgment is used, then reliable position information is transmitted, but communication overhead and bandwidth consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments communication protocols by data type: unicast with acknowledgment for position messages, and multicast without acknowledgment for map messages. This segmentation reduces overall communication overhead by applying the heavier unicast protocol only where reliability is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast communication channel serves multiple functions simultaneously: broadcasting map data to all machines and providing implicit acknowledgment to the central computer. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate acknowledgment messages, lowering communication overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A tracking system is disclosed for use with a fleet of machines operating at a common worksite. The tracking system may have a locating device located onboard each machine of the fleet of machine that is configured to determine a current location of an associated machine of the fleet of machines, and a communicating device located onboard each machine in communication with the locating device. The tracking system may also have a central controller located offboard the fleet of machines in communication with each communicating device. The central controller may be configured to receive an unacknowledged message from each communicating device relaying the current location of the associated machine. The central controller may also be configured to update a location listing of the fleet of machines with the current location, and to repetitively multicast the location listing to the communicating devices of the fleet of machines.