Wireless Data Mesh for Vehicle Sensor Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wiring harnesses in complex vehicles like agricultural and construction equipment are prone to damage due to harsh environments, interference, and high costs, making them difficult to route and maintain effectively.
Innovation Solution
A wireless data mesh system with locally powered data generators using energy harvesters, such as piezoelectric crystals, connected via short-range radio frequency protocols like Bluetooth or Zigbee, eliminating the need for physical wiring and allowing for scalable and modular data collection and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wiring harnesses are used to connect data generators, then data transmission can be achieved, but the system becomes complex and vulnerable to damage in harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring harness system with a wireless communication system. Data generators communicate via wireless signals (such as radio frequency or other wireless protocols) instead of physical wire connections, eliminating the mechanical complexity of routing wires through harsh vehicle environments while improving reliability by removing vulnerable wire connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the wiring harness infrastructure from the vehicle data transmission system. By taking out the physical wiring component entirely, the system eliminates the problems associated with wire routing, connection points, and physical vulnerability, replacing it with a wireless architecture that operates without these extracted elements.
2Ease of operation
If wiring harnesses are installed in harsh vehicle environments, then data generators can be connected, but the wiring becomes prone to damage and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical wiring system with a wireless communication system, eliminating the physical infrastructure that is vulnerable to environmental factors. Data generators connect through wireless signals that pass through the harsh environment without being physically affected by heat, vibration, moisture, or mechanical stress, thereby improving ease of operation while avoiding environmental damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless electromagnetic signals as an intermediary medium for data transmission. Instead of direct physical wire connections that are exposed to harmful environmental factors, the wireless signals act as an intermediary that can penetrate and operate through harsh environments without being damaged, facilitating easy connection between data generators.
3Adaptability or versatility
If extensive wiring harnesses are used for data transmission, then all data generators can be interconnected, but the cost and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic wireless network architecture where data generators can be added, removed, or repositioned without requiring physical re-wiring. The system adapts automatically to changes in the network configuration through wireless communication protocols, providing scalability and versatility while dramatically simplifying installation and maintenance compared to fixed wiring harnesses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data transmission system into independent wireless nodes (data generators) that communicate through a wireless mesh or star topology. Each node operates independently without requiring physical connection to a central wiring harness, allowing the system to scale by simply adding more wireless nodes without increasing installation complexity or cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the complexity and cost of data transmission, enhances durability by avoiding environmental hazards, and allows for flexible topology configurations, improving the reliability and efficiency of data communication in harsh vehicle environments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one said data generator is a locally powered data generator that is operatively connected to at least one energy harvester that develops power for operation of the data generator
Implementation Method 2
data generators that are wirelessly connected to define the wireless data generator mesh
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
A vehicle (10) includes a wireless data mesh (21) and comprises at least one vehicle frame (22) having distributed at spaced locations on it a plurality of data generators (23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32) that are wirelessly connected to define the wireless data generator mesh (21), wherein at least one said data generator is a locally powered data generator that is operatively connected to at least one energy harvester (23', 24', 26', 27', 28', 29', 31') that develops power for operation of the sensor.