Autonomous Data Center Rack Interface for Seamless Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenges of moving computing equipment within large and complex data centers are exacerbated by the need to disconnect and reconnect power, cooling, and cabling systems, requiring significant manual intervention and dedicated space for technician access, which becomes increasingly difficult as data centers grow in size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
Intelligent racks equipped with a controller and a rack interface that can connect to an autonomous robot, allowing for autonomous movement and alignment with data center infrastructure, enabling seamless repositioning of racks while managing power, cooling, and cabling systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual intervention is used to move racks and reconnect systems, then system reliability is maintained, but productivity decreases and loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack interface autonomously performs disconnection and reconnection operations without manual intervention. The system self-manages the separation of connectors from the first receiver and connection to the second receiver, eliminating the need for technician involvement and significantly reducing the time required for rack repositioning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The rack interface prepares for movement by automatically deactivating systems and managing disconnections before the rack is physically moved. This preliminary automation of disconnection procedures eliminates the time-consuming manual steps of systematically disconnecting power, cooling, and cabling connections
2Ease of operation
If dedicated access space is provided for technician intervention, then ease of operation is improved, but area of stationary object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack interface autonomously manages all disconnection and reconnection operations, eliminating the need for technician access space. The system performs self-service operations including deactivating systems, disconnecting from receivers, and reconnecting to new locations without human intervention, thereby removing the requirement for dedicated access corridors or work areas
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing space for technicians to manually operate, the invention inverts the approach by making the rack interface itself perform the operations autonomously. The rack interface becomes the active agent that manages connections, eliminating the need for human operators and their associated access requirements
3Extent of automation
If rack interface automatically connects to receiver, then extent of automation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack interface is designed as a multi-functional integrated system that simultaneously manages power connections, cooling connections, data cabling, and autonomous control operations. By consolidating these functions into a single universal interface, the patent achieves high automation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control functions for power, cooling, and cabling into a single integrated rack interface system. This consolidation allows automated coordination of all connection operations through one unified interface, reducing the complexity that would arise from managing separate automated systems for each utility
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments described herein provide intelligent movable racks for a data center and a central system for monitoring and directing the positioning of such racks within the data center. For example, a rack may include computing equipment as well as a power system, a cooling system, and a cabling system (e.g., for data communication). The rack may include a controller in communication with the computing equipment, the power system, the cooling system, and the cabling system. The rack may also include a rack interface for physically supporting the rack and operatively connecting the systems of the rack to power, cooling, and cabling infrastructure of the data center. The rack interface may receive an autonomous robot for moving the rack within the data center. The controller may control the power system and the cooling system based in part on the autonomous movement of the rack.