DYNAMIC COMMUNICATIONS PATHS FOR SENSORS IN AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE
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.
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.