Event Log Collection for Memory-Limited Industrial Robots

Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial apparatuses, such as robots and electric-powered presses, face memory saturation issues due to the accumulation of numerous event logs, which limits the number of re-write times in nonvolatile memory and reduces capacity in volatile memory, making it difficult to maintain and analyze actuation status without network connectivity.

Innovation Solution

A log collecting device that uses a volatile memory to store event logs, creates collection data through a frequency distribution table with varying time segments, and transfers this data to nonvolatile memory or portable media, allowing for efficient storage and deletion of logs to manage memory capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If nonvolatile memory is used to accumulate event logs, then the capacity to store logs is improved, but the number of re-write times reaches the limit quickly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent log storage capacityVSAvoidmemory re-write durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the memory system into two distinct segments: volatile memory (SRAM/NVSRAM) for frequently written event logs and nonvolatile memory (flash memory) for archival storage. This segmentation allows each memory type to operate within its optimal characteristics - the volatile memory handles high-speed writing without re-write limits, while the nonvolatile memory provides long-term storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a memory control unit as an intermediary that manages data flow between the event log generation unit, volatile memory, and nonvolatile memory. This intermediary coordinates the transfer of log data, determining when to write to volatile memory and when to transfer accumulated logs to nonvolatile memory, thereby protecting the volatile memory from excessive re-writing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If volatile memory is used to store event logs, then the re-write limit is eliminated, but the storage capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory re-write durabilityVSAvoidevent log storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the memory system into two distinct segments: volatile memory (SRAM/NVSRAM) for frequently written event logs and nonvolatile memory (flash memory) for archival storage. This segmentation allows each memory type to operate within its optimal characteristics - the volatile memory handles high-speed writing without re-write limits, while the nonvolatile memory provides long-term storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic transfer of event logs from volatile memory to nonvolatile memory. The memory control unit periodically moves accumulated log data from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory, allowing the volatile memory to be reused for new logs. This periodic action enables the system to maintain high re-write durability while achieving large cumulative storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If event logs are accumulated in the industrial apparatus, then the information is available for analysis, but the memory becomes saturated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent log availabilityVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a memory control unit as an intermediary that manages data flow between the event log generation unit, volatile memory, and nonvolatile memory. This intermediary coordinates the transfer of log data, determining when to write to volatile memory and when to transfer accumulated logs to nonvolatile memory, thereby protecting the volatile memory from excessive re-writing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic transfer of event logs from volatile memory to nonvolatile memory. The memory control unit periodically moves accumulated log data from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory, allowing the volatile memory to be reused for new logs. This periodic action enables the system to maintain high re-write durability while achieving large cumulative storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10921776B2Log collecting device, industrial robot, and electric-powered press

Publication Date: 2021.02.16 JANOME CORP

AI summary

A log collecting device enabling a grasp of an actuation status based on event logs without a restriction regarding a memory, and an industrial robot and an electric-powered press including the same are provided. A log collecting device 1 is provided on, for example, an industrial robot and an electric-powered press, stores an event log 11 indicating details of an event occurred at an apparatus in a volatile memory 3, creates the collection data 12 that is a collection of the event logs 11, stores this collection data 12 in the volatile memory 3, and deletes the event logs 11 collected as the collection data 12 from the volatile memory 3.