Industrial Robot Sidelink Communication for Low-Latency Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inter-robot communication techniques in industrial settings face challenges in guaranteeing maximum communication latency and satisfactory jitter levels, especially in environments with difficult radio conditions, limiting the reliability and speed of robot collaboration.
Innovation Solution
An industrial robot equipped with a wireless interface capable of establishing a sidelink with other robots for direct data exchange, bypassing traditional network infrastructure, which allows for reliable and fast communication essential for mission-critical tasks like coordinated object transfer and map information collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional network infrastructure routing is used for inter-robot communication, then network management and setup are simplified, but communication latency and jitter increase, reducing reliability for mission-critical tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sidelink communication interface as an intermediary channel between robots, allowing direct peer-to-peer data exchange that bypasses the traditional uplink-downlink routing through access points and base stations. This intermediary path reduces communication latency and jitter while maintaining network management simplicity through selective use of infrastructure for setup and coordination only.
2Reliability
If traditional network infrastructure routing is used for inter-robot communication, then network resource allocation is centralized and manageable, but communication performance deteriorates under high network load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path into two distinct modes: infrastructure-based routing for setup, coordination, and non-time-critical data, and direct sidelink communication for time-critical operational data exchange. This segmentation allows mission-critical communications to occur independently of cellular network load, ensuring consistent performance regardless of overall network conditions.
3Loss of time
If direct peer-to-peer sidelink communication is established between robots, then communication latency and jitter are reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional wireless interface requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal wireless interface that can operate in multiple modes: traditional uplink-downlink communication through infrastructure and direct sidelink peer-to-peer communication. This multi-functional interface consolidates both communication paradigms into a single device component, reducing overall system complexity while providing the latency benefits of direct communication when needed.
4Reliability
If traditional network infrastructure routing is used, then network security and access control are centralized and easier to implement, but communication jitter increases due to multiple routing hops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary setup and coordination activities through the traditional network infrastructure, establishing security contexts, access controls, and communication parameters before switching to direct sidelink communication for time-critical data exchange. This preliminary action through infrastructure ensures security and stability while the subsequent direct communication minimizes jitter for operational data.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial robot adapted for operation in a factory environment includes: sensors, actuators, a robot controller and a wireless interface configured to establish a sidelink to a further industrial robot or a group of industrial robots after a successful proximity verification. The industrial robot is configured to participate in execution of a utility task, which is carried out in collaboration with the further industrial robot or at least some members of the group of industrial robots, said collaboration including an exchange of operational data over the sidelink. An example utility task is the coordinated transfer of an object by multiple participating industrial robots. Another example is the collecting of map information by multiple participating industrial robots.