Robot Self-Recovery via Symmetric Module Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Independent robots face challenges in rapidly and efficiently recovering from hardware or software failures, leading to resource wastage and operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A robot with symmetrically structured modules and a recovery unit that diagnoses failures, determines recoverability, and performs operations to replace or initialize failed modules, utilizing existing resources for self-recovery, including hardware and software recovery units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robot performs continuous operations without dedicated management, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates when failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system performs self-diagnosis and self-recovery operations. When a module fails, the system automatically detects the failure through diagnosis units, determines recoverability, and executes recovery operations using remaining functional modules without requiring external intervention, thereby maintaining continuous operation while ensuring reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The robot is divided into multiple independent modules that can be individually diagnosed and recovered. This modular structure allows the system to isolate failures to specific modules while other modules continue to function, enabling continuous operation even when some modules fail
2Reliability
If recovery operations use dedicated recovery resources, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Existing functional modules serve dual purposes: they perform their primary operational functions and also serve as recovery resources for other modules. For example, a functional module can provide replacement components or diagnostic capabilities for failed modules, eliminating the need for dedicated recovery hardware and reducing overall system complexity
3Productivity
If recovery operations are performed rapidly, then productivity is improved, but loss of time for proper diagnosis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors module status and maintains diagnostic information in advance. When a failure occurs, the pre-collected diagnostic data and pre-determined recovery procedures enable immediate recovery operations without requiring time-consuming analysis, thus achieving rapid recovery while minimizing diagnosis time
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a robot capable of recovering from a failure of one of a plurality of symmetrically structured modules, and a recovery method thereof. When a hardware or software failure occurs, the robot recovers by itself by replacing the failed module with another corresponding module. Accordingly, resources of the robot can be more efficiently utilized.