An implementation of high availability in networked robotic systems

In today's complex enterprise environments, providing continuous service for applications is a key component of a successful robotized implementing of manufacturing. High availability (HA) is one of the components contributing to continuous service provision for applications, by masking or eliminating both planned and unplanned systems and application downtime. This is achieved through the elimination of hardware and software single points of failure (SPOF). A high availability solution will ensure that the failure of any component of the solution - either hardware, software or system management, will not cause the application and its data to become permanently unavailable. High availability solutions should eliminate single points of failure through appropriate design, planning, hardware selection, software configuring, application control, carefully environment control and change management discipline. In short, one can define high availability as the process of ensuring an application is available for use by duplicating and/or sharing hardware resources managed by a specialized software component. A high availability solution in robotized manufacturing provides automated failure detection, diagnosis, application recovery, and node (robot controller) re integration. The paper discusses the implementing of a high availability solution in a robotized manufacturing line.