Multipath Wireless Communication for Cloud Robot Control Reliability

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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 using 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 network interfaces as needed, and establishing a tunnel for communication using industrial protocols like Profinet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireless communication is used for mobile robots, then mobility and flexibility are improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to potential message loss and delays

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemobilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system is segmented into multiple independent transmission paths (e.g., LTE and WLAN interfaces). Each path operates separately, allowing the system to select or switch between paths based on current conditions, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling wireless mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes communication parameters by selecting different transmission paths based on robot sensitivity values and path quality. When the primary path degrades, the system switches to alternative paths or adjusts transmission parameters to maintain reliable communication for mobile robots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traffic is duplicated and sent over multiple wireless transmission paths simultaneously, then communication reliability is improved, but radio efficiency decreases and cell capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidradio efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically configures the use of transmission paths based on robot sensitivity values and real-time path quality assessment. Instead of static duplication, the system activates additional paths only when sensitivity is high or primary path quality degrades, optimizing radio efficiency while maintaining reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different transmission paths are used for different types of traffic based on their quality characteristics. Critical control commands use the most reliable path, while less critical data may use alternative paths, optimizing overall system efficiency without sacrificing safety-critical communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If existing multipath solutions are used, then some redundancy is provided, but reliability in the time scale relevant for robot control (5-20 ms) cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveredundancyVSAvoidswitching time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of transmission path quality and robot sensitivity before control actions are needed. By pre-configuring path selections and maintaining ready-state alternative paths, the system can switch within 5-20 ms without waiting for failure detection, meeting real-time control requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors transmission path quality and robot sensitivity, providing real-time feedback to the path selection mechanism. This closed-loop control enables rapid detection of path degradation and immediate switching to alternative paths within the 5-20 ms window required for velocity control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If fixed access is used for robot controllers, then communication reliability is improved, but mobility is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidmobility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a connectivity management component as an intermediary between the mobile robot and cloud controller. This mediator handles path selection, quality monitoring, and switching decisions, providing fixed-access level reliability through intelligent management while the robot maintains wireless mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11075997B2Technique for reliable communication in a cloud robotics system

Publication Date: 2021.07.27 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

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.