Modular Navigational System With Field-Configurable Backplane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing long-range and duration sensor data capture systems for military, paramilitary, research, and construction efforts are often expensive and labor-intensive to design and maintain, requiring custom or semi-custom devices that are not easily adaptable to hardware failures.
Innovation Solution
A user-serviceable, modular navigational system with a dynamically field-configurable backplane and multiple operational modes that allows for seamless switching between GPS positioning modes, including single and dual-receiver RTK positioning, enabling continuous operation even in the event of hardware failure, and a high-efficiency power supply for extended durations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If custom or semi-custom capture and logging devices are designed for long range and duration sensor data capture, then the required ranges and durations can be achieved, but the design becomes expensive and labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular components including a backplane, GPS receiver daughterboards, IMU daughterboards, and microcontroller daughterboards. Each module can be independently configured, tested, and replaced, enabling long-duration operations through systematic maintenance while reducing overall design complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplane is designed with universal ports and connection protocols that can host multiple types of daughterboards (GPS, IMU, microcontroller). This multi-functional platform allows the same base system to support various mission configurations and extended operations without requiring custom design for each application.
2Reliability
If the system uses fixed hardware configuration, then hardware failure stops operation, but modifying the configuration requires significant engineering effort
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed hardware configuration to dynamic reconfigurability through the backplane architecture. Daughterboards can be hot-swapped and reconfigured in the field based on operational needs or failure conditions, maintaining continuous operation while adapting to changing requirements without extensive re-engineering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing operational parameters by swapping daughterboards with different capabilities (e.g., single GPS vs. dual GPS RTK, different IMU configurations). This enables the same base system to adapt to varying mission requirements and maintain reliability under different operational conditions through parameter modification rather than redesign.
3Measurement precision
If multiple GPS receivers and operational modes are integrated, then positioning accuracy and redundancy improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
GPS reception functionality is segmented into separate modular daughterboards that can be independently configured. Single GPS receivers, dual GPS RTK systems, and external receiver interfaces are implemented as distinct modules that plug into the backplane, allowing high-precision positioning capabilities to be added without monolithically increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplane serves as an intermediary platform that manages the complexity of multiple GPS receivers and operational modes. It provides standardized interfaces, power distribution, and data routing that simplify the integration of complex positioning subsystems, allowing high measurement precision to be achieved while maintaining manageable system architecture through abstraction.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are navigational systems for vehicles including modular, field-swappable and field-configurable components and a plurality of operational modes.