Cloud Robotics Multipath Communication for Millisecond Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud robotics systems face challenges in providing reliable wireless communication between robots and controllers, especially for mobile robots, due to the unreliability of wireless connectivity, which can result in control performance degradation and potential damage from lost or delayed status and command messages.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing multipath transmission over multiple wireless transmission paths, where a primary connectivity component determines a robot sensitivity value to dynamically configure the use of available paths for communication, ensuring reliable communication by activating or deactivating wireless interfaces based on the sensitivity value, and using industrial transmission protocols like Profinet through a VPN tunnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used for mobile robots to enable mobility, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of communication deteriorates due to potential message loss or delay
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into multiple independent transmission paths (e.g., LTE and WLAN interfaces) instead of relying on a single wireless connection. This segmentation allows the system to distribute communication traffic across different paths, reducing the impact of failures on any single path and thereby improving overall communication reliability while maintaining robot mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by establishing multiple redundant transmission paths and monitoring their quality in advance. When degradation is detected on one path, the system can proactively switch to or activate alternative paths before complete communication failure occurs, ensuring continuous reliable communication for mobile robot operations.
2Reliability
If traffic is duplicated and sent over multiple transmission paths simultaneously to improve reliability, then communication reliability is improved, but radio efficiency deteriorates and cell capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the use of multiple transmission paths based on real-time conditions rather than continuously duplicating traffic. The primary connectivity component monitors path quality and dynamically configures which paths are active, activating secondary paths only when needed (e.g., when the primary path degrades or fails). This dynamic approach maintains reliability while minimizing unnecessary radio resource consumption and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the configuration of transmission paths based on robot sensitivity values and communication conditions. Instead of fixed duplication, the system modifies which paths are active and how traffic is distributed, optimizing the balance between reliability and radio efficiency by parameter changes rather than constant resource allocation.
3Reliability
If existing multipath solutions are used to provide redundancy, then communication reliability is improved, but the time scale for reliability is insufficient for robot control requirements (1-10 seconds vs. 5-20 ms)
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple transmission paths and maintaining them in a ready state with lower power modes. When the primary path fails or degrades, the system can rapidly activate pre-prepared alternative paths within the required 5-20 ms time frame for robot control, rather than establishing new connections from scratch. This preliminary preparation eliminates the 1-10 second delay of existing solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements skipping by bypassing the lengthy connection establishment and authentication procedures of traditional multipath solutions. Pre-configured paths allow the system to rapidly switch between transmission paths by simply activating dormant interfaces, rushing through the failover process in milliseconds rather than seconds, thus meeting real-time robot control requirements.
4Reliability
If fixed access using wire based connections is used for fixed robots to ensure reliability, then communication reliability is improved, but adaptability to mobile platforms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by designing a multi-functional connectivity solution that can operate with multiple types of wireless interfaces (LTE, WLAN, and potentially other technologies). This universal approach allows the same system architecture to be adapted to different robot platforms and mobility requirements while maintaining communication reliability, bridging the gap between fixed and mobile robot applications.
Data Source
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AI summary
A technique for providing reliable wireless communication between a robot (104) and a robot controller (102) in a cloud robotics system is disclosed. A method implementation of the technique is performed by a primary connectivity component (106) supporting multipath transmission over a plurality of wireless transmission paths to establish connectivity between the robot (104) and the robot controller (102). The method comprises triggering determining (S402) a robot sensitivity value indicating a degree of operation sensitivity of the robot (104) to a transmission failure between the robot (104) and the robot controller (102), and triggering configuring (S404) use of one or more of the plurality of wireless transmission paths for communication between the robot (104) and the robot controller (102) depending on the determined robot sensitivity value.