Dynamic communications paths for sensors in an autonomous vehicle

Abstract

Dynamic communications paths for sensors in an autonomous vehicle, comprising: detecting a fault associated with a first sensor of a plurality of sensors associated with a same sensing space of the autonomous vehicle; severing, in response to detecting the fault, a first communications path in a switched fabric between a processing unit and the first sensor; and establishing, via the switched fabric, in response to detecting the fault, a second communications path between the processing unit and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for dynamic communications paths for sensors in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 detecting a fault associated with a first sensor of a plurality of sensors associated with a same sensing space of the autonomous vehicle;   severing, in response to detecting the fault, a first communications path in a switched fabric between a processing unit and the first sensor; and   establishing, via the switched fabric, in response to detecting the fault, a second communications path between the processing unit and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises determining, based on sensor data received from the first sensor, that the first sensor is faulty. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises detecting a loss of signal from the first sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises determining that the first signal fails to respond to a message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, before severing the first communications path, via the first communications path, first sensor data from the first sensor; and   receiving, after establishing the second communications path, via the second communications path, second sensor data from the second sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises a redundant sensor of the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for dynamic communications paths for sensors in an autonomous vehicle, the apparatus configured to perform steps comprising:
 detecting a fault associated with a first sensor of a plurality of sensors associated with a same sensing space of the autonomous vehicle;   severing, in response to detecting the fault, a first communications path in a switched fabric between a processing unit and the first sensor; and   establishing, via the switched fabric, in response to detecting the fault, a second communications path between the processing unit and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises determining, based on sensor data received from the first sensor, that the first sensor is faulty. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises detecting a loss of signal from the first sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises determining that the first signal fails to respond to a message. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving, before severing the first communications path, via the first communications path, first sensor data from the first sensor; and   receiving, after establishing the second communications path, via the second communications path, second sensor data from the second sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second sensor comprises a redundant sensor of the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         13 . An autonomous vehicle for dynamic communications paths for sensors in an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle comprising an apparatus configured to perform steps comprising:
 detecting a fault associated with a first sensor of a plurality of sensors associated with a same sensing space of the autonomous vehicle;   severing, in response to detecting the fault, a first communications path in a switched fabric between a processing unit and the first sensor; and   establishing, via the switched fabric, in response to detecting the fault, a second communications path between the processing unit and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         14 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises determining, based on sensor data received from the first sensor, that the first sensor is faulty. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises detecting a loss of signal from the first sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises determining that the first signal fails to respond to a message. 
     
     
         17 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving, before severing the first communications path, via the first communications path, first sensor data from the first sensor; and   receiving, after establishing the second communications path, via the second communications path, second sensor data from the second sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the second sensor comprises a redundant sensor of the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product disposed upon a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions for dynamic communications paths for sensors in an autonomous vehicle that, when executed, cause a computer system to carry out the steps of:
 detecting a fault associated with a first sensor of a plurality of sensors associated with a same sensing space of the autonomous vehicle;   severing, in response to detecting the fault, a first communications path in a switched fabric between a processing unit and the first sensor; and   establishing, via the switched fabric, in response to detecting the fault, a second communications path between the processing unit and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein detecting the fault associated with the first sensor comprises determining, based on sensor data received from the first sensor, that the first sensor is faulty.