Cloud Robot Command Concealment for Lost or Delayed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cloud robotics systems face challenges in maintaining reliable robot control due to communication failures, such as delays and losses of commands, which can lead to degraded or failed robot operations.

Innovation Solution

A method employing a concealment component that detects missing commands in a cloud robotics system and generates substitutional commands using a machine learning-based model, based on sensor values sent from the robot to the controller, to ensure continuous operation of the robot.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireless connections are used in cloud robotics systems to enable remote control, then robot accessibility and flexibility are improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to packet loss and delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobot accessibilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting what control commands should be sent based on historical data and current sensor readings. This prediction happens before actual commands are received or lost, allowing the robot to maintain operation with anticipated control inputs that compensate for potential communication failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A command prediction intermediary component is introduced between the cloud controller and the robot. This intermediary predicts and supplies substitute commands when communication fails, acting as a mediator that bridges the gap caused by unreliable wireless connections without requiring direct controller-robot communication at that moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If retransmission mechanisms are implemented for lost commands, then command loss is reduced, but control performance deteriorates due to delays and counterproductive retransmitted commands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand deliveryVSAvoidcontrol performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of retransmitting lost commands (traditional approach), the system inverts the approach by predicting what commands should have been sent and supplying those predictions proactively. This inversion avoids the problem of retransmitted commands being outdated or counterproductive, as the predictions are generated based on current robot state rather than historical command queues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The robot control system performs self-service by generating its own substitute commands when communication fails. Using onboard sensors and a prediction model, the system serves itself with appropriate control inputs without requiring external command retransmission, thereby maintaining autonomy and performance during communication disruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If continuous control is used with periodic command transmission, then fine-grained movement control is achieved, but vulnerability to communication failures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement precisionVSAvoidoperation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies beforehand cushioning by preparing and having ready substitute commands that can immediately take effect when communication fails. This cushioning layer of predicted commands protects the continuous control process from interruption, ensuring that movement precision is maintained even when periodic command transmission is disrupted by communication failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3684558B1Technique for providing reliable control in a cloud robotics system

Publication Date: 2025.02.19 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

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AI summary

A technique for providing reliable control of a robot (304) in a cloud robotics system (300) is disclosed. A computing unit configured to execute a concealment component (100) for concealing delayed or lost commands sent to the robot (304) by a robot controller (302) in the cloud robotics system (300) comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, wherein the at least one memory contains instructions executable by the at least one processor such that the concealment component (100) is operable to detect a missing command expected to be received by the robot (304) from the robot controller (302), the missing command detected based on a delay or loss of the command in a communication path between the robot (304) and the robot controller (302), generate a substitutional command corresponding to an expected instruction of the missing command, and send the substitutional command to the robot (304).