Robot Control Architecture Using Web Protocols and Hardware Abstraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional device control frameworks, such as ROS, are complex and require specialized knowledge, limiting accessibility to developers without robotic experience, and struggle with seamless communication and hardware abstraction across different devices and systems.
Innovation Solution
A device control architecture utilizing Internet communication protocols like WebRTC, gRPC, and WebSockets for message passing, enabling peer-to-peer connections and encryption, and abstracting hardware into system-standard component calls, allowing for hardware model-agnostic programming and remote management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional device control frameworks like ROS are used, then device control functionality is achieved, but the system complexity increases and accessibility to developers without robotic experience is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/control-system-oriented ROS framework with Internet communication protocols (WebRTC, gRPC, WebSockets) that are familiar to web developers. This substitution allows developers to use standard HTTP/HTTPS methods and JSON data formats instead of learning specialized robotic control frameworks, thereby improving accessibility while maintaining device control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal communication layer that works across different device types and programming languages. By implementing a standardized API that can be accessed through various protocols (WebRTC for real-time communication, gRPC for efficient RPC, WebSockets for bidirectional streaming), the system serves multiple functions and platforms through a single framework, reducing complexity for developers.
2Reliability
If specialized robotic frameworks are used, then device control is achieved, but communication lag increases and integration with local and remote systems becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication layer that translates between different protocols and the device control system. This intermediary layer uses optimized protocols like gRPC for efficient data transmission and WebRTC for real-time communication, reducing communication lag while maintaining stable integration with both local and remote systems through standardized interfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hardware-specific programming is used, then device control is achieved, but adaptability to different hardware models is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device control system into distinct layers: a hardware abstraction layer that handles device-specific operations and a standardized API layer that provides uniform access. This segmentation allows the upper layers to remain hardware-agnostic while the lower layers handle hardware-specific implementations, enabling developers to program without worrying about underlying hardware differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements configurable parameters and settings that can be adjusted based on the specific hardware model being used. The system maintains a core set of standardized commands and operations that work across all hardware, with optional parameters that can be modified to accommodate hardware-specific variations, thereby maintaining both adaptability and programming simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
In variants, a robot system can include a set of robot parts that communicate using a response-request framework.