Patent Publication Number: US-11395370-B1

Title: Enhancing vehicle connectivity using a modular telematics control unit

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     As technology advances, more vehicles are built with a telematics control unit (TCU) to provide system connectivity to the Internet and assist with vehicle tracking. A conventional TCU is typically an embedded system that includes a global positioning system (GPS) unit, an external interface for mobile communication, a processor, and memory. Because the conventional TCU module is typically placed in a vehicle&#39;s trunk or built into another vehicle system, the TCU&#39;s antenna is usually positioned on the vehicle&#39;s roof and connected via a long coaxial cable that results in signal loss during operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure generally relates to enhancing vehicle connectivity and operations using a modular TCU equipped with multiple internal cellular components configured to communicate with external networks simultaneously. 
     In one embodiment, the present application describes a system. The system includes a plurality of antennas; a plurality of radios; and a housing configured to couple to a vehicle. The plurality of antennas and the plurality of radios are positioned within the housing. The plurality of radios includes: (i) a first cellular radio configured to establish a first wireless connection with a first cellular network using a first cellular transmission antenna and a first cellular reception antenna from the plurality of antennas; (ii) a second cellular radio configured to establish a second wireless connection via a second cellular network using a second cellular transmission antenna and a second cellular reception antenna from the plurality of antennas; (iii) a Wi-Fi radio coupled to a set of antennas from the plurality of antennas and configured to provide a Wi-Fi network for passenger devices located inside the vehicle when the housing is coupled to the roof of the vehicle; and (iii) one or more Bluetooth low energy (BLE) radios, wherein each BLE radio is coupled to an antenna from the plurality of antennas. 
     In another embodiment, the present application describes a method. The method involves establishing, by a first cellular radio from a telematics control unit (TCU), a first wireless connection with a first cellular network. The TCU includes a plurality of radios and a plurality of antennas positioned within a housing that is configured to couple to a vehicle. The first cellular radio uses a first cellular transmission antenna and a first cellular reception antenna from the plurality of antennas to establish the first wireless connection with the first cellular network. The method also involves establishing, by a second cellular radio from the TCU, a second wireless connection with a second cellular network. The second cellular radio uses a second cellular transmission antenna and a second cellular reception antenna from the plurality of antennas to establish the second wireless connection with the second cellular network. The method further involves providing, by a Wi-Fi radio from the TCU, a Wi-Fi network for passenger devices located inside the vehicle when the TCU is coupled to the vehicle. The Wi-Fi radio uses a set of antennas from the plurality of antennas to provide the Wi-Fi network. 
     In yet another example, the present application describes non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a telematics control unit (TCU) to perform operations. The operations may involve one or more functions of the method described above. 
     A fourth embodiment may involve a system that includes various means for carrying out each of the operations of the first, second, and third embodiments. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the figures and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a vehicle, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a side view of a vehicle, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a top view of a vehicle, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a front view of a vehicle, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates a back view of a vehicle, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2E  illustrates an additional view of a vehicle, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram illustrating a modular TCU, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a top view of a modular TCU layout, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a bottom view of the modular TCU layout, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a TCU enabling vehicle systems to communicate with external devices using BLE, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a method for enhancing vehicle connectivity using a modular TCU, according to one or more example embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic diagram of a computer program, according to example embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof. In the figures, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, figures, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein. 
     Example embodiments presented herein relate to modular TCUs with multiple cellular radios and techniques for using a modular TCU with multiple cellular radios to enhance the connectivity of a vehicle. A modular TCU can perform similar operations as a conventional TCU, but with a modular configuration that incorporates electric components into a single device. In particular, a modular TCU may incorporate both radios and corresponding antennas that enable vehicle connectivity within a single housing structure configured to connect to different types of vehicle in an interchangeable manner. 
     The housing of a modular TCU can organize and protect internal components and may also include connection elements that allow the TCU to be attached to a portion of a vehicle (e.g., the roof) and subsequently removed from the vehicle. For example, the housing may include through holes or other elements for fasteners to connect the TCU to the vehicle or another component located on the vehicle (e.g., connect to a sensor pod located on the vehicle). In some instances, an adhesive may be used to position the TCU onto a vehicle. 
     The type and combination of electrical components within example modular TCUs can vary and may depend on the desired performance for the TCU. Example components within a modular TCU may include multiple radios, antennas, processors, memory, and other components. By way of example, a modular TCU may include six radios and nine antennas. The six radios may include a pair of cellular radios, a Wi-Fi radio, and three Bluetooth low energy (BLE) radios. Each cellular radio may be configured to establish a wireless connection with a different network using corresponding cellular transmission and reception antennas. As a result, the TCU can establish wireless connections with multiple networks simultaneously. For instance, each cellular subsystem may wireless communicate via a network associated with a particular carrier. By including multiple cellular subsystems, the modular TCU can minimize downtime that can arise when a network is unavailable during navigation of a vehicle. 
     Within the example modular TCU, the Wi-Fi radio may be coupled to a set of antennas and configured to provide a Wi-Fi network. The Wi-Fi network may enable passenger devices to connect to the Internet and/or a local area network within the vehicle. For example, the Wi-Fi subsystem may establish a connection to the Internet through one of the cellular subsystems, which may involve switching to overcome connectivity issues that can arise during navigation. 
     In addition, the modular TCU may include BLE technology. In some embodiments, a heat sink positioned within the TCU may adjust operation of the BLE technology. Particularly, the heat sink can cause an omnidirectional BLE antenna to operate in a particular direction extending from the TCU. The heat sink can serve as a reflector for one or more BLE antennas to limit operation in particular directions. As a result, BLE technology can be used by the TCU to detect the presence of a passenger&#39;s device and a location of the device relative to the vehicle. 
     To enable the modular design, the antennas may be located within a threshold distance from the radios inside the TCU&#39;s housing. In some embodiments, an antenna is 5 to 10 millimeters (mm) from the corresponding radio inside the TCU. The antennas and radios can be in a small area (e.g., 5-10 square millimeters). The threshold distance between radios and antennas may depend on the size and configuration of the TCU&#39;s housing. As such, by locating antennas internally within the housing, a modular TCU can be easily installed and uninstalled on various types of vehicles. In addition, the minimal distance between the antennas and corresponding radios and processing components reduces any loss during transmission and reception, which is a problem that impacts conventional TCUs that have antennas positioned remotely from other components. 
     There are challenges that can arise when implementing cellular, Wi-Fi, and BLE technologies within compact modular device. To overcome these challenges, example embodiments may use component arrangements that minimize interference between the different technologies and enable reliable operation. For instance, some example modular TCUs use a single printed circuit board (PCB) to connect and organize components. Using a single PCB to organize components offers several advantages. The TCU&#39;s components can be coupled to each other and collocated on a single PCB, which can make manufacturing and assembly more efficient. For example, the radios, antennas, processors, and other components that enable operations of the TCU may be collocated on a single PCB that can be protected by the TCU&#39;s housing. In addition, the use of a single PCB can help minimize the overall size of the TCU. 
     The arrangement of components on the PCB can further enable and enhance operations of the different technologies provided by the TCU. In particular, example modular TCUs may use a unique design to enable the pair of cellular radios to operate effectively with all four antennas internal in the housing and along with other technologies, such as Wi-Fi and BLE. In some examples, all onboard components and non-antenna metal components are positioned within a threshold distance from the center of the PCB to leave a periphery (i.e., an external border) on the PCB with no copper for the installation of the antennas. As a result, each radio may be coupled within a threshold distance from the PCB&#39;s center and each antenna may be coupled at the exterior border extending outside the threshold distance from the PCB&#39;s center. 
     In addition, in order to increase spatial diversity and isolation, the cellular transmission antennas may be positioned orthogonal to each other (i.e., perpendicular) on the PCB. Spatial diversity and isolation can improve the quality and reliability of each wireless link. In some embodiments, by using two separate antennas for transmit and receive functions, a modular TCU can eliminate the need for a duplexer and also protect sensitive receiver components from high power used in transmit. The TCU may also utilize a specific RF design with high pass and low pass filters on relevant chains in order to meet regulatory specifications and further enhance coexistence performance. Furthermore, the heat sink within the TCU may be used as an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield for the components inside the housing. The TCU may also include one or more parasitic element plates positioned strategically to enhance antenna operations. For instance, a TCU may include two parasitic element plates coupled on the upper portion of the housing and connected to ground via the modems. The two parasitic element plates may increase isolation between the cellular antennas (e.g., LTE antennas). 
     Referring now to the figures,  FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating example vehicle  100 . Vehicle  100  may represent a vehicle capable of operating fully or partially in an autonomous mode. More specifically, vehicle  100  may operate in an autonomous mode without human interaction (or reduced human interaction) through receiving control instructions from a computing system (e.g., a vehicle control system). As part of operating in the autonomous mode, vehicle  100  may use sensors (e.g., sensor system  104 ) to detect and possibly identify objects of the surrounding environment in order to enable safe navigation. In some implementations, vehicle  100  may also include subsystems that enable a driver (or a remote operator) to control operations of vehicle  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , vehicle  100  includes various subsystems, such as propulsion system  102 , sensor system  104 , control system  106 , one or more peripherals  108 , power supply  110 , computer system  112 , data storage  114 , user interface  116 , and TCU  160 . The subsystems and components of vehicle  100  may be interconnected in various ways (e.g., wired or wireless connections). In other examples, vehicle  100  may include more or fewer subsystems. In addition, the functions of vehicle  100  described herein can be divided into additional functional or physical components, or combined into fewer functional or physical components within implementations. 
     Propulsion system  102  may include one or more components operable to provide powered motion for vehicle  100  and can include an engine/motor  118 , an energy source  119 , a transmission  120 , and wheels/tires  121 , among other possible components. For example, engine/motor  118  may be configured to convert energy source  119  into mechanical energy and can correspond to one or a combination of an internal combustion engine, one or more electric motors, steam engine, or Stirling engine, among other possible options. For instance, in some implementations, propulsion system  102  may include multiple types of engines and/or motors, such as a gasoline engine and an electric motor. 
     Energy source  119  represents a source of energy that may, in full or in part, power one or more systems of vehicle  100  (e.g., engine/motor  118 ). For instance, energy source  119  can correspond to gasoline, diesel, other petroleum-based fuels, propane, other compressed gas-based fuels, ethanol, solar panels, batteries, and/or other sources of electrical power. In some implementations, energy source  119  may include a combination of fuel tanks, batteries, capacitors, and/or flywheel. 
     Transmission  120  may transmit mechanical power from the engine/motor  118  to wheels/tires  121  and/or other possible systems of vehicle  100 . As such, transmission  120  may include a gearbox, a clutch, a differential, and a drive shaft, among other possible components. A drive shaft may include axles that connect to one or more wheels/tires  121 . 
     Wheels/tires  121  of vehicle  100  may have various configurations within example implementations. For instance, vehicle  100  may exist in a unicycle, bicycle/motorcycle, tricycle, or car/truck four-wheel format, among other possible configurations. As such, wheels/tires  121  may connect to vehicle  100  in various ways and can exist in different materials, such as metal and rubber. 
     Sensor system  104  can include various types of sensors, such as Global Positioning System (GPS)  122 , inertial measurement unit (IMU)  124 , one or more radar units  126 , laser rangefinder/LIDAR unit  128 , camera  130 , steering sensor  123 , and throttle/brake sensor  125 , among other possible sensors. In some implementations, sensor system  104  may also include sensors configured to monitor internal systems of the vehicle  100  (e.g.,  02  monitors, fuel gauge, engine oil temperature, condition of brakes). 
     GPS  122  may include a transceiver operable to provide information regarding the position of vehicle  100  with respect to the Earth. IMU  124  may have a configuration that uses one or more accelerometers and/or gyroscopes and may sense position and orientation changes of vehicle  100  based on inertial acceleration. For example, IMU  124  may detect a pitch and yaw of the vehicle  100  while vehicle  100  is stationary or in motion. 
     Radar unit  126  may represent one or more systems configured to use radio signals to sense objects (e.g., radar signals), including the speed and heading of the objects, within the local environment of vehicle  100 . As such, radar unit  126  may include one or more radar units equipped with one or more antennas configured to transmit and receive radar signals as discussed above. In some implementations, radar unit  126  may correspond to a mountable radar system configured to obtain measurements of the surrounding environment of vehicle  100 . For example, radar unit  126  can include one or more radar units configured to couple to the underbody of a vehicle. 
     Laser rangefinder/LIDAR  128  may include one or more laser sources, a laser scanner, and one or more detectors, among other system components, and may operate in a coherent mode (e.g., using heterodyne detection) or in an incoherent detection mode. Camera  130  may include one or more devices (e.g., still camera or video camera) configured to capture images of the environment of vehicle  100 . 
     Steering sensor  123  may sense a steering angle of vehicle  100 , which may involve measuring an angle of the steering wheel or measuring an electrical signal representative of the angle of the steering wheel. In some implementations, steering sensor  123  may measure an angle of the wheels of the vehicle  100 , such as detecting an angle of the wheels with respect to a forward axis of the vehicle  100 . Steering sensor  123  may also be configured to measure a combination (or a subset) of the angle of the steering wheel, electrical signal representing the angle of the steering wheel, and the angle of the wheels of vehicle  100 . 
     Throttle/brake sensor  125  may detect the position of either the throttle position or brake position of vehicle  100 . For instance, throttle/brake sensor  125  may measure the angle of both the gas pedal (throttle) and brake pedal or may measure an electrical signal that could represent, for instance, the angle of the gas pedal (throttle) and/or an angle of a brake pedal. Throttle/brake sensor  125  may also measure an angle of a throttle body of vehicle  100 , which may include part of the physical mechanism that provides modulation of energy source  119  to engine/motor  118  (e.g., a butterfly valve or carburetor). Additionally, throttle/brake sensor  125  may measure a pressure of one or more brake pads on a rotor of vehicle  100  or a combination (or a subset) of the angle of the gas pedal (throttle) and brake pedal, electrical signal representing the angle of the gas pedal (throttle) and brake pedal, the angle of the throttle body, and the pressure that at least one brake pad is applying to a rotor of vehicle  100 . In other embodiments, throttle/brake sensor  125  may be configured to measure a pressure applied to a pedal of the vehicle, such as a throttle or brake pedal. 
     Control system  106  may include components configured to assist in navigating vehicle  100 , such as steering unit  132 , throttle  134 , brake unit  136 , sensor fusion algorithm  138 , computer vision system  140 , navigation/pathing system  142 , and obstacle avoidance system  144 . More specifically, steering unit  132  may be operable to adjust the heading of vehicle  100 , and throttle  134  may control the operating speed of engine/motor  118  to control the acceleration of vehicle  100 . Brake unit  136  may decelerate vehicle  100 , which may involve using friction to decelerate wheels/tires  121 . In some implementations, brake unit  136  may convert kinetic energy of wheels/tires  121  to electric current for subsequent use by a system or systems of vehicle  100 . 
     Sensor fusion algorithm  138  may include a Kalman filter, Bayesian network, or other algorithms that can process data from sensor system  104 . In some implementations, sensor fusion algorithm  138  may provide assessments based on incoming sensor data, such as evaluations of individual objects and/or features, evaluations of a particular situation, and/or evaluations of potential impacts within a given situation. 
     Computer vision system  140  may include hardware and software operable to process and analyze images in an effort to determine objects, environmental objects (e.g., stop lights, road way boundaries, etc.), and obstacles. As such, computer vision system  140  may use object recognition, Structure From Motion (SFM), video tracking, and other algorithms used in computer vision, for instance, to recognize objects, map an environment, track objects, estimate the speed of objects, etc. 
     Navigation/pathing system  142  may determine a driving path for vehicle  100 , which may involve dynamically adjusting navigation during operation. As such, navigation/pathing system  142  may use data from sensor fusion algorithm  138 , GPS  122 , and maps, among other sources to navigate vehicle  100 . Obstacle avoidance system  144  may evaluate potential obstacles based on sensor data and cause systems of vehicle  100  to avoid or otherwise negotiate the potential obstacles. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , vehicle  100  may also include peripherals  108 , such as wireless communication system  146 , touchscreen  148 , microphone  150 , and/or speaker  152 . Peripherals  108  may provide controls or other elements for a user to interact with user interface  116 . For example, touchscreen  148  may provide information to users of vehicle  100 . User interface  116  may also accept input from the user via touchscreen  148 . Peripherals  108  may also enable vehicle  100  to communicate with devices, such as other vehicle devices. 
     Wireless communication system  146  may wirelessly communicate with one or more devices directly or via a communication network. For example, wireless communication system  146  could use 3G cellular communication, such as CDMA, EVDO, GSM/GPRS, or 4G cellular communication, such as WiMAX or LTE. Alternatively, wireless communication system  146  may communicate with a wireless local area network (WLAN) using WiFi or other possible connections. Wireless communication system  146  may also communicate directly with a device using an infrared link, Bluetooth, or ZigBee, for example. Other wireless protocols, such as various vehicular communication systems, are possible within the context of the disclosure. For example, wireless communication system  146  may include one or more dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) devices that could include public and/or private data communications between vehicles and/or roadside stations. 
     Vehicle  100  may include power supply  110  for powering components. Power supply  110  may include a rechargeable lithium-ion or lead-acid battery in some implementations. For instance, power supply  110  may include one or more batteries configured to provide electrical power. Vehicle  100  may also use other types of power supplies. In an example implementation, power supply  110  and energy source  119  may be integrated into a single energy source. 
     Vehicle  100  may also include computer system  112  to perform operations, such as operations described therein. As such, computer system  112  may include at least one processor  113  (which could include at least one microprocessor) operable to execute instructions  115  stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as data storage  114 . In some implementations, computer system  112  may represent a plurality of computing devices that may serve to control individual components or subsystems of vehicle  100  in a distributed fashion. 
     In some implementations, data storage  114  may contain instructions  115  (e.g., program logic) executable by processor  113  to execute various functions of vehicle  100 , including those described above in connection with  FIG. 1 . Data storage  114  may contain additional instructions as well, including instructions to transmit data to, receive data from, interact with, and/or control one or more of propulsion system  102 , sensor system  104 , control system  106 , and peripherals  108 . 
     In addition to instructions  115 , data storage  114  may store data such as roadway maps, path information, among other information. Such information may be used by vehicle  100  and computer system  112  during the operation of vehicle  100  in the autonomous, semi-autonomous, and/or manual modes. 
     Vehicle  100  may include user interface  116  for providing information to or receiving input from a user of vehicle  100 . User interface  116  may control or enable control of content and/or the layout of interactive images that could be displayed on touchscreen  148 . Further, user interface  116  could include one or more input/output devices within the set of peripherals  108 , such as wireless communication system  146 , touchscreen  148 , microphone  150 , and speaker  152 . 
     Computer system  112  may control the function of vehicle  100  based on inputs received from various subsystems (e.g., propulsion system  102 , sensor system  104 , and control system  106 ), as well as from user interface  116 . For example, computer system  112  may utilize input from sensor system  104  in order to estimate the output produced by propulsion system  102  and control system  106 . Depending upon the embodiment, computer system  112  could be operable to monitor many aspects of vehicle  100  and its subsystems. In some embodiments, computer system  112  may disable some or all functions of the vehicle  100  based on signals received from sensor system  104 . 
     TCU  160  may be a module that enables connectivity for vehicle  100 . TCU  160  may be implemented as any of the example embodiments described herein. For example, TCU  160  may include multiple cellular radios that enable vehicle  100  to connect to different networks simultaneously. In addition, TCU  160  may have a modular design with antennas for the cellular radios as well as other technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi, BLE) positioned within a housing of TCU  160 . As such, TCU  160  may be coupled to vehicle  100  and also subsequently removed from vehicle  100 . When coupled to vehicle  100 , TCU  160  may connect to other vehicle systems, such as control system  106  and power supply  110 , among others. 
     The components of vehicle  100  could be configured to work in an interconnected fashion with other components within or outside their respective systems. For instance, in an example embodiment, camera  130  could capture a plurality of images that could represent information about a state of an environment of vehicle  100  operating in an autonomous mode. The state of the environment could include parameters of the road on which the vehicle is operating. For example, computer vision system  140  may be able to recognize the slope (grade) or other features based on the plurality of images of a roadway. Additionally, the combination of GPS  122  and the features recognized by computer vision system  140  may be used with map data stored in data storage  114  to determine specific road parameters. Further, radar unit  126  may also provide information about the surroundings of the vehicle. 
     In other words, a combination of various sensors (which could be termed input-indication and output-indication sensors) and computer system  112  could interact to provide an indication of an input provided to control a vehicle or an indication of the surroundings of a vehicle. 
     In some embodiments, computer system  112  may make a determination about various objects based on data that is provided by systems other than the radio system. For example, vehicle  100  may have lasers or other optical sensors configured to sense objects in a field of view of the vehicle. Computer system  112  may use the outputs from the various sensors to determine information about objects in a field of view of the vehicle, and may determine distance and direction information to the various objects. Computer system  112  may also determine whether objects are desirable or undesirable based on the outputs from the various sensors. Further, computing system  112  may also perform operations with data from TCU  160 . 
     Although  FIG. 1  shows various components of vehicle  100 , i.e., wireless communication system  146 , computer system  112 , data storage  114 , user interface  116 , and TCU  160  as being integrated into the vehicle  100 , one or more of these components could be mounted or associated separately from vehicle  100 . For example, data storage  114  could, in part or in full, exist separate from vehicle  100 . Thus, vehicle  100  could be provided in the form of device elements that may be located separately or together. The device elements that make up vehicle  100  could be communicatively coupled together in a wired and/or wireless fashion. 
       FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E  illustrate different views of a physical configuration of vehicle  100 . The various views are included to depict example sensor positions  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 , and  212  on vehicle  100 . In other examples, sensors can have different positions on vehicle  100 . Although vehicle  100  is depicted in  FIGS. 2A-2E  as a van, vehicle  100  can have other configurations within examples, such as a truck, a car, a semi-trailer truck, a motorcycle, a bus, a shuttle, a golf cart, an off-road vehicle, robotic device, or a farm vehicle, among other possible examples. 
     As discussed above, vehicle  100  may include sensors coupled at various exterior locations, such as sensor positions  202 - 212 . Vehicle sensors can include one or more types of sensors with each sensor configured to capture information from the surrounding environment or perform other operations (e.g., communication links, obtain overall positioning information). For example, sensor positions  202 - 212  may serve as locations for any combination of one or more cameras, radars, LIDARs, range finders, one or more TCUs or other radio devices (e.g., Bluetooth and/or 802.11), and acoustic sensors, among other possible types of sensors. In some examples, a TCU (e.g., TCU  160 ) may be coupled to vehicle  100  at one of the sensor positions  202 - 212 , such as sensor position  212  positioned on the roof of vehicle  100 . 
     Various mechanical fasteners may be used to couple sensors and other components to vehicle  100 , including permanent or non-permanent fasteners, adhesives, and other types of coupling elements. For example, bolts, screws, clips, latches, rivets, anchors, and other types of fasteners may be used. In some examples, one or more sensors may be coupled to vehicle  100  using adhesives. In further examples, a sensor may be designed and built as part of the vehicle components (e.g., parts of the vehicle mirrors). 
     In some implementations, one or more sensors may be positioned at sensor positions  202 - 212  using movable mounts operable to adjust the orientation of one or more sensors. A movable mount may include a rotating platform that can rotate sensors so as to obtain information from multiple directions around vehicle  100 . For instance, sensor position  202  may include a movable mount that enables rotation and scanning within a particular range of angles and/or azimuths. As such, vehicle  100  may include mechanical structures that enable one or more sensors and/or a TCU to be mounted atop the roof of vehicle  100 . Additionally, other mounting locations are possible within examples. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram for a TCU, according to one or more example embodiments. As shown, TCU  300  includes processor  302 , memory  304 , heat sink  306 , modems  308 , parasitic element plates  310 , housing  311 , cellular system  312 , cellular system  314 , Wi-Fi system  316 , BLE  318 , and input/output interface  320 , all of which may be coupled by a system bus  322  or a similar mechanism. In other embodiments, TCU  300  can include more or fewer components. Components can be combined or removed in other embodiments as well. In addition, one or more components may be located external TCU  300  in additional embodiments. For example, TCU  300  may receive operation instructions from an external processor. 
     Processor  302  may be one or more of any type of computer processing element, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a co-processor (e.g., a mathematics, graphics, or encryption co-processor), a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor, and/or a form of integrated circuit or controller that performs processor operations. In some cases, processor  302  may be one or more single-core processors. In other cases, processor  302  may be one or more multi-core processors with multiple independent processing units. Processor  302  may also include register memory for temporarily storing instructions being executed and related data, as well as cache memory for temporarily storing recently-used instructions and data. In some examples, TCU  300  may include a combination of processors. In addition, TCU  300  may also perform operations based on inputs from one or more external processors, such as a vehicle navigation system or mobile devices positioned within the vehicle. 
     Memory  304  may include one or more volatile, non-volatile, removable, and/or non-removable storage components, such as magnetic, optical, or flash storage, and/or can be integrated in whole or in part with processor  302 . As such, memory  304  may take the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions (e.g., compiled or non-compiled program logic and/or machine code) that, when executed by processor  302 , cause components of TCU  300  to perform one or more acts and/or functions, such as those described in this disclosure. TCU  300  can be configured to perform one or more acts and/or functions, such as those described in this disclosure. Such program instructions can define and/or be part of a discrete software application. In some instances, processor  302  can execute program instructions in response to receiving an input, such as from vehicle navigation system. Memory  304  may also store other types of data, such as those types described in this disclosure. In some embodiments, TCU  300  may use external memory. For example, components within TCU  300  may use memory within another vehicle system. 
     Heat sink  306  can cool TCU  300  by dissipating heat from one or more components. For example, heat sink  306  can include aluminum or copper that acts as a passive heat exchanger by transferring heat within TCU  300  to a fluid medium. The quantity and configuration of heat sink  306  can vary in example embodiments. For example, TCU  300  can include a single heat sink that is positioned relative to electrical components that operate more effectively at controlled temperatures. 
     Heat sink  306  can also be used to enhance the operation of one or more wireless communication technologies operating within TCU  300 . For instance, heat sink  306  may have a structure and position that can serve as an EMI shield to prevent interference (or help reduce interference) between antennas associated with different components (e.g., cellular systems  312 - 314 ). In addition, heat sink  306  can cause BLE  318  to operate in a particular direction relative to TCU  300 . In particular, heat sink  306  can function as a reflector that directs an omnidirectional BLE antenna in the particular direction and blocks transmission in other directions. Heat sink  306  can also function as a thermal connection or electrical connection. 
     Modems  308  may represent one or more components configured to convert data into a format suitable for transmission medium for transmission from one device to another. Modems  308  may modulate one or more carrier wave signals to encode digital information for transmission and demodulates signals to decode the transmitted information. For example, each cellular  312 ,  314  may use a modem (e.g., a mobile broadband) to convert data transmitted to and received from the corresponding network. 
     Parasitic element plates  310  can include one or more plates configured with parasitic elements that increase isolation between components within TCU  300 , such as the cellular antennas. For example, TCU  300  includes two parasitic element plates positioned on the upper cover of the housing. Each parasitic element plate  310  may be grounded via a connection through modems  308  (or through another component) and can be positioned to increase isolation between the cellular antennas. 
     Housing  311  is a physical structure that protects components within TCU  300  and can be coupled to a portion of a vehicle (or another component located on the vehicle). The size, material, configuration, and other aspects of housing  311  can vary. For example, housing  311  can have a box structure, which may be further divided into multiple portions that connect together during assembly. Housing  311  may consist of plastic, metal, or other materials. The material(s) selected may have properties that minimize interference with antenna operations. In some embodiments, housing  311  may be created via additive manufacturing or another type of three dimensional (3D) printing techniques. 
     Cellular systems  312 ,  314  can establish wireless connections with external networks. Each cellular system  312 ,  314  may include a cellular radio configured to use a specific transmit antenna and receive antenna to establish a connection with an external network. Through cellular systems  312 ,  314 , TCU  300  may establish connections with multiple networks simultaneously. In some instances, cellular system  312  may connect and communicate via one carrier&#39;s network while cellular system  314  establishes another connection through a different carrier&#39;s network. Example mobile technologies used by cellular systems  312 ,  314  may include, but are not limited to 2G, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), 3G, CDMA2000, 4G, LTE, LTE Advanced Pro, WiMax, and 5G, among others. Vehicle systems may use one or both cellular systems  312 ,  314  to communicate with other devices via one or more external networks (e.g., the Internet). 
     Wi-Fi system  316  enables TCU  300  to provide wireless networking technologies based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. For example, through a connection established by cellular system  312  or cellular system  314 , Wi-Fi system  316  may enable vehicle devices and/or mobile devices positioned within the vehicle (e.g., passenger devices) to connect to the Internet. In some instances, Wi-Fi system  316  may switch between cellular systems  312 - 314  to reduce potential downtime that can occur during navigation. In addition, Wi-Fi system  316  may provide a local area network (LAN) for vehicle devices and/or devices within the vehicle. Wi-Fi system  316  as well as other components may enforce passwords to allow use and/or modification. Wi-Fi system  316  may include a Wi-Fi radio configured to use a corresponding transmit antenna and receive antenna. 
     BLE is a wireless technology standard used for exchanging data between devices over short distances using shortwavelength UHF radio waves and can build personal area networks (PANs). BLE system  318  may be used to establish communication between vehicle systems and other devices, such as passenger devices charging stations, information kiosks, and traffic signals, among others. For example, a vehicle navigation system may communicate with a passenger device through BLE system  318 . 
     BLE system  318  may include a BLE radio and a BLE antenna to establish wireless communication over short distances. As discussed above, heat sink  306  can act as an EMI shield and cause the BLE antenna to operate in a particular direction. In some embodiments, TCU  300  may include multiple BLE systems  318  with each BLE system configured to communicate in a particular direction away from the vehicle. A vehicle system can estimate a general location of another device relative to the vehicle based on which BLE system is facilitating the wireless communication. The location estimation feature can enhance autonomous operations and safety, including assisting with the detection and connection with charging stations, detection of traffic signs, and factoring passenger locations into navigation strategy based on the estimated locations of passengers&#39; devices. 
     In some embodiments, one or more BLE system(s)  318  may be positioned under heat sink  306  within TCU  300 . In such a position, BLE system(s)  318  may be located proximate the roof of the vehicle when TCU  300  is coupled to the vehicle&#39;s roof to allow wireless communication between devices located inside the vehicle (e.g., a passenger&#39;s smartphone) during navigation. 
     Input/output interface  320  can be used to input data into TCU  300  and output data from TCU  300 . For example, input/output interface  320  can input operation instructions to process  302  or other components within TCU  300 . In addition, input/output interface  320  can output data from components within TCU  300 . In other embodiments, TCU  300  may include other components. For example, TCU  300  may include a power adapter that enables components within TCU  300  to receive power from an external source, such as a vehicle power supply. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a top view inside TCU  400 , which shows an example arrangement for internal components. The arrangement of internal components is designed to enable effective operation of the various wireless technologies included within TCU  400 . Other embodiments may involve different components in other potential arrangements. 
     TCU  400  may include the components included in the block diagram for TCU  300  shown in  FIG. 3 . Housing  402  may provide structure and protect internal components. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , housing  402  has a box configuration divided to create bottom portion  403  and top portion  405 . Bottom portion  403  and top portion  405  are configured to couple together (e.g., screw together) and provide protection to internal components of TCU  400 . 
     Housing  402  further includes through holes  424 A,  424 B,  424 C,  424 D. Through holes  424 A- 424 D may enable housing  402  to be coupled to a vehicle, such as vehicle  100 . For example a set of screws or other fasteners may be used to couple housing  402  to a portion of a vehicle or another component positioned on a vehicle (e.g., within a sensor pod coupled to the vehicle). In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , housing  402  is made out of plastic and is approximately 150-200 millimeters wide and approximately 350-400 millimeter long. In other embodiments, the material, size, and configuration can differ. 
     In addition, TCU  400  is shown with components collocated on a single PCB  404 . Non-antenna components are shown coupled within area  406  of PCB  404 . By having non-antenna components positioned within a threshold distance from center  407  of PCB  404  (i.e., within area  406 ), an external border of PCB  404  is formed without any metal connections (e.g., copper) between non-antenna components. As a result, the external border of PCB  404  is suitable for the installation of antennas, such as transmit antennas  408 A,  410 A, receive antennas  408 B,  410 B, and Wi-Fi antennas  412 . 
     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4A  further depicts two pairs of transmit and receive antennas. TCU  400  includes transmit antenna  408 A and receive antenna  408 B for one cellular system and transmit antenna  410 A and receive antenna  410 B for another cellular system. To enable effective operation during simultaneous use, Transmit antenna  408 A and receive antenna  408 A are connected to PCB  404  at one side while transmit antenna  410 A and receive antenna  410 A are connected on the other. In the illustrated embodiment, each pair of cellular transmission and reception antennas has approximately 25 to 75 millimeters between the antennas. There is also approximately 150-200 millimeters between transmit antenna  410 A and receive antenna  408 B. These distances can differ in other embodiments and can depend on the size of PCB  404  and the arrangement of components on PCB  404 . In addition, transmit antennas  408 A,  410 A are also shown in an orthogonal arrangement at opposite corners of PCB  404  to increase spatial diversity and isolation between them. Similarly, receive antennas  408 B,  410 B are orthogonal and located at opposite corners of PCB  404  to achieve similar effects. TCU  400  may also include one or more filters. For instance TCU  400  may include one or more high pass filter and low pass filters coupled on relevant chains relative to transmit antennas  408 A,  410 A, and receive antennas  410 A,  410 B. These filters may be included to meet regulatory specifications. 
     The top view also shows Wi-Fi antennas  412  coupled to the exterior border of PCB  404  between transmit antenna  410 A and receive antenna  408 B. As discussed above, a TCU&#39;s Wi-Fi may include a Wi-Fi radio and a corresponding transmit and receive set of antennas (e.g., Wi-Fi antennas  412 ). 
     TCU  400  also includes modems  414 A,  414 B coupled to PCB  404  within area  406 , data connector  420  and power connector  422 . Modems  414 A,  414 B can perform operations similar to radios in some embodiments. In addition, TCU  400  also includes parasitic element plates  413 A,  413 B, which can assist with signal management and reduce interference during operation of transmit antennas  408 A,  410 A, receive antennas  408 A,  410 B, Wi-Fi antennas  412  and other components within TCU  400 . 
     Data connector  420  may enable TCU  400  to communicate with other devices, such as a vehicle navigation system or other computing systems. For instance, data connector  420  can allows data input and output from TCU  400 . Power connector  422  may enable TCU  400  to receive power from an external source. For example, power connector  422  can enable TCU  400  to connect to a vehicle power source. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a bottom view of TCU  400 , which depicts an example arrangement for heat sink  430 , BLE antennas  432 ,  434 ,  436 , and other components that are coupled to the bottom side of PCB  404 . The bottom view depicts the bottom side of PCB  404  positioned within top portion  405  of housing  402 . As indicated above, bottom portion  403  and top portion  405  may connect together to form housing  402  and protect internal components. 
     Heat sink  430  is shown with a rectangular configuration and coupled to a bottom side of PCB  404 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4B , heat sink  430  is positioned to cause each BLE antenna  432 - 436  to operate in a particular direction extending from TCU  400 . More specifically, BLE antenna  432  is directed to generally operate in the direction between arrow  440 A,  440 B, BLE antenna  434  is directed to generally operate in the direction between arrow  442 A,  442 B, and BLE antenna  436  is directed to generally operate in the direction represented between arrows  444 A,  44 B. In addition, one or more BLE antennas  432 - 436  can communicate with a device located within vehicle when TCU  400  coupled to the vehicle (e.g., to the vehicle&#39;s roof). For instance, BLE antenna  432  may communicate with a passenger&#39;s smartphone as the passenger travels within the vehicle. Another perspective of data connector  420  and power connector  422  are shown in  FIG. 4B . 
       FIG. 5  depicts TCU  500  enabling vehicle systems to communicate with external devices using BLE. Scenario  500  shows TCU  504  coupled to roof  506  of vehicle  502  and using BLE technology to establish short-distance wireless communication with devices  508 ,  510 ,  512  located outside vehicle  502 . In other embodiments, TCU  504  can be located at another position on vehicle  502 . 
     BLE technology from TCU  504  may vehicle systems to wirelessly communicate with devices  508 - 512 , which can be any type of device capable of communicating via BLE. For example, devices  508 - 512  may be passenger devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, wearable computing devices), information kiosks, traffic components (e.g., signs or signals), and charging stations. 
     In scenario  500 , TCU  504  includes three BLE antennas configured to communicate with devices in particular regions  516 ,  518 ,  520 , respectively. As discussed above, a heat sink within TCU  504  can cause omnidirectional BLE antennas to operate only in one of the three example regions  516 ,  518 ,  520 . For example, one BLE radio and antenna combination from TCU  504  may be configured to communicate with devices (e.g., device  508 ) primarily in a left region  516  relative to vehicle  502  while another combo communicates with devices (e.g., devices  510 ,  512 ) located in a right region  520 . In addition, the third BLE may communicate with devices located in region  518  behind vehicle  502 . 
     The vehicle navigation system and other components of vehicle  502  may use BLE to determine navigation strategies and to enhance the experience of passengers. For example, BLE from TCU  504  may be used to selectively unlock vehicle doors based on a location of a passenger device relative to vehicle  502 . Other BLE uses are possible. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of method  600  for enhancing vehicle connectivity using a modular TCU. Method  600  represents an example method that may include one or more operations, functions, or actions, as depicted by one or more of blocks  602 ,  604 , and  606 , each of which may be carried out by any of the systems shown in  FIGS. 1-5  and  FIG. 7 , among other possible systems. For example, any of the TCUs described herein may perform method  600  or similar methods. In addition, the TCU may include one or more processors to cause other components to perform operations described herein. For instance, a processor within the TCU may cause a radio to establish a wireless connection. In some embodiments, external systems (e.g., a vehicle system) may use components within a modular TCU to perform method  600 . 
     Those skilled in the art will understand that the flowchart described herein illustrate functionality and operation of certain implementations of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block of the flowchart may represent a module, segment, or a portion of program code, which includes one or more instructions executable by one or more processors for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. The program code may be stored on any type of computer readable medium, for example, such as a storage device including a disk or hard drive. 
     In addition, each block may represent circuitry that is wired to perform the specific logical functions in the process. Alternative implementations are included within the scope of the example implementations of the present application in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art. In examples, a computing system may cause a processor from a TCU to perform one or more blocks of method  600 . 
     At block  602 , method  600  involves establishing, by a first cellular radio from a TCU, a first wireless connection with a first cellular network. The TCU can include multiple radios and multiple antennas positioned within a housing that is configured to couple to a vehicle. In some embodiments, the multiple radios and antennas are collocated to a PCB located within the housing. For example, the antennas can be positioned within a threshold distance from the radios within the housing with the threshold distance based on reducing losses during transmission and reception between radios and corresponding antennas. 
     In addition, the first cellular radio may use a first cellular transmission antenna and a first cellular reception antenna from the multiple antennas to establish the first wireless connection with the first cellular network. 
     At block  604 , method  600  involves establishing, by a second cellular radio from the TCU, a second wireless connection with a second cellular network. The second cellular radio may use a second cellular transmission antenna and a second cellular reception antenna from the multiple antennas to establish the second wireless connection with the second cellular network. 
     At block  606 , method  600  involves providing, by a Wi-Fi radio from the TCU, a Wi-Fi network for passenger devices located inside the vehicle when the TCU is coupled to the vehicle. The Wi-Fi radio may use a set of Wi-Fi antennas from the multiple antennas to provide the Wi-Fi network. In some examples, providing the Wi-Fi network involves using the first wireless connection with the first cellular network or the second wireless connection with the second cellular network. 
     In some examples, method  600  may further involve establishing, by a BLE radio from the TCU, a wireless connection with a given passenger device. The BLE radio may use a antenna operating in a particular direction to establish the wireless connection with the given passenger device. In addition, method  600  may also involve communicating via the first wireless connection with the first cellular network and via the second wireless connection with the second cellular network simultaneously. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustrating a conceptual partial view of an example computer program product that includes a computer program for executing a computer process on a computing device, arranged according to at least some embodiments presented herein. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods may be implemented as computer program instructions encoded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage media in a machine-readable format, or on other non-transitory media or articles of manufacture. 
     In one embodiment, example computer program product  700  is provided using signal bearing medium  702 , which may include one or more programming instructions  704  that, when executed by one or more processors may provide functionality or portions of the functionality described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-6 . In some examples, the signal bearing medium  702  may encompass a non-transitory computer-readable medium  1606 , such as, but not limited to, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, memory, etc. In some implementations, the signal bearing medium  702  may encompass a computer recordable medium  708 , such as, but not limited to, memory, read/write (R/W) CDs, R/W DVDs, etc. In some implementations, the signal bearing medium  702  may encompass a communications medium  710 , such as, but not limited to, a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link, etc.). Thus, for example, the signal bearing medium  702  may be conveyed by a wireless form of the communications medium  710 . 
     The one or more programming instructions  704  may be, for example, computer executable and/or logic implemented instructions. In some examples, a computing device such as the computer system  112  of  FIG. 1  may be configured to provide various operations, functions, or actions in response to the programming instructions  704  conveyed to the computer system  112  by one or more of the computer readable medium  706 , the computer recordable medium  708 , and/or the communications medium  710 . Other devices may perform operations, functions, or actions described herein. 
     The non-transitory computer readable medium could also be distributed among multiple data storage elements, which could be remotely located from each other. The computing device that executes some or all of the stored instructions could be a vehicle, such as vehicle  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2E . Alternatively, the computing device that executes some or all of the stored instructions could be another computing device, such as a server. 
     The above detailed description describes various features and functions of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods with reference to the accompanying figures. While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims. 
     It should be understood that arrangements described herein are for purposes of example only. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and other elements (e.g. machines, apparatuses, interfaces, functions, orders, and groupings of functions, etc.) can be used instead, and some elements may be omitted altogether according to the desired results. Further, many of the elements that are described are functional entities that may be implemented as discrete or distributed components or in conjunction with other components, in any suitable combination and location.