Integrated Service Method of Distribution Software for Robot Development Based on Open Internet Network

• US 20070294662A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: korea institute of industrial technology
• Original Assignee: korea institute of industrial technology
• Inventors: Kim, Hong-Seok, Lee, Ho-Gil, Kim, Hong-Ryeol, Park, Hong-Seong, Kim, Dae-Won
• Application Number:
  US11/596,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20070294662A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/107
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1661 characterised by task planning, object-oriented languages
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36035 Special language, task programming, oop object oriented programming
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39252 Autonomous distributed control, task distributed into each subsystem, task space
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40304 Modular structure

Abstract

A distributed software integration service method for open robot development based on the Internet is disclosed, which makes it possible to manufacture a user-oriented robot through combination of independent heterogeneous modules. The invention involves a robot development procedure and a new robot development environment/tool for providing user-oriented services and for integrated operating of distributed software installed in the modules over the Internet. The robot development procedure includes three independent specialized development stages, i.e., a platform development stage, a module development stage, and a user-oriented robot development/user service development stage. The invention makes it possible to mass-produce autonomous robots in units of interoperable functional modules. It is also possible to meet various demands of consumers, achieve specialization, and accelerate technology development since the development procedures are specialized in an independent manner and are suitable for manufacturing a wide variety of robot products in small quantities.

Claims

1. A distributed software integration service method for open robot development based on the Internet for developing a user-oriented robot through combination of independent heterogeneous modules, wherein virtual machines, communication middleware, and a real-time channel manager being installed in the independent heterogeneous modules, the virtual machines operating independent software components with spec files standardized in an open distributed processing structure, the communication middleware providing communication paths of the software components, the real-time channel manager analyzing information of late binding of the software components and managing real-time channel usage time of the software components, the method comprising:

transmitting module service information and user interface information to a system integrator for software system integration of the modules;

the system integrator accessing a user-side home server and requesting that a task description file and the spec files of the modules be downloaded when receiving a request from a user;

the home server transmitting the spec files of all the independent functional modules and a task description file of a brain module to a remote development environment of the system integrator when receiving a request from the system integrator;

the remote development environment registering the module spec files received from the home server in a database, and extracting information of interfaces and the software components of the modules to generate an API for producing a task description file using a task description language;

the system integrator considering a need to add new components to a current set of software components and also to delete and change the current software components through the generated API, and the remote development environment producing new components through a function description language, updating registered spec file information of the modules according to a configuration change of the software components, and changing the API;

the system integrator producing a task description file in a graphics based environment or a text based environment using the changed API, and uploading the produced task description file, together with the updated spec files of the modules and newly added or changed software components, to the brain module via the home server; and

the brain module uploading spec files required for the independent functional modules and the software components, and the independent functional modules changing existing operating environments of the software components by newly activating virtual machines needed and stopping virtual machines not needed according to the changed spec files.

2. The distributed software integration service method according to claim 1, wherein, after the installation is completed, the system integrator performs a debugging process through simulation using start, resume, stop, and pause functions provided by the virtual machines.

3. The distributed software integration service method according to claim 1, wherein, through the generated API, the system integrator performs a development process offline until the system integrator uploads the spec files of the modules and the developed task description file to the robot of the user.

4. The distributed software integration service method according to claim 1, wherein a task manager, an online reasoning system, an offline planner, and means for interfacing with the Internet, which is a wide area network, are additionally installed in the brain module.

5. A distributed software integration service method for open robot development based on the Internet, the method comprising:

a platform development stage for developing a control platform upon which are installed virtual machines, communication middleware, a reasoning system, an offline planner, a real-time manager, and a task manager for a robot control architecture, the virtual machines operating independent software components with spec files standardized in an open distributed processing structure, the communication middleware providing communication paths of the software components;

a module development stage for producing software components for independent functional modules based on the platform developed at the platform development stage; and

a robot development stage for developing a user-oriented robot by integrating a plurality of independent heterogeneous modules developed at the module development stage based on an interface with an external component through late binding.

6. The distributed software integration service method according to claim 5, wherein an integration development environment supporting both robot development through integration of the modules and the module development is provided.