Cloud computing architectures for mobile robotics

Abstract

In last decade, classic IT-infrastructures in modern enterprises have been changed sufficiently by cloud computing. However, cloud approach can be used effectively in other applications. In this paper, we explore applicability of cloud paradigm in mobile robotics. First approach is using some classic cloud architectures, such as Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service, with heterogeneous distributed mobile robotic system - for example, it can be used to offload a time consuming computations from mobile platforms to remote nodes or services. Second approach is using some special “robotic” types of clouds, such as Robot-as-a-Service and Function-as-a-Service to leverage abilities of a single robotics platform in mobile robotic system as services to robotic system's users or other mobile robotic platforms. We explore both approaches and give them some architectural examples.