Ad Hoc Vehicle Network Positioning for Mine Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicle networks in remote sites like mines or quarries face connectivity issues due to lack of wireless infrastructure, requiring costly and time-consuming physical deployments, and existing solutions like VANETs need improvements for maintaining reliable communication links between vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that uses environment and position data to model communication channels, estimate signal quality metrics, and control vehicle positions to maintain connectivity, dynamically reconfiguring the network and adapting antenna beams to ensure reliable communication links without the need for additional infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a local wireless infrastructure is deployed to provide wireless coverage all over the site, then connectivity and vehicle control are improved, but the cost and installation time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidinfrastructure deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle network performs self-configuration and self-optimization by autonomously determining communication channels, evaluating signal quality metrics, and adjusting relative positions without requiring manual infrastructure deployment or configuration. The system serves itself by using environment data and position data to maintain connectivity dynamically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes operational parameters such as vehicle relative positions, communication channel selections, and signal quality thresholds to maintain optimal connectivity. By adjusting these parameters in real-time based on environment data and position data, the system achieves reliable communication without fixed infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If physical network deployments are installed inside tunnels and remote spaces, then wireless coverage is improved, but installation time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless coverage areaVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical network infrastructure deployment with a software-based solution that uses environment data and position data to model communication channels and optimize vehicle positioning. This substitution eliminates the need for time-consuming physical installations in tunnels and remote spaces while maintaining comprehensive wireless coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If standard cellular/telecom technologies are used, then wireless communication capability is improved, but spectrum license requirements and infrastructure dependency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the essential communication functionality from dependency on external cellular/telecom infrastructure by implementing autonomous channel modeling and signal quality evaluation using local environment data and position data. This extraction enables vehicles to communicate directly with each other without requiring spectrum licenses or external network infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If VANETs are used instead of local wireless infrastructure, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but maintaining reliable communication links becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrastructure requirementVSAvoidcommunication link quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops by evaluating signal quality metrics based on modeled communication channels and using this information to control and adjust vehicle relative positions. This feedback mechanism ensures that communication links are maintained within acceptable quality thresholds, solving the reliability challenge of infrastructure-less VANETs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts to changing communication conditions by continuously updating channel models based on current position data and environment data, and by actively controlling vehicle positions to maintain optimal communication geometry. This dynamic approach ensures reliable communication links despite the absence of fixed infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230254705A1Ad hoc vehicle network system

Publication Date: 2023.08.10 VOLVO TRUCK CORP

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for controlling a vehicle communication network comprising a plurality of nodes at a site, where at least some of the nodes are vehicles operating at the site. The method includes obtaining environment data indicative of a geometry of the site; obtaining position data indicative of respective positions of the nodes; modelling respective communication channels between interconnected nodes in the vehicle communication network based on the environment data and the position data; estimating respective signal quality metrics indicative of a communication link quality between the respective interconnected nodes based on the modelled communication channels; and controlling relative positions of the vehicles at the site based on the signal quality metrics and on a pre-determined signal quality acceptance criterion.