Implementation of an Embedded System into the Internet of Robotic Things

Micromachines (Basel). 2022 Dec 30;14(1):113. doi: 10.3390/mi14010113.

Abstract

The article describes the use of embedded systems in the Industrial Internet of Things and its benefits for industrial robots. For this purpose, the article presents a case study, which deals with an embedded system using an advanced microcontroller designed to be placed directly on the robot. The proposed system is being used to collect information about industrial robot parameters that impact its behavior and its long-term condition. The device measures the robot's surroundings parameters and its vibrations while working. Besides that, it also has an enormous potential to collect other parameters such as air pollution or humidity. The collected data are stored on the cloud platform and processed and analysed. The embedded system proposed in this article is conceived to be small and mobile, as it is a wireless system that can be easily applied to any industrial robot.

Keywords: ESP32; Internet of Robotic Things; Internet of Things; MQTT; Nicla; Thingworx; embedded systems; microcontroller; smart sensors.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund in the Research Centre of Advanced Mechatronic Systems project, CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/1_019/0000867, within the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education and the project SP2022/60 Applied Research in the Area of Machines and Process Control supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.