EARS: A TV Whitespace Communication System for Connected Vehicles

该项目的重点是设计一个全面的通信堆栈，利用电视白空间实现“联网车辆”，以及它们在引入更智能、更安全的交通服务方面的许多优势。未经许可的电视空白频谱的低成本与其更长的通信范围的结合非常符合车辆连接的需求。然而，实现TV空白通信面临独特的约束和挑战，包括例如保护主要现任者、扫描服从于时空变化的许多信道配置、处理由于FCC关于移动和静态节点的规定而导致的非对称上行链路/下行链路发射功率约束。拟议的研究通过一系列技术解决了这些挑战。它增加了分布在移动车辆上的传感器的频谱感知技术，以提高频谱数据库的准确性。它采用了创新的PHY和MAC层技术，包括可变扩频码、MIMO和定向天线，并辅之以适应上行链路/下行链路不对称的网络/传输层协议。这些研究任务整合了机器学习技术，以探索车辆空白网络的可预测移动性和其他独特优势。该项目正在开发一种新的通信技术，以改进和加强车辆的广域连接。所有开发的技术预计将在实际环境中部署在威斯康星州麦迪逊的现实车辆试验台上。这项研究工作涉及到与许多行业合作伙伴的合作，预计将影响监管和标准化机构。研究人员还通过公开讲座、开发新课程，以及通过在高中和本科阶段适当的PI参与，激励妇女和少数族裔在未来的STEM职业生涯中发挥教育作用。

The project is focused on designing a holistic communication stack that leverages TV whitespaces for enabling "connected vehicles" and their many advantages in ushering smarter and safer transportation services. The combination of low cost of the unlicensed TV whitespace spectrum and its longer communication ranges matches the needs of vehicular connectivity quite well. Yet realizing TV whitespace communications faces unique constraints and challenges including, e.g., protecting primary incumbents, scanning through many channel configurations subject to spatial-temporal variations, dealing with asymmetric uplink/downlink transmit power constraints due to FCC regulations concerning mobile and static nodes. The proposed research addresses these challenges through a range of techniques. It augments spectrum sensing techniques from sensors distributed across moving vehicles to enhance the accuracy of spectrum databases. It employs innovative PHY and MAC layer techniques including variable spreading codes, MIMO and directional antennas, complemented with network/transport layer protocols that adapt to uplink/downlink asymmetry. These research tasks integrate machine learning techniques to explore the predictable mobility and other unique advantages of the vehicular whitespace network. This project is developing a new communication technology for improved and robust wide-area connectivity for vehicles. All developed techniques are expected to be deployed in a practical setting on a realistic vehicular testbed in Madison, WI. The research work engages collaboration with many industry partners and is expected to influence regulatory and standardization bodies. The researchers are also making educational impact through public lectures, developing new curriculum, and motivating women and minorities in future STEM careers through appropriate PI engagement at high school and undergraduate levels.