Extensible robotic framework and robot modeling
View Patent ↗Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that provide a framework for developing and deploying distributed robotic applications. The framework allows a robotic application to be distributed across robotic services. Communications with a robotic service are performed via a URI. An operation is performed on a data element exposed through the robotic service. The system facilitates asynchronous operations of a robotics application across services. A development environment allows the user to create a robotics project that uses the distributed framework. A visualization/simulation environment allows for communication with virtual devices and real world devices for simulating the operation of asynchronous robotic applications.
1. A computer-implemented method for providing a robotic application formed by a collection of services comprising the steps of:
distributing a robotic application across a plurality of robotic services using a framework;
communicating with a first robotic service of the plurality of services via a URI; and
performing an operation on a data element exposed through the first robotic service.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the framework is operable to allow communication with the first robotic service using an extension of the REST protocol.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation on the data element is selected from the group consisting of a get operation, a query operation, an update operation, an insert operation, and a delete operation.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the framework is operable to allow the plurality of services to be performed on a same physical robot.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the framework is operable to allow the plurality of services to be performed at least in part on a physical robot, and at least in part on a separate personal computer.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the framework is operable to allow communication with the first robotic service from a web browser for a purpose of debugging the application.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the framework is operable to allow the first robotic service to operate on a different robot device than an actual robot device affected by the first robot service.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the framework provides a plurality of decentralized system services comprising:
an activation service operable to create at least a portion of the plurality of services;
a discovery service operable to allow the first robotic service to discover a second robotic service on a particular node;
a storage service operable to allow a particular service to persist state; and
a diagnostics service operable to facilitate debugging among the plurality of services; and
wherein the decentralized system services are operable to facilitate an asynchronous operation of a robotics application across the plurality of services.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the framework provides a plurality of services that facilitate communication between nodes.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the framework is operable to allow the first robotic service to be stopped and restarted without impacting the operation of any additionally operating robotic services.
11. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 1 .
12. A computer-implemented method for developing a robot application comprising the steps of:
creating a robotic project for controlling at least one destination robot;
creating a robot model that defines a component organization and physical layout of the destination robot;
defining activity logic for controlling the destination robot;
defining at least one deployment target; and
running the robotic project.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the robotic project is created using a wizard, wherein the wizard prompts a user to specify certain details about the destination robot, and wherein a first version of the robot model is created based on the certain details specified by the user about the destination robot.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein a physical robotic model is described at least in part using a template for a particular set of hardware associated with the destination robot.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the robotic project is operable to be deployed across a plurality of nodes and execute a robotics application.
16. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 12 .
17. A computer-implemented method for simulating an operation of a robot comprising the steps of:
distributing a robotic application across a plurality of robotic services;
simulating an operation of a distributed robotics application across a plurality of asynchronous services using a simulation engine; and
wherein the simulation engine is further operable to communicate with virtual devices and real world devices.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the simulation engine is operable to use a real world robotic device in a first simulation, and wherein the simulation engine is operable to use real world environment information in a second simulation.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the simulation engine is operable to be used as part of a runtime environment and deployed to a robotic device to facilitate predictions relevant to the operation of the distributed robotics application.
20. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 17 .