Cloud-based control architecture with safety aspects.
Investigators: Dr. Lechler/Prof. Verl, Prof. Xu
The main objective of this project is to design an innovative control architecture that offers a platform for hybrid control algorithms. Hybrid control algorithms calculate their parameters by measuring or observing the real system. In addition, they pre-calculate and optimize parameters as well as robot paths and set points by using the calculated behaviour of the simulated system. This control platform is able to combine the flexibility of technical real-time control environments with simulation-based models which require high computing power. A cloud-based approach offers the addressed requirements in computing power together with the flexibility of service-oriented architectures. This platform also needs new concepts for communication between services and the automation components. The hard real-time closed-loop control algorithms (cycle time less than milliseconds) are calculated locally, but their parameters and all other more complex algorithms like path planning, compensations, etc. are calculated in the cloud. The strategies are adapted by simulation results, and the simulation also allows calculation and comparison of variances in strategies to optimise them in parallel to the automated process. Safety functionalities are important for the platform and are also taken into account.