Mobile App Vehicle Control Backup for Single-Point Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle control systems lack redundancy, making them vulnerable to failures during critical situations, as they rely on physical hardware that can malfunction, and existing solutions do not adequately address the need for reliable access to critical control features in such scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular control system that utilizes wireless and wired interfaces, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular protocols, to provide a redundant capability for accessing and controlling vehicle systems through a mobile device, ensuring secure authentication and proximity-based access to critical controls, thereby mitigating the risk of single-point failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical hardware control systems are used in vehicles, then the vehicle control functionality is integrated into the vehicle, but the system becomes vulnerable to single-point failures during critical situations
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent access paths: primary physical hardware controls and secondary remote mobile device controls. This segmentation allows the system to switch between different control modes if one path fails, thereby improving reliability without requiring a completely complex redundant system.
Solution Approach 2:
A mobile device acts as an intermediary control interface that can access vehicle controls remotely through wireless communication. This intermediary provides an alternative control path that bypasses potential failures in the primary physical hardware, enhancing system reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized communication protocols.
2Ease of operation
If driver functionality is incorporated into vehicle display systems, then the driver experience is enhanced, but the physical hardware is replaced with electronic components that may fail
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by preparing alternative control access methods (mobile device remote access) in advance. If the primary electronic display system fails, the pre-established wireless communication channel and authentication mechanism allow immediate switch to backup control, cushioning against the failure impact and maintaining operational reliability.
3Reliability
If remote access to vehicle controls is enabled, then redundancy is provided for critical situations, but security risks and authentication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy of the physical control interface through the mobile device application. This digital replica provides the same control functionality without requiring duplicate physical hardware, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through standardized communication protocols and authentication mechanisms.
4Reliability
If multiple communication protocols are implemented for redundant access, then access reliability is improved, but the system complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device control system implements universality by supporting multiple communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular) within a single integrated application framework. This multi-functional approach provides redundant access paths without requiring separate systems for each protocol, reducing overall complexity while improving access reliability through protocol diversity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for control of a vehicle with a mobile app includes the configuration and providing of controllable vehicle components, a mobile device and a memory thereon containing a software to for determining if a malfunction has occurred in the control module of a vehicle, initiating vehicle control app on a mobile device, connecting to the mobile device, and allowing the mobile device to emulate and control the vehicle and its most vital components. The remote capability provided by interfacing with the vehicle's systems may be communicated wirelessly through protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Cellular, or through wired connections such as USB, the vehicle's OBD system, and AUX control. The system provides a redundant remote capability to a single point of failure for critical vehicle controls.