Redundant Vehicle Modem Networking for Teleoperation Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unreliable communications between autonomous vehicles and remote systems can compromise the safety of autonomous vehicle operations, as existing technologies lack effective redundancy to ensure continuous data transmission in case of modem failures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple cellular modems with dynamic bandwidth allocation and signal division across channels, allowing data to be transmitted and received in parallel, with reallocation of signals to functional modems in case of performance issues, ensuring continuous communication with a teleoperations system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single modem is used for communication between autonomous vehicles and remote systems, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of communication is compromised when modem failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into multiple independent modem units (first modem, second modem, third modem) that operate in parallel. Each modem can independently transmit and receive data through separate cellular networks, ensuring that communication continues even if one modem fails. This segmentation directly resolves the contradiction by improving reliability through redundancy while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by pre-configuring multiple modems as backup communication channels before any failure occurs. The controller is programmed to monitor modem performance and automatically switch to alternative modems when performance degradation or failure is detected, providing a cushion against communication interruptions and ensuring continuous operation.
2Reliability
If multiple modems are implemented for redundant communication, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it manages all modem operations, monitors performance metrics, performs signal division and allocation, and executes failover procedures. This multi-functionality consolidates the complexity of managing multiple modems into a single intelligent component, resolving the contradiction by maintaining communication redundancy while centralizing control to manage complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic modem performance monitoring and self-healing capabilities. The controller continuously evaluates modem performance and automatically reallocates communication tasks from failing modems to functional ones without human intervention, enabling the system to manage its own complexity and maintain reliability autonomously.
3Reliability
If data is transmitted through multiple channels simultaneously, then the reliability and continuity of communication are improved, but the bandwidth allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic bandwidth allocation where the controller continuously adjusts the division and allocation of data signals to different modems based on real-time performance conditions. When one modem experiences degradation, the controller dynamically shifts more data flow to alternative modems, maintaining optimal communication continuity while adapting to changing conditions without manual intervention.
4Reliability
If redundant modems are deployed to ensure continuous communication, then the reliability improves, but the loss of energy increases due to multiple active communication channels
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by keeping multiple modems in standby or low-power modes rather than fully active states, and only fully activating alternative modems when needed. This approach ensures communication availability is maintained through prepared redundancy while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding continuous full-power operation of all communication channels.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, a method includes identifying a first signal, which carries or otherwise includes data, to be provided to a system by a vehicle. The method includes determining a first amount of bandwidth, the first amount of bandwidth being associated with the signal, determining a second amount of bandwidth, the second amount of bandwidth being an available bandwidth associated with a plurality of modems included on the vehicle to enable the vehicle to communicate with the system, and dividing the first signal into a first plurality of portions based at least on the first amount of bandwidth and the second amount of bandwidth. The first plurality of portions is provided to the plurality of modems for transmission from the vehicle to the system, and is transmitted to the system using the plurality of modems and a plurality of channels associated with the plurality of modems.