Autonomous Off-Highway Vehicle Data Relay via Cached Mobile Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles operating off public roads often face operational failures due to insufficient Internet coverage or radio network connectivity, leading to a conflict between deployability and connectivity needs.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an intermediary mobile device to cache and transfer data between an Internet-accessible server and a vehicle's communication unit, enabling data exchange via temporary wireless connections, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and employing encrypted data transmission with algorithmically generated security keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous vehicles operate off public roads in areas with insufficient Internet coverage or radio network connectivity, then deployability is improved, but connectivity reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mobile device as a mediator between the autonomous vehicle and the Internet. This mobile device temporarily stores data and software updates, enabling the vehicle to operate independently of continuous network connectivity. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by allowing the vehicle to be deployed in areas with insufficient network coverage while maintaining the ability to receive and transmit data when connectivity becomes available.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by downloading and caching software updates, diagnostic tools, and operational data before the vehicle enters areas with poor or no network connectivity. This advance preparation enables the autonomous vehicle to maintain operational capability and receive necessary updates even when deployed to locations without stable Internet or radio network coverage.
2Extent of automation
If continuous data connection is required for autonomous vehicle operation, then control and monitoring capability is improved, but operational flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves as an intermediary that decouples the continuous control requirement from the continuous connectivity requirement. It stores control commands, monitoring data, and communication protocols locally, enabling the autonomous vehicle to maintain automated control and monitoring capabilities without requiring uninterrupted Internet or radio network connections. This resolves the contradiction by allowing operational flexibility while preserving automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates local copies of essential data, software updates, and communication protocols on the mobile device and within the vehicle's communication unit. These copies enable the vehicle to replicate network-dependent functions locally, maintaining control and monitoring capabilities without continuous external connectivity, thus achieving operational flexibility while preserving automation.
3Reliability
If data transmission requires stable network infrastructure, then data integrity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary that simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a standardized interface between the autonomous vehicle and the Internet. It handles data validation, encryption, and transmission protocols locally, ensuring data integrity without requiring complex network infrastructure. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining data integrity through simplified, device-based verification rather than complex network-dependent mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for monitoring, diagnosis and control of an autonomous vehicle, including transmitting data having software updates and log-data, diagnosis data and control data, between an Internet-accessible server and a communication unit in the vehicle not accessible via the Internet, the transmission executed through at least one intermediary mobile device and the data being temporarily cached in the mobile device. Based on a determination that the data should be transmitted from the server to the vehicle, triggering a first download of the data from the server to the mobile device by the server through a push notification and a download request to an owner of the mobile device, wherein the owner is prompted to activate a second download of the data from the mobile device to the communication unit in the vehicle.