AUTONOMOUS ROBOT-ASSISTED INDOOR WIRELESS COVERAGE CHARACTERIZATION PLATFORM
First Claim
1. A system, comprisinga memory that stores executable components;
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a simultaneous localization and mapping component configured to measure topological information for a space within a range of an unmanned vehicle;
a map building component configured to generate, based on the topological information, estimated indoor map data describing a layout of an indoor environment and vehicle location data identifying a location of the unmanned vehicle within the indoor environment;
a wireless channel measurement component configured to measure a strength of a wireless channel detected at the location of the unmanned vehicle to yield wireless measurement data;
a wireless coverage characterization component configured to generate wireless coverage characterization data for the indoor environment incrementally based on the wireless measurement data, the estimated indoor map data, and the vehicle location data; and
a navigation control component configured to control a navigation path for the unmanned vehicle based on the estimated indoor map data, the vehicle location data, and the wireless coverage characterization data.
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Abstract
A wireless coverage characterization platform uses an autonomous vehicle or robot, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle or other small robot, to autonomously collect key wireless coverage parameters for an indoor environment. One or more vehicles or robots are equipped with integrated simultaneous localization and mapping sensors as well as wireless signal measurement sensors. As a vehicle traverses the indoor environment, on-board processing components process the sensor measurement data to simultaneously build an indoor map of the environment and to learn the wireless coverage characteristics of the environment incrementally. The vehicle'"'"'s navigation system guides the vehicle through the environment based on the sensor measurements and the learned indoor map until a complete map of the wireless signal strength at all locations throughout the environment is obtained. The system can identify areas of weak wireless coverage or interference sources and recommend access point device locations based on results of the survey.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising
a memory that stores executable components; - and
a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, that executes the executable components, the executable components comprising; a simultaneous localization and mapping component configured to measure topological information for a space within a range of an unmanned vehicle; a map building component configured to generate, based on the topological information, estimated indoor map data describing a layout of an indoor environment and vehicle location data identifying a location of the unmanned vehicle within the indoor environment; a wireless channel measurement component configured to measure a strength of a wireless channel detected at the location of the unmanned vehicle to yield wireless measurement data; a wireless coverage characterization component configured to generate wireless coverage characterization data for the indoor environment incrementally based on the wireless measurement data, the estimated indoor map data, and the vehicle location data; and a navigation control component configured to control a navigation path for the unmanned vehicle based on the estimated indoor map data, the vehicle location data, and the wireless coverage characterization data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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measuring, by a system comprising at least one processor, topology data for a portion of an indoor environment within a sensing range of an unmanned vehicle; creating, by the system based on the topology data, estimated indoor map data representing a map of the indoor environment and vehicle location data representing a location of the unmanned vehicle within the indoor environment; measuring, by the system, a strength of a wireless communication signal at the location of the unmanned vehicle to yield wireless measurement data; creating, by the system, wireless coverage characterization data for the indoor environment based on the wireless measurement data, the estimated indoor map data, and the vehicle location data; and controlling, by the system, a navigation path of the unmanned vehicle based on the estimated indoor map data, the vehicle location data, and the wireless coverage characterization data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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13. The method of clam 12, wherein the controlling the navigation path comprises:
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determining, based on the estimated indoor map data and the wireless coverage characterization data, another location within the indoor environment at which a measurement of the strength of the wireless communication signal is required to complete the wireless signal strength map; and controlling the navigation path to direct the unmanned vehicle to the location based on the estimated indoor map and the vehicle location data.
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18. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising; measuring a topology of a space within a sensing range of the unmanned aerial vehicle; generating topology data based on the measuring; generating estimated indoor map data based on the topology data, wherein the estimated indoor map data represents an obstruction map of the indoor environment; generating vehicle location data based on the topology data, wherein the vehicle location data identifies a location of the unmanned vehicle within the indoor environment; measuring a strength of a wireless communication channel at the location of the unmanned vehicle to yield wireless measurement data; generating wireless coverage characterization data for the indoor environment based on the wireless measurement data, the estimated indoor map data, and the vehicle location data; and controlling a navigation path of the unmanned vehicle based on the estimated indoor map data, the vehicle location data, and the wireless coverage characterization data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification