Data center robotic device

• US 20040243280A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Beitelmal, Abdlmonem H., Bash, Cullen E., Patel, Chandrakant D., Ranganathan, Parthasarathy, Farkas, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40298 Manipulator on vehicle, wheels, mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

A method for operating a data center with a robotic device. In the method, a condition is detected in a location of the data center. The robotic device, which includes a camera and a manipulator, is maneuvered to travel to the location of the data center. The location of the data center is imaged with the camera of the robotic device and an object is manipulated with the manipulator of the robotic device.

Claims

1. A method for operating a data center with a robotic device, said method comprising:

detecting a condition in a location of the data center;

maneuvering the robotic device to travel to the location of the data center, wherein the robotic device comprises a camera and a manipulator;

imaging the location of the data center with the camera of the robotic device; and

manipulating an object with the manipulator of the robotic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the robotic device further includes one or more sensors, said method further comprising:

detecting one or more conditions in the location of the data center with the one or more sensors.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a condition in a location of the data center comprises detecting a condition in various areas of the location of the data center.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of maneuvering the robotic device to travel to the location of the data center further comprises remotely controlling the robotic device to travel to the location.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a route for the robotic device from a current position to a position near the location.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said step of determining a route for the robotic device comprises determining a shortest route from the current position to the position near the location.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said step of determining a route for the robotic device comprises determining a route for the robotic device which enables the robotic device to detect additional conditions in the location of the data center.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a condition in a location of the data center comprises detecting the condition with a sensor positioned substantially near the location of the data center.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting the condition detected with the sensor positioned substantially near the location to the robotic device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of detecting a condition in a location of the data center comprises detecting a malfunctioning server, and wherein said step of manipulating an object comprises depressing a power switch of the malfunctioning server.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of detecting a condition in a location of the data center comprises detecting an object impeding airflow through a vent, and wherein said step of manipulating an object comprises moving said object.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sounding an alarm located on the robotic device in response to the detected condition.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether user intervention is required in response to the one or more conditions being outside the respective norms.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

receiving user input in response to a determination that user intervention is required.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of manipulating one or more objects comprises implementing the user input to manipulate the one or more objects.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of implementing the user input comprises manipulating the robotic device remotely by the user.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of determining whether user intervention is required comprises determining that user intervention is not required in response the robotic device determining a required manipulation.

13. A method for operating a data center with a robotic device, said method comprising:

plotting a route for the robotic device to travel in the data center;

maneuvering the robotic device to travel along the plotted route;

detecting one or more conditions in the data center with the robotic device;

determining whether the one or more conditions in the data center are within respective norms; and

manipulating one or more objects in response to the one or more conditions being outside the respective norms.

19. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing a manipulator on the robotic device; and

wherein said step of manipulating one or more objects comprises manipulating the one or more objects with the manipulator.

20. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing a camera on the robotic device; and

wherein the step of detecting the one or more conditions comprises imaging an area of the data center with the camera.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

implementing image recognition software to identify one or more objects located in the images obtained by the camera.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of detecting one or more conditions comprises detecting temperature measurements, and wherein the step of determining whether the detected one or more conditions are within respective norms comprises comparing the detected one or more conditions with predetermined temperature values.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing a manipulator on the robotic device; and

manipulating one or more cooling system components in response to the detected one or more conditions being outside their respective norms.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said step of manipulating the one or more cooling system components comprises manipulating at least one of a vent, a louver, and an angled panel.

25. A robotic device for performing operations in a data center, said robotic device comprising:

a body having a plurality of wheels;

a steering and propelling mechanism located on the body to control rotation and direction of the plurality of wheels;

an arm assembly rotatably attached to the body;

a manipulator assembly rotatably attached to a free end of the arm assembly,

a plurality of actuators for manipulating the arm assembly and the manipulator assembly;

a controller configured to control the plurality of actuators to manipulate the arm assembly and the manipulator assembly into various positions, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the plurality of actuators to perform operations in the data center.

26. The robotic device according to claim 25, further comprising:

a camera configured to image various sections of the data center where the manipulator assembly is performing operations.

27. The robotic device according to claim 26, wherein said camera is configured to detect one or more conditions in the data center, said one or more conditions comprising at least one of malfunctioning servers, blocked vents, and misplaced objects.

28. The robotic device according to claim 26, wherein said camera comprises at least one of a digital camera and an infrared camera.

29. The robotic device according to claim 25, further comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting one or more conditions in the data center, said one or more conditions comprising at least one of gas, smoke, noise, temperature, pressure, humidity, and airflow velocity.

30. The robotic device according to claim 25, further comprising:

a network adapter configured to enable communication to one or more computers through a network.

31. The robotic device according to claim 25, further comprising:

a guidance sensor for detecting objects in front of the robotic device, said guidance sensor comprising at least one of a camera and a laser.

32. The robotic device according to claim 25, wherein said robotic device is specifically designed for a data center in which said robotic device is configured for deployment.

33. A system for operating a data center with a robotic device, said system comprising:

means for detecting one or more conditions in the data center;

means for determining whether the one or more conditions are within respective norms;

means for determining one or more manipulations to objects to bring the one or more conditions to within the respective norms; and

means for manipulating the objects with the robotic device.

34. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

means for determining whether user intervention is required.

35. The system according to claim 34, further comprising:

means for manipulating one or more cooling system components.

36. A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method for operating a data center with a robotic device, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for:

detecting a condition in a location of the data center;

maneuvering the robotic device to travel to the location of the data center, wherein the robotic device comprises a camera and a manipulator;

imaging the location of the data center with the camera of the robotic device; and

manipulating an object with the manipulator of the robotic device.

37. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 36, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

determining a route for the robotic device from a current position to a position near the location.

38. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 37, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

determining a shortest route from the current position to the position near the location.

39. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 36, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

detecting the condition with a sensor positioned substantially near the location of the data center; and

transmitting the condition detected with the sensor positioned substantially near the location to the robotic device.

40. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 36, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

detecting a malfunctioning server; and

depressing a power switch of the malfunctioning server.

41. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 36, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

detecting an object impeding airflow through a vent; and

manipulating an object comprises moving said object.

42. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 36, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

sounding an alarm located on the robotic device in response to the detected condition.