Cable Manifold Layout for Automated Server Tray Cabling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current datacenter cable management systems are inefficient for automated server handling, as cables are not staged consistently, leading to difficulties in handling by automated systems.
Innovation Solution
A cable manifold with fixed positions for connectors that allows simultaneous removal and insertion of connectors during server tray extraction and reinsertion, using a robot with a vision system for alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If cables are arranged for human use with manual handling, then cable management is flexible and adaptable, but automated server handling becomes difficult and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system is segmented into modular components: cable manifolds with multiple openings, individual cable connectors, and server trays. Each component can be independently manipulated by the automated robot, enabling systematic automated handling while maintaining organizational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable manifold acts as an intermediary device between the server tray and the cable management rack. It provides a standardized interface that the robot can grasp and manipulate, translating human-oriented cable organization into automated-friendly operations through its structured geometry and fiducial markers.
2Productivity
If each cable connector is individually removed from the server tray, then precise control is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cable connectors are merged into a single integrated cable manifold assembly. The robot removes or installs the entire manifold containing multiple connectors in one operation, dramatically increasing productivity while the standardized manifold design keeps the system manageable in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Cable connectors are pre-organized and pre-positioned within the cable manifold structure before being presented to the server tray. This preliminary arrangement within the manifold allows the robot to perform bulk operations without needing to individually position each connector, speeding up the process while maintaining precision.
3Measurement precision
If cable connectors are dangling from racks without fixed positions, then the system is simple and flexible, but automated robot handling becomes inaccurate and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
Fiducial markers are pre-positioned on the cable manifold at known locations before the robot begins operation. These markers allow the vision system to pre-calculate alignment parameters, enabling the robot to achieve precise positioning without complex real-time adjustments, thereby improving measurement precision without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiducial markers utilize distinct visual characteristics (such as contrasting colors or patterns) that are easily detectable by the robot's vision system. This visual differentiation allows for rapid and accurate identification of the manifold's position and orientation, enhancing alignment precision while keeping the marker structure simple and integrated into the manifold.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure is generally directed to a cable manifold and a system for rack cabling. A cable manifold includes a base surface, a plurality of sections, and one or more openings. Each of the plurality of sections comprises a respective plurality of sides extending transverse from the base surface, wherein each section shares one or more sides with at least one adjacent section The one or more openings extend through the base surface. One or more sections of the plurality of sections comprises a respective opening of the one or more openings configured to house a cable connector connected to a server tray removably coupled to the cable manifold such that when the cable manifold is removed from the server tray each cable connector housed by the plurality of openings are simultaneously removed from the server tray.