The 'fast robotics' project: almost all communication between robots, ambient sensors, components and control technology takes place wirelessly, decentrally and in real time via cloud solutions with the help of the new solution.

© Fraunhofer IFF

In terms of software systems, their approach is based on a transformation of the previously strictly hierarchically organized automation pyramid into a highly networked system. In addition, they have equipped assistance robots with intelligent basic skills that can only be realized through the interaction of networked, outsourced IT services on powerful computing technology. The Fraunhofer IFF engineers developed the necessary hardware and software themselves.

Prof. Norbert Elkmann, Head of the Robot Systems Business Unit at the Fraunhofer IFF and coordinator of the 'fast-robotics' project: "Our goal was to implement wireless real-time communication between decentralized, mobile robot applications and the surrounding infrastructure using powerful radio technology. The necessary computing technology can now be outsourced to external servers and core robot functions such as sensor data processing and motion generation can be provided via cloud solutions. For the demonstration, we deliberately opted for the very demanding 'assembly in flow operation' scenario. It is far more complex than with stationary objects and underlines the performance and practicality of the developments."

In the 'fast robotics' project, the robotics experts at the Fraunhofer IFF and the development partners involved have developed a new, wireless control architecture for mobile assistance robots that can even be used in assembly line production.

© Fraunhofer IFF

In order to achieve their goal, the researchers had to rethink and redesign the entire process of information transmission between the participants in such a network. Christoph Walter, project manager at the Fraunhofer IFF, explains: "Among other things, we were able to improve the statistical reliability and response behavior of wireless communication channels and cloud services. We also developed application-specific fault tolerance strategies for controlling the robots. This has resulted in a new robot control architecture that is based on the pre-calculation of relevant action variants at runtime and thus combines fast response times with higher-quality detection and planning functions."

As a result, mobile and stationary robots can now be monitored, localized, configured and controlled wirelessly in real time using a radio infrastructure. This also simplifies the integration of external sensors, such as stationary cameras for monitoring the robot environment and services based on this. In addition, lighter and more flexible mobile robots and manipulators can be built, as they no longer have to carry their entire computing technology and energy supply with them.