Embedded Technology
From precision to performance: The power of an RTOS in robotics
By Grant Courville, VP products & strategy, BlackBerry QNX I
n today’s manufacturing landscape, the role of robotics has never been so critical. Robots streamline assembly lines, perform intricate welding tasks, and handle both raw and finished materials. The precision and synchronization they offer is vital as even minor deviations can lead to defective products, throughput delays, and factory safety hazards. This is particularly evident on automotive assembly lines, where any disruption can seriously impact quality control. The consequences of insufficient precision in manufacturing robots – issues such as sloppy actuator timing, inaccurate positioning, or high response latency – include an increase in rejected parts and a rise in production costs. Fortunately, many of these challenges can be mitigated with rigorous embedded software development and use of a trusted and proven software foundation.
Advanced robotics require multi-core processors paired with a high-performance, hard real-time operating system (RTOS). As software complexity and capability continue to escalate, this powerful combination is useful not only for automated production lines but also in a range of other robotic applications, from self-navigating drones to sensory- adaptive robotic arms and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
Moreover, with the rise of Industry 5.0, the emphasis on human-centric technology is increasing, highlighting the close collaboration between humans and robots. Collaborative robots, or cobots, operate alongside humans, performing joint tasks in dynamic environments. This synergy between human and robotic operations necessitates even greater precision in hardware and software to ensure safety and efficiency.
The high stakes challenges of precision
The relentless demand for production precision poses formidable challenges, particularly in two critical areas: controlling precise timing and ensuring safety.
Task timing variations, otherwise known as jitter, are particularly problematic. For
38 July/August 2024
rapidly running again without compromising operations, minimizing downtime and maintaining continuous operations. This resilience is essential for sustaining precision in production processes.
assembly robots and cobots working alongside humans, a millisecond variation in the swing of a high-speed robotic arm can significantly affect its ultimate placement. This discrepancy can lead to sloppy tolerances in manufactured parts, causing misalignments that compromise product quality and, in severe cases, lead to outright part rejection.
Safety is another significant concern, especially in cobot development. Variations in grip pressure, often due to poor repeatability in actuator timing, can fluctuate between a manipulator’s secure hold and a potentially hazardous grip. This issue is compounded by timing discrepancies and unexpected latencies within the mechanical control system. To mitigate these issues, robots may require many additional sensors to double- or even triple-check precise positioning.
The role of the RTOS in precision An RTOS is crucial for maximizing the performance of robotic systems, particularly those involving high-speed movements or where safety is critical. An RTOS optimizes the overall performance of these systems by guaranteeing tasks are executed with precise timing. Its ability to finely orchestrate system execution means that physical systems can be controlled with strict timing constraints. Moreover, an RTOS prioritizes critical operations, preventing latency caused by system interruptions or application tasks. The result leads to significantly more reliable
Components in Electronics
timing, which in turn, increases throughput and boosts production rates.
By efficiently managing tasks and system resources, an RTOS also ensures optimal use of processing power and related system resources. This allows system designers to maximize the efficiency of their selected system-on-chip (SoC), using its full capacity without the need to reserve excess capacity to compensate for system unreliability. This approach not only enhances performance and reduces costs, it results in robots that meet exacting standards with more affordable hardware.
Minimizing downtime, maximizing
The benefits of an RTOS extend beyond precisely timed task execution. Fast boot capabilities, which enable a system to cold start in milliseconds, deliver substantial advantages. A cobot that goes from sleep mode to operational in a fraction of a second reassures human operators who rely on its instant availability but also conserves energy by allowing the system to shut down completely when not in use.
Additionally, a fast-booting RTOS with resilient recovery mechanisms also enables robotic systems to gracefully handle unexpected events or faults. Should a system detect a significant failure or need to restore software to a known working state, it can quickly restart subsystem or reset and be
Unlocking unprecedented precision In the pursuit of production precision, the role of an RTOS cannot be overstated. Its ability to elevate system throughput, maximize processor use, reduce boot-up time, and optimize energy consumption align with managing the demands of high-speed robotic operations. As industries strive for better efficiency, lower costs, and flawless precision, the integration of an RTOS into robotic systems becomes indispensable.
The QNX-powered robotic arm, showcased at Embedded World 2024, exemplifies this integration, designed specifically for precision and performance optimization. In the intricate balance of precision and efficiency in robotic systems, advanced software development platforms are vital. The best provides enhanced efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and enable unwavering precision. The architecture of QNX SDP 8.0, for instance, is tailored for the complexities of repeatable high-speed robotic movements with near-linear performance scaling with CPU core counts. It combines traditional embedded RTOS features – real-time, reliability, and safety-certified capabilities – with high performance computing (HPC) capabilities necessary for next generation AI-driven robotics. It is the key to unlocking the full potential of robots in not only manufacturing but also in logistics, defence, healthcare, and consumer electronics.
As Industry 5.0 unfolds, the synergy between robotics and human workforces becomes increasingly vital. Robust operating systems that offer fault tolerance, fail-safe operations, and hard real-time performance are crucial in manufacturing applications where safety and reliability are non- negotiable.
https://www.blackberry.com/us/en
www.cieonline.co.uk.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
