Robot Fleet Bandwidth Reduction via Pull-Based Telemetry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic systems face challenges in efficiently managing network bandwidth, particularly for large fleets of robots, as they generate vast amounts of data that are often only useful for short periods, leading to impractical wired transmission methods and excessive usage of local networks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pull-based telemetry system that reduces network bandwidth usage by having robots issue communications to a server only when requested, using cellular LTE or Wi-Fi networks, and employing metadata to summarize binary data, ensuring that only relevant data is uploaded and stored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If robots continuously upload all binary data to the server, then complete data collection is achieved, but network bandwidth usage becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential metadata from the complete binary data set. Instead of uploading all sensor data, videos, and logs, the system identifies and uploads only the metadata that describes key events and states, significantly reducing network bandwidth usage while preserving the most valuable information for analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial action by selectively uploading data based on event occurrence. When no significant events occur, minimal metadata is uploaded. When events are detected, related binary data is uploaded on demand triggered by server queries, rather than continuously uploading all data.
2Loss of information
If robots store large amounts of binary data locally, then data availability is improved, but device storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates metadata from the full binary data, storing only the extracted metadata in the robot's limited local storage. The complete binary data can be retrieved from the server when needed, eliminating the need for large local storage capacity while maintaining data availability.
3Reliability
If wired transmission methods are used for data upload, then data transmission reliability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired transmission system with wireless communication (cellular or Wi-Fi). This substitution reduces physical complexity and installation cost while maintaining sufficient reliability for the reduced data volume being transmitted.
4Loss of information
If all robots upload data simultaneously, then comprehensive fleet monitoring is achieved, but network congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action through event-triggered uploads. Instead of simultaneous continuous uploads from all robots, data is uploaded periodically based on event occurrence. The server queries robots selectively based on received metadata, distributing network traffic over time and preventing congestion.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing network bandwidth usage by a fleet of robots. According to at least one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, robots coupled to a server collect and produce a substantial amount of data, only a portion of that data being useful for operators to monitor behavior of the robot. The present disclosure provides for, inter alia, optimized systems, apparatuses, and methods for operators to extract the useful data using only reduced bandwidth of cellular LTE networks or Wi-Fi networks.