Automated Data Center Robot for Server Replacement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data centers and server farms require manual intervention for replacing failed server farm equipment, which increases mean-time-to-repair and minimum-time-to-repair metrics, and existing tape libraries lack interoperability for robotic cartridge management across different units.

Innovation Solution

An automated data center management system utilizing a hardware management robot with a robotic arm, interfaced to a track system, and a controller that receives service requests, determines equipment locations, generates paths, and transmits instructions for replacing server farm equipment, with interchangeable interface points and RFID/barcode-based identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual replacement of server farm equipment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but mean-time-to-repair and minimum-time-to-repair increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment replacement processVSAvoidmean-time-to-repair

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated detection and replacement of failed equipment. The hardware management controller receives service requests, determines equipment locations, generates paths, and transmits instructions to hardware management robots that autonomously navigate and replace failed server farm equipment without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical replacement operations are substituted with an automated control system. The hardware management controller uses computer software with encoded instructions to process service requests, calculate optimal paths, and direct robotic systems to perform equipment replacement, replacing the manual mechanical process with an automated electromechanical system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If manual replacement of server farm equipment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but minimum-time-to-repair increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment replacement processVSAvoidminimum-time-to-repair

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning replacement equipment in the spare equipment repository and pre-calculating optimal paths using the track system layout stored in memory. When a failure occurs, the replacement equipment is already prepared and the route is predetermined, enabling immediate replacement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If self-contained robotic means are used in each tape library unit, then autonomy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetape cartridge retrieval automationVSAvoidrobotic system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single hardware management robot with interchangeable interface points can service multiple different equipment types across the data center. The robot can replace server farm equipment, retrieve tape cartridges, and potentially service other hardware, eliminating the need for dedicated robotic systems for each function and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple specialized robotic functions are merged into a single multi-functional hardware management robot. The system combines server equipment replacement capabilities with tape library cartridge retrieval capabilities in one robot, which can be directed to different locations and equipped with appropriate interface points for different tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10245727B2Automated data center

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC

AI summary

An automated data center management system includes one or more equipment racks housing at least one server farm equipment, each of the at least one server farm equipment having a respective attachment point, a spare equipment repository having at least one replacement equipment, and a hardware management robot. The hardware management robot includes a robotic arm having an interface point, the interface point configured to couple to the attachment point. A hardware management controller is communicates with the hardware management robot, the hardware management controller including at least one processor, and non-transitory computer readable media having encoded thereon computer software comprising a set of instructions to receive a service request indicating a server farm equipment needing service, determine a location of the server farm equipment, generate a path to the location of the server farm equipment, and transmit the path to the hardware management robot.