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ROBOTCORE UDP/IP is compatible with leading silicon. Source: Acceleration Robotics
To realize their potential for multiple applications, robots need reliable communications and intelligence. Acceleration Robotics has announced ROBOTCORE UDP/IP, a core designed to apply hardware acceleration to robot networking.
The new product uses the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) for Internet Protocol (IP) stack communications, according to Acceleration Robotics. The Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain-based company claimed that ROBOTCORE UDP/IP “sets a new benchmark for speed and reliability in robotic systems.”
Acceleration Robotics, which has offices in Pune, India, in addition to its headquarters in Basque Country, said it focuses on “designing customized brains for robots to hasten their response time.” The company uses graphics processing units (GPUs) and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to create custom hardware.
ROBOTCORE UDP/IP built for faster control
“Our prior research helped uncover that traditional networking stacks in robotics have long struggled with indeterminism, posing significant challenges in high-precision and real-time applications,” stated Víctor Mayoral-Vilches, founder and chief technology officer of Acceleration Robotics.
“With ROBOTCORE UDP/IP, we’ve specifically targeted this issue, delivering a solution that not only enhances the speed of robot communications, but also ensures predictable and consistent communication performance,” he added. “This is more than an innovation; it’s a fundamental shift in how we approach robotic networking interactions, opening new possibilities in the field.”
ROBOTCORE UDP/IP “outpaces traditional CPU-based solutions dramatically.” said Acceleration Robotics in a release. The company said faster communication ensures rapid and efficient data transmission and is vital for real-time robotics applications.
ROBOTCORE promises speed over conventional CPUs. Source: Acceleration Robotics
Acceleration Robotics offers features for versatile applications
ROBOTCORE UDP/IP includes the following technological advancements:
- Microsecond-level speed: The new core can send or receive small packages in under 1 microsecond — or less than 700 nanoseconds for 8-byte payloads — and 1,024-byte packets in just 3 microseconds, the company said.
- Latency reduction: In comparison with traditional CPUs, the product reduces latency by more than 19x, and in cases of maximum latency for real-time compliance, the speedup exceeds 80x, according to Acceleration Robotics’ benchmarks.
- Deterministic networking: ROBOTCORE UDP/IP addresses the lack of determinism in common robotic networking stacks, Mayoral-Vilches noted.
- Energy and resource efficiency: The product balances high-speed data processing with low power consumption, which the company said is essential for energy-conscious environments.
In addition, ROBOTCORE UDP/IP is widely compatible, making it suitable for scenarios where speed and reliability are non-negotiable, said the company. It listed potential applications:
- Industrial automation: The core can streamline communication in manufacturing assembly lines for enhanced operational efficiency.
- Remote operation: ROBOTCORE UDP/IP offers smooth and responsive control in teleoperation systems, crucial for precision tasks.
- Autonomous vehicles: It promises to ensure rapid data exchange essential for the real-time decision-making in self-driving systems.
- Research and development: The system can provides a reliable platform for developing and testing next-generation robotic technologies, said Acceleration Robotics.
ROBOTCORE supports different hardware, ROS 2
Acceleration Robotics noted that it designed ROBOTCORE UDP/IP to be compatible with the most popular FPGA and FPGA system-on-chip (SoC) hardware from leading vendors. It supports new silicon solutions such as Intel’s Agilex, AMD’s Versal, and Microchip’s PolarFire.
ROBOTCORE UDP/IP includes ROS 2 support. Click here to enlarge. Source: Acceleration Robotics
The core also works with a range of development kits to enable developers to build advanced robots with hardware acceleration and the Robot Operating System (ROS).
“ROBOTCORE UDP/IP significantly boosts ROS and ROS 2 systems, offering microsecond-level speed for enhanced real-time responsiveness,” reiterated the company. “Seamlessly integrating with the common ROS workflow, it provides accelerated networking capabilities while maintaining familiar development processes.”
