Hierarchical Message Format for Robotic Swarm Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic swarm systems face challenges in dynamically managing control inputs from multiple operators, including conflicts and inefficient resource allocation, particularly in heterogeneous swarms with diverse robotic units operating in complex environments.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for encoding and deconflicting control information using a hierarchical message format and cloud-based infrastructure, enabling dynamic assignment of operators and resolving conflicts through priority-based matrix transformations, ensuring efficient message delivery and robot control across multiple cloud cores and on-robot computers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple operators control robotic systems simultaneously through a centralized system, then control coordination is improved, but system complexity increases due to conflict resolution requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent cloud cores that can be dynamically allocated and assigned to different operators. Each cloud core handles control inputs independently, and the system uses topic-based message routing to distribute control signals to appropriate robotic units, reducing the complexity of managing all control signals through a single centralized processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cloud cores as intermediary components between operators and robotic systems. These cloud cores act as mediators that receive control inputs from multiple operators, manage priority-based conflict resolution, and route commands to appropriate robotic units, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining coordinated control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic operator assignment is implemented, then system adaptability is improved, but message delivery reliability deteriorates due to potential conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing priority levels for different operators and control inputs before conflicts occur. When multiple operators send control signals simultaneously, the pre-defined priority structure immediately determines which signal is executed, ensuring reliable message delivery without requiring complex real-time conflict resolution algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors control signal arrivals at cloud cores and adjusts message routing based on current operator assignments and priority levels. This feedback loop ensures that dynamic operator reassignments are processed reliably, with the system adapting message delivery to maintain accuracy under changing operational conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heterogeneous robotic units are integrated into a single swarm, then system versatility is improved, but control management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control framework where cloud cores can be dynamically assigned to manage different types of robotic units (aerial, ground, underwater) regardless of their specific heterogeneity. The topic-based message routing system provides universal communication protocols that allow diverse robotic units to receive and execute control commands through a unified architecture, maintaining versatility while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic cloud core assignment where operators can be assigned to different cloud cores based on real-time operational needs. This dynamic allocation allows the system to adaptively manage heterogeneous robotic units by routing control signals through appropriate cloud cores that have the necessary computational resources and communication channels, thereby reducing control management complexity despite system versatility.
4Speed
If control inputs are processed in real-time across distributed systems, then response speed is improved, but computational resource allocation becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments computational resources into multiple independent cloud cores that can be dynamically allocated to different operators and robotic units. This segmentation allows real-time control inputs to be processed in parallel across distributed systems, improving response speed while enabling efficient computational resource allocation by assigning cloud cores based on actual operational demand rather than maintaining all resources in a single centralized processor.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and/or computer program product controls movements and adjusts operations of a robot or collection of robots over a computer network. The system allows for the dynamic creation of cloud message queues, and uses a hierarchical message format and weight matrix collapse method to allow multi-entity deconfliction of control messages so that multiple operators, either human or intelligent software agents, may simultaneously control one or more robots or subassemblies of robots and/or other electronic/mechatronic devices.