Formation Parameter Configuration for Packet Loss and Convergence Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems for formations of moving vehicles face challenges in maintaining the geometrical arrangement and convergence speed of control algorithms due to increased packet losses and interference when formations approach each other and share limited communication resources.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method for configuring a set of parameters for at least two moving formations, including obtaining ranges of allowed performance values, searching for values of control and communication parameters to achieve these values despite anticipated modifications in the communication environment, and updating parameter values to maintain performance indicators within allowed ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If formations share limited communication resources when moving in vicinity, then system cost is reduced and resource utilization is improved, but packet losses increase and convergence speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidconvergence speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of packet loss rates based on communication environment parameters before the actual data transmission occurs. This advance prediction allows the formation to proactively adjust control parameters or communication resources to prevent convergence speed deterioration, rather than reacting after packet losses have already impacted performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where packet loss rates are continuously predicted based on communication environment parameters, and this information is fed back to adjust control parameters or resource allocation. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain convergence speed despite sharing limited communication resources by dynamically adapting to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If formations approach each other and compete for shared communication resources, then communication efficiency is improved, but interference increases and packet losses worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system predicts packet loss rates caused by interference in advance based on communication environment parameters such as distance between formations and resource allocation. This preliminary prediction allows the system to take preventive measures like adjusting transmission power, changing modulation schemes, or reallocating resources before interference actually causes packet losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes communication parameters (such as transmission power, modulation and coding schemes, resource block allocation) based on predicted packet loss rates. When interference is anticipated to increase as formations approach, the system adjusts these parameters to maintain communication reliability while continuing to share the limited radio frequency resources efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If control algorithms exchange data between communicating nodes to maintain geometrical arrangement, then formation stability is improved, but communication resource requirements increase and packet losses worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformation stabilityVSAvoidcommunication resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes control parameters (such as control gains, sampling rates, or consensus algorithm parameters) based on predicted packet loss rates. When packet losses are anticipated to increase due to shared communication resources, the control parameters are adjusted to maintain formation stability with the available communication quality, rather than requiring additional communication resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control algorithm uses the predicted packet loss rate information to self-adjust its behavior and maintain stability. Instead of requiring external intervention or additional communication resources to ensure stability, the system uses the prediction information to autonomously adapt its control strategy, making the formation self-regulating under varying communication conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4340407B1Method and server for configuring a set of parameters of at least two formations moving in vicinity
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC R&D CENTRE EUROPE BV
  • EP4340407B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4340407B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4340407B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a computer implemented method (20) for configuring values of a set of parameters of at least two moving formations, each formation comprising a plurality of respective communicating nodes, wherein the set of parameters comprises at least one prior parameter, wherein the set of parameters further comprises, for each formation: - a control parameter of a control algorithm, - a communication parameter for configuring the wireless links, wherein said configuration method comprises steps of: - for each prior parameter: (S20) obtaining a range of allowed performance values based on the corresponding prior parameter value, - (S21) searching for values of the control parameters and of the communication parameters of the formations which enable achieving an allowed performance value for each range in an optimal way, - if it is not possible to achieve an allowed performance value for each range: (S22) searching for updated ranges of allowed performance values for which it is possible to determine values of the control parameters and of the communication parameters which enable achieving an allowed performance value for each updated range, - (S23) determining an updated value of the at least one prior parameter.