Stage Automation Protocol for Multi-Device Motion Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stage automation systems face inefficiencies in communication and control due to the use of hardware and software from disparate manufacturers, requiring extensive programming to coordinate and communicate effectively across different devices and protocols.
Innovation Solution
A stage automation system that employs a server to manage distributed program objects, allowing for the coordination of actionable mechanisms from various manufacturers through a common communication protocol, enabling efficient communication and control by transmitting time-stamped variables and data packets between executing programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional indexed register communication is used across disparate hardware manufacturers, then device compatibility is achieved, but programming complexity and coordination overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized communication protocol as an intermediary layer between controlling devices and actionable mechanisms. This protocol translates diverse manufacturer-specific register operations into a unified command structure, allowing devices from different manufacturers to communicate without requiring complex device-specific programming for each hardware combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol is designed with universal functionality that works across multiple device types and manufacturers. By defining a standardized set of commands and data structures that can be applied uniformly to lights, elevators, winches, and other stage equipment, the system eliminates the need for separate programming approaches for each device category.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive programming is performed for each hardware device, then precise control is achieved, but system scalability and ease of modification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into independent, standardized modules where each actionable mechanism is controlled through its own instance of the communication protocol. This segmentation allows individual devices to be added, removed, or modified without requiring reprogramming of the entire system, as each device operates through the same standardized interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol uses parameter-based configuration where device-specific characteristics are defined through standardized parameters rather than hard-coded programming. This allows precise control of each device while maintaining scalability, as new devices can be integrated by defining their parameters within the existing protocol framework without modifying the core control logic.
3Productivity
If manufacturer-specific communication protocols are used, then device functionality is optimized, but coordination efficiency between disparate devices decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized protocol acts as a mediator that translates between different manufacturer-specific protocols and a common communication language. This intermediary layer enables efficient coordination between devices from different manufacturers without requiring time-consuming manual configuration or translation of commands, as the protocol automatically handles the conversion and synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
A stage automation system, may include: at least one processor device implementing a physics engine; at least one memory device; one or more instructions stored in the memory device that, when executed by the at least one processor device implementing a physics engine, configure the at least one processor device for: receiving a torque limit value associated with a parent joint; receiving a request to move an object via a child joint according to a movement parameter; computing a torque value at the parent joint associated with the movement of the object via the child joint; comparing the computed torque value to the torque limit value; and controlling movement of the object via the child joint according to the comparison of the computed torque value to the torque limit value.