Robot Watchdog

JP7863351B2Active Publication Date: 2026-05-21JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023531045
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2020-10-12
Filing Date
2021-10-12
Publication Date
2026-05-21
Estimated Expiration
2041-10-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Software-based robot watchdogs are vulnerable to software errors and crashes, which can lead to dangerous operational conditions in robotic systems.

Method used

A hybrid hardware/software watchdog system with a thread-safe architecture that includes a hardware watchdog and a software watchdog, along with emergency switches and fail-safe checks, to monitor and control robot manipulators.

Benefits of technology

The hybrid system effectively mitigates software errors by ensuring real-time monitoring and immediate power cutoff in case of failures, enhancing safety and preventing dangerous robot operations.

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Abstract

Robot watchdog software is responsible for monitoring the system status and operation results, and re-issuing commands according to task changes and dynamic conditions. However, if the robot watchdog software slows down or stops operating, the motion control board will be left unmonitored, potentially putting the robot into a dangerous state. The addition of a hardware watchdog mitigates this risk. A hybrid software-hardware robot watchdog is disclosed. A fail-safe robot system is implemented with a two-tier software and hardware check system. The software checks the robot's hardware, while the hardware watchdog checks the software's operation.
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Citation Information

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