In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the integration of cloud computing with industrial robots has emerged as a significant trend. This glossary entry seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of cloud-connected industrial robots, delving into the intricacies of cloud computing, its historical development, use cases, and specific examples.
Cloud computing, in its essence, refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet, as opposed to local servers or personal devices. This technology has found its way into industrial robots, enabling them to leverage the cloud's vast computational resources, storage capabilities, and advanced algorithms. This entry will explore this convergence in great detail.
Definition of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. These resources include networks, servers, storage, applications, and services that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
This model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models. The essential characteristics include on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. The service models are Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), while the deployment models include private cloud, community cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud.
Essential Characteristics of Cloud Computing
On-demand self-service allows users to unilaterally provision computing capabilities as needed. Broad network access enables these services to be available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms. Resource pooling refers to the provider's ability to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.
Rapid elasticity allows capabilities to be elastically provisioned and released to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. Measured service automatically controls and optimizes resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service.
Service Models of Cloud Computing
SaaS allows users to use the provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser. PaaS allows users to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages and tools supported by the provider.
IaaS provides the user with the capability to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources. The user is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications.
Deployment Models of Cloud Computing
Private cloud is provisioned for exclusive use by a single organization comprising multiple consumers. It may be owned, managed, and operated by the organization, a third party, or some combination of them, and it may exist on or off premises. Community cloud is provisioned for exclusive use by a specific community of consumers from organizations that have shared concerns.
Public cloud is provisioned for open use by the general public. It may be owned, managed, and operated by a business, academic, or government organization, or some combination of them. It exists on the premises of the cloud provider. Hybrid cloud is a composition of two or more distinct cloud infrastructures that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability.
History of Cloud Computing
The concept of cloud computing dates back to the 1960s, when John McCarthy opined that "computation may someday be organized as a public utility." The actual term "cloud" borrows from telephony in that telecommunications companies, who until the 1990s offered primarily dedicated point-to-point data circuits, began offering Virtual Private Network (VPN) services with comparable quality of service but at a much lower cost.
Cloud computing has been credited with increasing competitiveness through cost reduction, greater flexibility, elasticity, and optimal resource utilization. Here are a few situations where cloud computing is used to enhance the ability to achieve business goals.
Development of Cloud Computing
By the early 2000s, companies started offering cloud-based applications, with Amazon's launch of its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) in 2006 as a commercial web service that allows small companies and individuals to rent computers on which to run their own computer applications being a significant milestone.
2007 saw the emergence of several other cloud platforms, including Google App Engine, which, like EC2, provides scalable software services to developers. The years that followed saw the proliferation of cloud services in the market, with the adoption of cloud computing growing, as more and more businesses started moving to the cloud.
Cloud Computing in the Present Day
Today, cloud computing has become a central part of the tech industry. You hear about it all the time in corporate setups, news, and even casual conversation. The reason for this is the proliferation of smartphones and other smart devices that all depend on the cloud.
Furthermore, many of the things we now take for granted – the ability to stream music and video, the proliferation of social media, and the suite of web-based productivity tools we use every day – wouldn't be possible without the cloud. This technology has truly revolutionized the way we live and work.
Cloud Computing and Industrial Robots
Industrial robots have been around for decades, performing tasks that are either dangerous or monotonous for human workers. However, the advent of cloud computing has revolutionized the capabilities of these machines. By connecting robots to the cloud, they can leverage the vast computational resources of the cloud, enabling them to perform more complex tasks and improve their efficiency.
Moreover, cloud-connected robots can share information and learn from each other, leading to continual improvement and optimization of performance. This has significant implications for industries such as manufacturing, where robots are widely used.
Benefits of Cloud-Connected Robots
One of the primary benefits of cloud-connected robots is their ability to access vast amounts of data and advanced algorithms in the cloud. This allows them to perform tasks that require complex computations or access to large datasets, which would be impossible for standalone robots.
Another benefit is the ability for robots to learn from each other. When one robot learns a new skill or optimizes its performance, this information can be shared with other robots through the cloud. This leads to continual improvement and optimization, without the need for human intervention.
Use Cases of Cloud-Connected Robots
One of the most prominent use cases of cloud-connected robots is in the manufacturing industry. Here, robots are used for tasks such as assembly, painting, and inspection. By connecting these robots to the cloud, they can access advanced algorithms for tasks such as image recognition, allowing them to perform their tasks more efficiently and accurately.
Another use case is in the logistics industry, where robots are used for tasks such as sorting and moving goods. By connecting these robots to the cloud, they can access real-time data about the location and status of goods, allowing them to optimize their tasks and improve efficiency.
Examples of Cloud-Connected Industrial Robots
One specific example of a cloud-connected industrial robot is the KUKA robot. KUKA is a leading manufacturer of industrial robots and offers a range of cloud-connected robots. These robots can access KUKA's cloud-based services, which include advanced algorithms for tasks such as motion planning and machine learning.
Another example is the ABB Ability Connected Atomizer, a cloud-connected paint atomizer for the automotive industry. This robot can access real-time data about paint consumption and spray patterns, allowing it to optimize its performance and reduce waste.
KUKA Cloud-Connected Robots
KUKA offers a range of cloud-connected robots, from small and agile robots for tasks such as assembly and handling, to large and powerful robots for tasks such as welding and palletizing. These robots can access KUKA's cloud-based services, which include advanced algorithms for tasks such as motion planning and machine learning.
By connecting their robots to the cloud, KUKA is able to offer their customers a range of benefits, including improved efficiency, increased flexibility, and the ability to perform more complex tasks. This has made KUKA's cloud-connected robots a popular choice in industries such as automotive, electronics, and consumer goods.
ABB Ability Connected Atomizer
The ABB Ability Connected Atomizer is a cloud-connected paint atomizer for the automotive industry. By connecting the atomizer to the cloud, ABB is able to access real-time data about paint consumption and spray patterns. This allows the atomizer to optimize its performance, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Furthermore, by connecting the atomizer to the cloud, ABB is able to offer their customers a range of additional services, such as predictive maintenance and remote monitoring. This not only improves the performance of the atomizer, but also reduces downtime and maintenance costs.
Conclusion
Cloud-connected industrial robots represent a significant advancement in the field of robotics. By leveraging the power of cloud computing, these robots are able to perform more complex tasks, improve their efficiency, and continually learn and improve. This has significant implications for industries such as manufacturing and logistics, where robots are widely used.
As cloud computing continues to evolve, we can expect to see further advancements in the capabilities of cloud-connected robots. This is an exciting area of technology, and one that holds great promise for the future.