Method for optimizing wireless data link capacity between mobile vehicles

• US 7,457,619 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Ariyur, Kartik B., Kazi, Sabera Sultana, Bommalingaiahnapallya, Chandrika
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): FARAGALLA, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/059,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20060211413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 375/343, 455/13.1, 455/41.2, 455/431, 455423-425, 455/67.11, 455/446, 370/329, 370331-334, 340/988
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless data links between mobile vehicles are optimized by positioning the mobile vehicles in default locations, creating a wireless data link between the vehicles, and measuring the initial capacity of the wireless data link. An extremum-seeking algorithm is then performed, in which the mobile vehicles are moved locally around their default locations, and the resulting changes in capacity of the wireless data link are measured. The algorithm mathematically determines, based on the measured changes in capacity of the wireless data link, optimum locations at which, when the mobile vehicles are positioned there, the capacity of the wireless data link reaches a local maximum value. The mobile vehicles are then moved to the optimum locations.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a wireless data link between a first mobile vehicle and a second mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the first mobile vehicle in a first location and the second mobile vehicle in a second location;

(b) creating a direct wireless data link between the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle;

(c) measuring an initial capacity of the wireless data link and storing it as a maximum measured capacity;

(d) performing an extremum-seeking algorithm on the capacity of the wireless data link;

(e) moving the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle to new positions determined by the extremum-seeking algorithm and measuring a new data link capacity;

(f) determining whether the new data link capacity exceeds a minimum threshold value and, if not, skipping to step (i);

(g) determining whether the new data link capacity exceeds the previously-stored maximum measured capacity and, if so, replacing the maximum measured capacity with the new data link capacity value and storing the corresponding positions of the mobile vehicles;

(h) repeating steps (d)-(g) until the data link capacity stabilizes; and

(i) moving the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle to positions corresponding to the maximum measured capacity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle are selected from the group consisting of hover-capable unmanned aerial vehicles, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, organic air vehicles, mobile ground vehicles, and unmanned underwater vehicles.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle act as communication relays.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle monitor and collect data regarding their surrounding environment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile vehicle or the second mobile vehicle communicates with a base station.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the base station comprises a port able handheld device or a fixed data gathering station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises perturbing position-tracking set points of the first and second mobile vehicles around their present positions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises identifying a gradient in a link capacity signal map and moving the first and second mobile vehicles in the direction of increasing link capacity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a local maximum in the link capacity signal map is identified by comparing the results of multiple iterations of the extremum-seeking algorithm.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm is capable of optimizing the wireless data link capacity over three position coordinates for each mobile vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm optimizes the wireless data link capacity over one or two position coordinates for a given mobile vehicle due to external design constraints.

12. A method for optimizing a wireless data link involving a first mobile vehicle, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the first mobile vehicle in a first location, the first mobile vehicle comprising a hover-capable unmanned aerial vehicle, a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle, an organic air vehicle, or an unmanned underwater vehicle;

(b) creating a wireless data link between the first mobile vehicle and a telecommunications device;

(c) measuring an initial capacity of the wireless data link and storing it as a maximum measured capacity;

(d) performing an extremum-seeking algorithm on the capacity of the wireless data link;

(e) moving the first mobile vehicle to a new position determined by the extremum-seeking algorithm and measuring a new data link capacity;

(f) determining whether the new data link capacity exceeds a minimum threshold value and, if not, skipping to step (i);

(g) determining whether the new data link capacity exceeds the previously-stored maximum measured capacity and, if so, replacing the maximum measured capacity with the new data link capacity value and storing the corresponding position of the first mobile vehicle;

(h) repeating steps (d)-(g) until the data link capacity stabilizes; and

(i) moving the first mobile vehicle to a position corresponding to the maximum measured capacity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the telecommunications device comprises a second mobile vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein while the first mobile vehicle is moving to the new position, the second mobile vehicle is simultaneously moving around its current location.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the telecommunications device comprises a base station.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the base station comprises a portable handheld device or a fixed data gathering station.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first mobile vehicle acts as a communication relay.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first mobile vehicle monitors and collects data regarding its surrounding environment.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises perturbing a tracking set point of the first mobile vehicle around its present position.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises identifying a gradient in a link capacity signal map and moving the first mobile vehicle in the direction of increasing link capacity.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a local maximum in the link capacity signal map is identified by comparing the results of multiple iterations of the extremum-seeking algorithm.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm is capable of optimizing the wireless data link capacity over three position coordinates for the first mobile vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm optimizes the wireless data link capacity over one or two position coordinates for the first mobile vehicle due to external design constraints.

24. A process for optimizing a wireless data link between a first mobile vehicle and a second mobile vehicle, the process comprising:

(a) placing the first and second mobile vehicles in default positions, the first and second mobile vehicles each comprising a hover-capable unmanned aerial vehicle, a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle, an organic air vehicle, or an unmanned underwater vehicle;

(b) creating a direct wireless data link between the first and second mobile vehicles;

(c) measuring an initial capacity of the wireless data link and storing it as a maximum measured capacity;

(d) performing an extremum-seeking algorithm on the capacity of the wireless data link;

(e) moving the first and second mobile vehicles to new positions determined by the extremum-seeking algorithm and measuring a new data link capacity;

(f) determining whether the new data link capacity exceeds a minimum threshold value and, if not, skipping to step (i);

(g) determining whether the new data link capacity exceeds the previously-stored maximum measured capacity and, if so, replacing the maximum measured capacity with the new data link capacity value and storing the corresponding positions of the mobile vehicles;

(h) repeating steps (d)-(g) until the data link capacity stabilizes; and

(i) moving the first and second mobile vehicles to positions corresponding to the maximum measured capacity.

25. The process of claim 24, wherein the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle act as communication relays.

26. The process of claim 24, wherein the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle monitor and collect data regarding their surrounding environment.

27. The process of claim 24, wherein the first mobile vehicle or the second mobile vehicle communicates with a base station.

28. The process of claim 27, wherein the base station comprises a portable handheld device or a fixed data gathering station.

29. The process of claim 24, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises perturbing tracking set points of the first and second mobile vehicles around their present positions.

30. The process of claim 24, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises identifying a gradient in a link capacity signal map and moving the first and second mobile vehicles in the direction of increasing link capacity.

31. The process of claim 24, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm is capable of optimizing the wireless data link capacity over three position coordinates for each mobile vehicle.

32. The process of claim 31, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm optimizes the wireless data link capacity over one or two position coordinates for a given mobile vehicle due to external design constraints.

33. A mobile vehicle comprising:

an unmanned vehicle comprising a hover-capable unmanned aerial vehicle, a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle, an organic air vehicle, or an unmanned underwater vehicle;

a processor comprising an optimization module;

a sensor coupled to the processor; and

a transceiver coupled to the processor;

wherein the transceiver is capable of sending and receiving wireless data transmissions;

wherein the optimization module is configured to;

(a) measure an initial capacity of a wireless data link between the transceiver and another telecommunications device, and store the initial capacity as a maximum measured capacity;

(b) perform an extremum-seeking algorithm on the capacity of the wireless data link;

(c) move the mobile vehicle to a new position determined by the extremum-seeking algorithm and measure a new data link capacity;

(d) determine whether the new data link capacity exceeds a minimum threshold value and, if not, skip to (g);

(e) determine whether the new data link capacity exceeds the previously-stored maximum measured capacity and, if so, replace the maximum measured capacity with the new data link capacity value and store the corresponding position of the mobile vehicle;

(f) repeat (b)-(e) until the data link capacity stabilizes; and

(g) move the mobile vehicle to a position corresponding to the maximum measured capacity.

34. The mobile vehicle of claim 33, wherein the sensor comprises one or more audio sensors, temperature sensors, acoustic sensors, or electromagnetic imaging sensors.

35. The mobile vehicle of claim 34, wherein the electromagnetic imaging sensors are selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, through-wall imagers, and foliage-penetration radar.

36. The mobile vehicle of claim 33, wherein the optimization module comprises a washout filter, a demodulator, and an integrator.

37. The mobile vehicle of claim 33, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises perturbing tracking set points of the mobile vehicle around a present position.

38. The mobile vehicle of claim 33, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises identifying a gradient in a link capacity signal map and moving the mobile vehicle in the direction of increasing link capacity.

39. The mobile vehicle of claim 33, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm is capable of optimizing the wireless data link capacity over three position coordinates for the mobile vehicle.

40. The mobile vehicle of claim 39, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm optimizes the wireless data link capacity over one or two position coordinates for the mobile vehicle due to external design constraints.

41. The mobile vehicle of claim 38, wherein a local maximum in the link capacity signal map is identified by comparing the results of multiple iterations of the extremum-seeking algorithm.