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Automotive

LiFi (Light Fidelity) Technology: Applications and Future Perspectives

LiFi (Light Fidelity) Technology: Applications and Future Perspectives

LiFi (light fidelity)

LiFi, short for Light Fidelity, is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light to transmit data. It is based on the principle of using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to send data through rapid variations in light intensity that are invisible to the human eye. Developed as a potential alternative or complement to traditional wireless communication technologies like WiFi, LiFi offers several advantages, including higher data transfer rates, increased security, and reduced electromagnetic interference.

LiFi Backend Architecture

LiFi Architecture (source: semanticscholar)

LiFi (Light Fidelity) architecture is designed to enable wireless communication using visible light as the medium for data transmission. The architecture involves several components and processes to ensure efficient and reliable communication.

Applications of LiFi (light fidelity)

LiFi (Light Fidelity) has a range of applications across different sectors due to its unique advantages, including high data transfer rates, increased security, and reduced electromagnetic interference. Here’s a brief overview of some key applications of LiFi:

  1. Internet Access:

LiFi can be used to provide high-speed internet access in homes, offices, and public spaces. LED bulbs equipped with LiFi technology can serve as data access points, delivering internet connectivity through visible light.

  1. Indoor Navigation:

LiFi’s data transmission precision allows for indoor navigation and positioning applications. It can be employed in environments like museums, shopping malls, and airports to provide accurate location-based services.

  1. Healthcare:

In healthcare settings, LiFi can contribute to secure and high-speed data transmission between medical devices. This is particularly important for applications where the reliability and speed of data exchange are critical, such as in operating rooms or patient monitoring systems.

  1. Aviation and Automotive:

LiFi technology can enhance in-flight entertainment and communication systems in aviation. In automotive settings, LiFi can contribute to vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and entertainment within the vehicle.

  1. Smart Cities:

LiFi supports the development of smart cities by providing high-speed and reliable connectivity in urban environments. It can be integrated into streetlights, traffic signals, and other infrastructure to create a connected cityscape.

  1. Underwater Communication:

LiFi’s application is not limited to above-ground environments. It can be employed for underwater communication, where traditional wireless technologies face challenges due to the absorption of radio frequencies in water.

  1. Secure Environments:

LiFi’s inherent security benefits make it suitable for environments where data security is crucial. Since visible light does not penetrate walls, LiFi signals are confined to specific areas, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

  1. Education and Offices:

LiFi can enhance connectivity in educational institutions and office spaces. It offers a high-speed and secure network for students, teachers, and employees, supporting various applications from online learning to collaborative work.

  1. Retail Environments:

LiFi can be applied in retail for location-based services, personalized shopping experiences, and inventory management. It enables retailers to engage with customers through interactive displays and smart lighting.

  1. Traffic Management:

LiFi can contribute to intelligent traffic management systems by communicating between vehicles and traffic infrastructure. This can enhance road safety, traffic flow, and overall transportation efficiency. These applications demonstrate the versatility of LiFi technology and its potential to revolutionize the way we access information, communicate, and navigate our surroundings.

Future Perspectives of LiFi (Light Fidelity)

The future perspectives of LiFi (Light Fidelity) hold promising possibilities across various industries, driven by ongoing research, technological advancements, and the unique advantages offered by this wireless communication technology. Here are several key aspects that highlight the future potential of LiFi:

  1. Integration with 5G:

Complementary Technology: LiFi can complement 5G networks, especially in areas with high data density. The combination of LiFi and 5G could offer a seamless and robust communication infrastructure, providing users with enhanced connectivity and higher data rates.

  1. Vehicular Communication:

LiFi in the Automotive Industry: LiFi’s potential in the automotive industry could involve in-car communication, entertainment systems, and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. LiFi may contribute to creating a more connected and efficient driving experience.

  1. Integration with Smart Lighting:

Dual Functionality: As LiFi can be implemented through LED bulbs, it can be seamlessly integrated with smart lighting systems. This dual functionality enhances the efficiency of lighting infrastructure by providing both illumination and data communication.

  1. Research and Development:

Ongoing Advancements: Continuous research and development in LiFi technology are likely to lead to improvements in data transfer rates, range, and overall performance. Innovations in modulation techniques and system architectures may further broaden the applications of LiFi.

  1. Global Expansion and Standardization:

Widespread Adoption: LiFi technology may see increased adoption globally as standardization efforts progress. Establishing industry standards can promote interoperability and encourage the development of a diverse ecosystem of LiFi-enabled devices.

  1. Energy Efficiency:

Green Technology: LiFi’s reliance on LED bulbs, which are energy-efficient, aligns with the growing emphasis on green and sustainable technologies. The energy efficiency of LiFi could contribute to reducing the overall environmental impact of communication technologies.

  1. Challenges and Solutions:

Overcoming Limitations: Future perspectives of LiFi also involve addressing current challenges, such as signal range limitations and potential interference. Research and development efforts will likely focus on overcoming these limitations to make LiFi more versatile and practical.

Patent Landscape

The intellectual property landscape for LiFi technology is dynamic and advancing. Organizations in the wireless communication industry are continuously creating and licensing developments connected with LiFi and related advancements. Licensing agreements and cross-licensing arrangements assume a vital part in permitting organizations to get to and use these IP resources.

Patent Filling Trends:

LiFi gained significant attention and research interest during this time. Researchers and companies started exploring the potential of LiFi for high-speed, wireless communication using visible light. The initial patent filings during this period likely focused on fundamental aspects of LiFi technology, such as modulation techniques, transceiver designs, and basic communication protocols. Ericsson holds a maximum number of patents followed by Samsung and Signify.

Patent Document Count for LiFi Applications
Patent Filings Count for LiFi Applications

Patent filings ( Source: Lens.org)

The United States has a strong tradition of investing heavily in research and development across various industries. Companies research institutions, and government agencies in the U.S. may contribute significantly to LiFi research, leading to a higher number of patent filings followed by China and Europe.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while LiFi is still in the early stages of commercial deployment, its unique attributes position it as a compelling technology for the future of wireless communication. Ongoing research, standardization initiatives, and advancements in hardware and software are expected to further enhance LiFi’s capabilities and broaden its range of applications in the coming years.

Categories
Computer Science

Demystifying Kubernetes: A Comprehensive Guide to Container Orchestration

Demystifying Kubernetes A Comprehensive Guide to Container Orchestration

What is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes (K8s) is an open-source platform that facilitates the execution of containerized applications in a virtual environment via Application Program Interfaces (APIs). Containerized applications are programs that are executed in containers. Containers are the virtual entities that hold the primary code for the execution of an application, its dependencies of that application and the configuration files of that application. Containerized applications are widely adapted because they facilitate the execution of multiple applications in a single host by isolating them from the core Operating System. This makes Kubernetes a go-to for users/developers to test, assess, and deploy their applications.

Kubernetes Architecture

Kubernetes employs a Master-Slave architecture. Kubernetes Cluster is divided into two separate planes:

i. Control Plane: Also known as the Master Node, the Control plane can be interpreted as the brains of Kubernetes. It is the policy maker that applications executed in Kubernetes clusters have to follow. It consists of:

a. API server: The API server is the entity that authenticates and authorizes a developer and allows interaction between the developer and Kubernetes Cluster. The API server configures and manipulates entities in the data plane via Kubernetes Controller-Manager, Kubernetes Scheduler, and Key-Value Store (Etcd).
b. Kubernetes Controller-Manager: It is the entity in the Control Plane that is responsible for keeping the system in a desired state, as per the instructions obtained from the API server. It constantly monitors the containers, Pods, and Nodes and tweaks them to bring them to the desired state.
c. Kubernetes Scheduler: It is the entity in the Control plane responsible for deploying applications in Worker Nodes received through the API server. It schedules the applications as per their requirements of resources, like memory, identifies suitable Pods, and places them in suitable Worker Nodes in the Kubernetes Clusters.
d. Key-Value Store (Etcd): It is a storage that can be placed within the control plane or independent of it. Key-value Store, as the name suggests, stores all the data of the Kubernetes Cluster, i.e., it provides a restore point to the whole of the Kubernetes Cluster.

ii. Data Plane: The Data Plane is a cluster of Kubernetes Worker Nodes that executes the policies made by the Control plane for the smooth operation of applications within the Kubernetes Cluster. Worker nodes are the machines that run containerized applications and provide the necessary resources for the applications to run smoothly. Each Worker Node consists of:
a. Kubelet: Kubelet is the entity within the Worker Node that is responsible for connecting that node with the API server in the Control Plane and reporting the status of Pods and containers within the node. This facilitates the resources assigned to that node to become a part of the Kubernetes Cluster. It is also responsible for the execution of works received from the API server to keep the node in a desired state by making the necessary changes as per API server instructions.
b. Kube-proxy: It is responsible for routing traffic from the users through the Internet to the correct applications within a node by creating/altering traffic routing policies for that node.
c. Pods:  Pods are the entities in the Worker Node that have containers within them. Although it is possible to host multiple application instances in a Pod, running one application instance in one Pod is recommended. Pods are capable of horizontal scaling, i.e., they are created according to the application instance needs. If assigned node resources are available, Pods can utilize more resources than assigned to them- if needed. Pods, along with containers, are capable of running on multiple machines. The resources of the Pods are shared among the containers it hosts.

HBM Layout: Deploying an Application in Kubernetes

HBM Layout (Source: Medium)

Deploying an Application in Kubernetes:

i. The developer should have a Service account. This account is needed to authenticate and authorize a developer. Also, this service account is used for authentication against the API server when the application needs access to protected resources.

Kubernetes Service Account Requirement

Service Account Requirement (Source: Medium)

ii. Create a new Node or select an existing node according to the application requirement (memory, RAM, etc).

iii. The intended application should be packed in a Docker image or similar container format. A Docker image is a software package that has all the necessary programs, dependencies, runtimes, libraries, and configuration files for an application to run smoothly.

iv. The developer should define Kubernetes Manifest as a YAML or JASON file. The Kubernetes Manifest defines the desired state for the application to be deployed. It consists of:
a. Configmaps: As the name suggests, Configmaps have configuration data of the application to be deployed. It has supporting configurations, like environment variables for the intended application. The total size of this data is less than 1MB.
b. Secrets: Kubernetes secrets are similar to Configmaps, but hold secure information. They hold supporting files, like passwords, for the application that is to be deployed.
c. Deployments: Deployments define the procedure of creating and updating application instances for the application to be deployed.
d. Kubernetes Service: It is the entity that assigns an IP address or hostname to the application that is to be deployed. When the assigned name is matched to a user’s search string, the application is presented to the user through the internet via Kube Proxy.

v. The developer places the Docker image through the Kubernetes API server. The API server pulls the Docker image to create the containers in the Pods, to deploy the intended application.

vi. Once the intended application is deployed in the pods, the developer can monitor, update, change, and edit the application as per the requirement through Kubectl from the developers’ service account through the API server in the control panel.

Kubernetes Deployment Flow

Deployment Flow (Source: Polarsquad)

Categories
Electronics

A Comprehensive Exploration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

A Comprehensive Exploration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs

Let’s get familiar with Drones:

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are powered aerial vehicles that do not carry a human operator and can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely.

  • UAVs can be fully or partially autonomous and carry a lethal or nonlethal payload.
  • They are used in various sectors, including military, transportation, logistics, construction, environmental monitoring, and real estate photography.
  • UAVs can be remarkably efficient, offering substantially greater range and endurance than equivalent manned systems.
  • UAVs are descended from target drones and remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) employed by the military.

Classification of drones based on the number of wings:

Drones can be classified based on the number of wings they possess. Here are the main types of drones based on their number of wings:

  1. Single-rotor drones: These drones have a single main rotor for lift and are more energy-efficient than multi-rotor drones. They are suitable for long-endurance missions but may be less stable than multi-rotor drones.
  2. Multi-rotor drones: These are the most common type of drones, featuring multiple rotors to provide lift and stability. They are used for various purposes, such as aerial mapping and surveying, aerial surveillance and patrol, and search and rescue operations. They are also known as Quadcopters.
  3. Fixed-wing drones: Similar to traditional aircraft, fixed-wing drones rely on wings for lift rather than rotors. They are typically large, fuel-powered models used by the military and require a runway to operate. Fixed-wing drones are energy-efficient and cover longer ranges than rotary-wing drones.
UAV Classification Based on Wings and Rotor

Application Areas of Drones/quadcopters:

Quadcopter drones have a wide range of applications in various fields. Some of the major application areas of quadcopter drones include:

  • Aerial photography for journalism and film, express shipping and delivery.
  • Gathering information or supplying essentials for disaster management.
  • Thermal sensor drones for search and rescue operations.
  • Border control surveillance.

Dimensions of a Quadcopter Drone:

Quadcopter drones can have different dimensions depending on their size and purpose. The dimensions of a quadcopter drone can be measured in millimeters and can vary based on the size of the spherical body, cylindrical arms, and propellers. The size of the quadcopter drone can also be measured by its wheelbase, which is the diagonal distance between the motors and is typically measured in millimeters. The wheelbase of a quadcopter drone can range from less than 100mm to over 280mm, with thicker frames typically being more durable. The size of the quadcopter drone can also determine the size of the propellers and motors that can be used with it, with larger drones being able to accommodate larger and more powerful components.

Flight control dynamics of a Quadcopter
Flight control dynamics of a Quadcopter 2

Flight control dynamics of a Quadcopter:

The flight control dynamics of a quadcopter can be explained through the movement of the drone in the forward, backward, upward, and downward directions based on the thrust applied to its wings. Here’s a brief explanation of how thrust affects the drone’s motion in these directions:

  1. Forward motion: The forward motion of a quadcopter is achieved by adjusting the rotor speeds and/or propeller tilting to increase the thrust in the forward direction. The propellers push air downward and forward, creating a forward thrust that allows the drone to move forward
  2. Backward motion: To move the quadcopter backward, the rotors can be adjusted to generate thrust in the opposite direction. This can be achieved by changing the rotor speeds or propeller tilting, depending on the specific design of the quadcopter
  3. Upward motion: The upward motion of a quadcopter is achieved by increasing the thrust generated by the propellers. This can be done by accelerating the rotors, increasing their speed, or adjusting the propeller tilting to generate more lift
  4. Downward motion: To move the quadcopter downward, the thrust generated by the propellers can be redirected downward. This can be achieved by adjusting the rotor speeds, propeller tilting, or adding downward-directed thrust components to the overall thrust vector.
Drone Movement Chart
Drone Movement Chart 2

Factors and Parameters Affecting Flight Control Dynamics of a Quadcopter:

In the context of quadcopter drones, thrust, yaw, pitch, and roll are essential concepts that help understand the flight dynamics and control of the drone.

  1. Thrust: Thrust is the force generated by the propellers that pushes the drone upward and forward. In a quadcopter, there are four propellers, each generating thrust in the direction of the positive z-axis in the body frame.
  2. Yaw: Yaw refers to the rotation of the drone about its axis, which is responsible for the drone’s orientation and heading in the horizontal plane.
  3. Pitch: Pitch refers to the angle between the drone’s body and its horizontal plane, which affects the drone’s altitude and angle of attack.
  4. Roll: Roll refers to the angle between the drone’s body and its vertical axis, which affects the drone’s side-to-side stability and balance.
  5. Torque: Torque is the rotating or twisting force exerted by the propellers on the drone’s body and the propellers themselves.
Drone Mechanism

In a quadcopter, the propellers exert a torque on the drone’s body in the direction opposite to their rotation. This torque can cause the drone to spin or change its orientation in response to the propeller’s force. It is essential to maintain a balance between the torque generated by the propellers to avoid uncontrolled spinning or instability in the drone’s flight. Roll control is crucial for maintaining stability during flight, especially when the drone is carrying a payload or operating in complex environments. Roll control is typically achieved by adjusting the rotor speeds and/or propeller tilting. Pitch is essential for the drone to maintain a stable flight path and avoid obstacles. Pitch control is achieved by adjusting the rotor speeds and/or propeller tilting. Yaw is essential for the drone to navigate and maintain its desired flight path or orientation. Differential thrust between the two pairs of counter-rotating motors provides yaw torque. The sum of the four thrusts results in the total thrust of the drone. Thrust is crucial for the drone to maintain altitude and speed in various flight conditions.

The architecture of a Basic Quadcopter:

The different types of elements comprised in a quadcopter include:

  1. Frame: The frame is the main structure of the quadcopter that holds all the other components together. It can be made of various materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber, plastic, glass fiber, or PCB fiber.
  2. Motors: The motors are responsible for generating the thrust needed for flight. A quadcopter has four motors, one for each rotor.
  3. Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs): The ESCs control the speed of the motors and ensure that they are synchronized with each other.
  4. Propellers: The propellers are attached to the motors and generate the lift needed for flight. A quadcopter has four propellers, one for each rotor.
  5. Battery: The battery provides power to the motors and other electronic components of the quadcopter.
  6. Flight Controller: The flight controller is the brain of the quadcopter and controls its flight. It receives input from the pilot or autopilot system and adjusts the speed of the motors to maintain stability and control.
  7. Radio Transmitter/Receiver: The radio transmitter sends commands from the pilot to the quadcopter, while the receiver receives these commands and sends them to the flight controller.
  8. FPV Camera: An FPV (First Person View) camera allows the pilot to see what the quadcopter sees in real time.
  9. Video Transmitter (VTX): The VTX sends the video signal from the FPV camera to the pilot’s receiver.
  10. Antenna: The antenna is used to transmit and receive radio signals between the quadcopter and the pilot’s transmitter.
  11. Gimbal: A gimbal is a device that stabilizes the camera and reduces vibrations during flight.
  12. LEDs: LEDs can provide visual feedback on the status of the quadcopter, such as battery level or flight mode.

Majorly selling Quadcopter in the US region:

One famous quadcopter selling in the USA is the DJI Phantom series, which is a popular choice for both professional and amateur drone pilots. The Phantom series is known for its stability, ease of use, and high-quality camera systems, making it a top choice for capturing stunning aerial photos and videos.
The controller architecture for the DJI Phantom series typically includes a remote controller that connects to the drone via radio frequency. The remote controller is responsible for controlling the drone’s flight, adjusting its camera settings, and accessing various flight features. The controller’s design is ergonomic and user-friendly, providing a comfortable and immersive flying experience.

Phantom Series - Pro Level Aerial Imaging
Phantom 2 Vision Plus - Block Diagram


Signal Flow in a Drone:

Signal Flow in a Drone


Granted invention related to working of Drone:

US11021248B2: Variable motor controller


The claim of the invention:

The claim of the invention