Surface-Mounted Vehicle Wireless Mesh for Shielded Geometries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless vehicle network technologies face challenges in combination vehicles due to variable geometry and electromagnetic shielding, reflection, and absorption issues, which hinder reliable high-bandwidth data communication.
Innovation Solution
A surface-mounted wireless node network with unobstructed lines of sight and parallel orientation to the vehicle surface, utilizing intelligent antennas and a mesh topology to provide Internet connectivity, overcoming electromagnetic interference and offering robust communication links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless nodes are mounted inside the vehicle body or on internal components, then electromagnetic shielding, reflection and absorption problems occur, but mounting on the surface of the vehicle avoids these electromagnetic interference issues
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication nodes are extracted from the internal vehicle structure and relocated to the outer surface of the vehicle body. This extraction removes the nodes from the harmful electromagnetic environment created by metallic chassis components, eliminating shielding, reflection and absorption problems while maintaining communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's outer surface acts as an intermediary mounting platform between the wireless nodes and the external environment. This surface mounting approach provides a non-conductive, electromagnetically transparent interface that allows radio frequency signals to propagate freely without interference from underlying metallic structures.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard network components with factory settings are used, then installation is simplified, but they cannot accommodate the variable geometry of vehicles and combination vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless node mounting system is designed to be dynamically adaptable to different vehicle geometries. Rather than using fixed-position standard components, the system allows flexible placement of wireless nodes at optimal locations on the vehicle surface, accommodating varying lengths, configurations and articulation points of different vehicle types.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communication system is designed with universal mounting capabilities that can be applied across different vehicle types and configurations. The surface-mounted wireless nodes can be positioned to accommodate various vehicle geometries, making the system universally applicable to trucks, combination vehicles and other mobile platforms.
3Reliability
If wireless nodes are mounted on the vehicle surface with unobstructed lines of sight, then communication reliability is improved, but the mounting locations must be carefully selected across the vehicle body
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle body is segmented into multiple potential mounting zones for wireless nodes, with each zone identified as having favorable electromagnetic characteristics and line-of-sight properties. This segmentation approach simplifies the selection process by providing predetermined optimal locations rather than requiring complex analysis of the entire vehicle surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Optimal mounting locations for wireless nodes are predetermined during the vehicle design and manufacturing process. These pre-identified locations are positioned to ensure unobstructed lines of sight and favorable electromagnetic environments, eliminating the need for complex on-site analysis and simplifying installation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A commercial vehicle comprises a plurality of wireless nodes fixed to points on the surface of the vehicle and configured to cooperate to form a vehicle network, wherein lines of sights between adjacent ones of the wireless nodes are sensibly unobstructed and/or sensibly parallel to the surface of the vehicle. The vehicle network may include additional wired links. A backhaul port provides Internet connectivity, at least intermittently, to the vehicle network. At least one of the wireless nodes is operable to act as wireless access point for mobile stations in the vehicle's vicinity and is optionally assisted by a wireless communication host.