Black box with volatile memory caching
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a volatile memory module configured to store vehicle data, and a refrigeration module coupled to the volatile memory module. The refrigeration module includes one or more chambers containing one or more coolant materials. When the one or more chambers are exposed by an exigent situation associated with a vehicle, the one or more chambers are configured to release the one or more coolant materials to lower a temperature of the volatile memory module.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a volatile memory module configured to store vehicle data; and
a refrigeration module coupled to the volatile memory module, the refrigeration module comprising one or more chambers containing one or more coolant materials, wherein when the one or more chambers are exposed by a collision situation associated with a vehicle, the one or more chambers are configured to release the one or more coolant materials to lower a temperature of the volatile memory module,
wherein the volatile memory module is disposed in thermal contact with a pair of adjoining chambers such that, when exposed by the collision situation, the one or more chambers are configured to release a barrier to cause mixing of a first coolant material and a second coolant material to form a cooling mixture, and wherein the cooling mixture lowers the temperature of the volatile memory module; and
a collision-detection module coupled to the volatile memory module and configured to detect the collision situation and cause the mixing to form the cooling mixture.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more chambers correspond to a pair of adjoining chambers separated by a barrier, the pair of adjoining chambers comprising a first chamber containing the first coolant material and a second chamber containing the second coolant material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more chambers contains the one or more coolant materials under a pressure different from an ambient pressure, the pressure causing the one or more coolant materials to be in a liquid state, wherein, in response to the collision situation, the one or more coolant materials are configured to vaporize at the ambient pressure to lower the temperature of the volatile memory module.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the one or more coolant materials comprise halofluorocarbon (HFC) or carbon dioxide (CO2).
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a non-volatile memory module communicatively coupled to the volatile memory module; and
a controller coupled to the collision-detection module, wherein the controller, upon detection of the collision situation, is configured to initiate transfer of the vehicle data from the volatile memory module to the non-volatile memory module.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the volatile memory module is configured to receive the vehicle data from an autonomous vehicle.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, when the temperature of the volatile memory module is lowered to at least a threshold temperature, the volatile memory module extends an amount of time in which the vehicle data is stored within the volatile memory module without the volatile memory module being refreshed.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the volatile memory module is configured to undergo periodic refresh cycles, wherein an amount of time between each of the periodic refresh cycles is extended when the temperature of the volatile memory module is lowered.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data comprises video or images from infrared cameras or optical cameras, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) imaging data, radar data, global positioning system (GPS) data, inertial measurement unit data, or accelerometer data.
10. A method comprising:
storing vehicle data pertaining to an operation of a vehicle in a volatile memory module; in response to determining that the vehicle is exposed to a collision situation, causing one or more chambers of a refrigeration module to release one or more coolant materials to lower a temperature of the volatile memory module; and
lowering the temperature of the volatile memory module to at least a threshold temperature upon the release of the one or more coolant materials such as to maintain the vehicle data within the volatile memory module upon detection of the collision situation,
wherein the volatile memory module is disposed in thermal contact with a pair of adjoining chambers such that, when exposed by the collision situation, the one or more chambers are configured to release a barrier to cause mixing of a first coolant material and a second coolant material to form a cooling mixture, and wherein the cooling mixture lowers the temperature of the volatile memory module.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein, when the temperature of the volatile memory module is lowered to at least a threshold temperature, the volatile memory module extends an amount of time in which the vehicle data is stored within the volatile memory module without the volatile memory module being refreshed.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more chamber corresponds to a pair of adjoining chambers separated by a barrier, the pair of adjoining chambers comprising:
a first chamber containing the first coolant material; and
a second chamber containing the second coolant material.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the volatile memory module is configured to undergo periodic refresh cycles, and wherein an amount of time between each of the periodic refresh cycles is extended when the temperature of the volatile memory module is lowered.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle data comprises video or images from infrared cameras or optical cameras, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) imaging data, radar data, global positioning system (GPS) data, inertial measurement unit data, or accelerometer data.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
detecting, by a collision-detection module, an exposure of the vehicle to the collision situation; and
initiating, upon detection of the exposure to the collision situation, transfer of the data from the volatile memory module to a non-volatile memory module communicatively coupled to the volatile memory module.
16. A system comprising:
a processor to process vehicle data pertaining to an operation of a vehicle;
a volatile memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, the volatile memory module configured to store the processed vehicle data; and
a refrigeration module coupled to the volatile memory module, the refrigeration module comprising one or more chambers containing one or more coolant materials, wherein when the one or more chambers are exposed by a collision situation associated with the vehicle, the one or more chambers are configured to release the one or more coolant materials to lower a temperature of the volatile memory module,
wherein the volatile memory module is disposed in thermal contact with a pair of adjoining chambers such that, when exposed by the collision situation, the one or more chambers are configured to release a barrier to cause mixing of a first coolant material and a second coolant material to form a cooling mixture, the cooling mixture lowers the temperature of the volatile memory module; and
a collision-detection module coupled to the volatile memory module and configured to detect the collision situation and cause the mixing to form the cooling mixture.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the volatile memory module is configured to undergo periodic refresh cycles, and wherein an amount of time between each of the periodic refresh cycles is extended when the temperature of the volatile memory module is lowered.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein, when the temperature of the volatile memory module is lowered to at least a threshold temperature, the volatile memory module extends an amount of time in which the vehicle data is stored within the volatile memory module.