Wireless data link capacity

• US 20060211413A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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:

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

creating a wireless data link between the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle;

measuring the initial capacity of the wireless data link;

moving the first mobile vehicle around the first location and the second mobile vehicle around the second location and measuring the resulting changes in capacity of the wireless data link;

mathematically determining, based on the measured changes in capacity of the wireless data link, a third location and a fourth location at which, when the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle are positioned there, respectively, the capacity of the wireless data link reaches a local maximum value; and

moving the first mobile vehicle to the third location and the second mobile vehicle to the fourth location.

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 UAVs, fixed-wing UAVs, mobile ground vehicles, and UUVs.

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 portable handheld device or a fixed data gathering station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is the same as the third location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second location is the same as the fourth location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein mathematically determining the third and fourth locations comprises performing an extremum-seeking algorithm.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises perturbing the position-tracking set points of the first and second mobile vehicles around their present positions.

11. The method of claim 9, 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.

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

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm is capable of optimizing the wireless data link capacity over three position coordinates for each mobile vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, 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.

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

positioning the first mobile vehicle in a first location;

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

measuring the initial capacity of the wireless data link;

moving the first mobile vehicle around the first location and measuring the resulting changes in capacity of the wireless data link;

mathematically determining, based on the measured changes in capacity of the wireless data link, a second location at which, when the first mobile vehicle is positioned there, the capacity of the wireless data link reaches a local maximum value; and

moving the first mobile vehicle to the second location.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the telecommunications device comprises a second mobile vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein while the first mobile vehicle is moving around the first location, the second mobile vehicle is simultaneously moving around its current location.

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

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the base station comprises a portable handheld device or a fixed data gathering station.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mobile vehicle comprises a hover-capable UAV, fixed-wing UAV, mobile ground vehicle, or UUV.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mobile vehicle acts as a communication relay.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mobile vehicle monitors and collects data regarding its surrounding environment.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein mathematically determining the second location comprises performing an extremum-seeking algorithm.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises perturbing the tracking set point of the first mobile vehicle around its present position.

25. The method of claim 23, 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.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein a local maximum in the link capacity signal map is identified by comparing the results of multiple iterations of the extremum-seeking algorithm.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm is capable of optimizing the wireless data link capacity over three position coordinates for the first mobile vehicle.

28. The method of claim 27, 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.

29. 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;

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

(c) measuring the 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 the positions determined by the extremum-seeking algorithm and measuring the 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 the positions corresponding to the maximum measured capacity.

30. The process of claim 29, wherein the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle are selected from the group consisting of hover-capable UAVs, fixed-wing UAVs, mobile ground vehicles, and UUVs.

31. The process of claim 29, wherein the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle act as communication relays.

32. The process of claim 29, wherein the first mobile vehicle and the second mobile vehicle monitor and collect data regarding their surrounding environment.

33. The process of claim 29, wherein the first mobile vehicle or the second mobile vehicle communicates with a base station.

34. The process of claim 33, wherein the base station comprises a portable handheld device or a fixed data gathering station.

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

36. The process of claim 29, 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.

37. The process of claim 29, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm is capable of optimizing the wireless data link capacity over three position coordinates for each mobile vehicle.

38. The process of claim 37, 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.

39. A mobile vehicle comprising:

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, and

wherein the optimization module is configured to mathematically determine an optimum local position of the mobile vehicle such that the capacity of a wireless data link between the transceiver and another telecommunications device reaches a local maximum value.

40. The mobile vehicle of claim 39, wherein the mobile vehicle comprises a hover-capable UAV, fixed-wing UAV, mobile ground vehicle, or UUV.

41. The mobile vehicle of claim 39, wherein the sensor comprises one or more audio sensors, temperature sensors, acoustic sensors, or electromagnetic imaging sensors.

42. The mobile vehicle of claim 41, wherein the electromagnetic imaging sensors are selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, through-wall imagers, and foliage-penetration radar.

43. The mobile vehicle of claim 39, wherein the optimization module is configured to implement an extremum-seeking algorithm.

44. The mobile vehicle of claim 43, wherein the optimization module comprises a washout filter, a demodulator, and an integrator.

45. The mobile vehicle of claim 43, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm comprises perturbing the tracking set points of the first and second mobile vehicles around their present positions.

46. The mobile vehicle of claim 43, 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.

47. The mobile vehicle of claim 43, wherein a local maximum in the link capacity signal map is identified by comparing the results of multiple iterations of the extremum-seeking algorithm.

48. The mobile vehicle of claim 43, wherein the extremum-seeking algorithm is capable of optimizing the wireless data link capacity over three position coordinates for the mobile vehicle.

49. The mobile vehicle of claim 48, 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.