VC-RAN

1 Introduction

The VC-RAN is the OPIL IoT Nodes layer module devoted to the control of the virtual robots. VC-RAN provides two main functionalities: * it manages virtual robot navigation inside Visual Components simulation software * it works as an interface between the virtual robots and the FIWARE Orion Context Broker (OCB) of the OPIL Cyber Physical Middleware layer.

2 Components and structure

Figure 1 presents the structure of VC-RAN. The VC-RAN is composed of four simulation components: * AGV Automated Guided Vehicle used in the simulation and controlled by OPIL. This component handles the movement tasks of the AGV. Note that this AGV is required if OPIL manages the AGV, meaning that simulated AGVs cannot be controlled by OPIL. * RanLogic This component handles the messages between the Router and the AGV and the AgvAction components. Each AGV and AgvAction in the simulation requires one RANLogic component. * AgvAction This component handles the action tasks of the AGV. Currently, three actions are supported (0,1,2). Action "1" is used for loading a part and "2" is for unloading it. Action "0" is a dummy action meant for tasks that do not include actions. * Router It routes the communication between the FIWARE Orion Context Broker (OCB) and RanLogic component. While for each AGV in the simulation layout one AgvAction and one RanLogic component are required, only one Router is required in the simulation to handle different AGVs.

Figure 1. Structure of VC-RAN.

3 Description of the Components in the Simulation

As mentioned previously, for each AGV, there is one RanLogic and one AgvAction connected through the RanLogic to the Router. One Router can support several AGVs (see section 4, Figure 7). This organization of the VC-RAN has been created to maintain and update the components in the simulation faster, but it is expected that in the future versions the design will be simplified.

3.1 Router

The OCB messages are received and delivered by the Router into the simulation. The Router component handles messages, which are transmitted using signals and interfaces in the simulation layout, to the AGVs connected to the OCB through the Router.

Figure 2 shows the connections tab of the Router. OCB IP is the IP address of the OCB. Once the IP has been set up, test the connection and the create the entity by pressing "Initialize OCB". When the component is removed, the entity can be deleted by pressing "Delete OCB entity"

Figure 2. Screenshot of the Router configuration properties tab.

3.2 RanLogic

The RanLogic component filters the messages according to the robot id of the AGV. RanLogic stores the data (motion and action assignments) to data structures based on the task id and receive time and handles the data delivery to the AGV (motion assignments) and AgvAction (action assignments). Robot id for the RanLogic can be set in the RanLogic properties tab (see Figure 3)

Figure 3. Screenshot of the RanLogic configuration properties tab, AGV ID.

RanLogic also maintains data structures for completed and cancelled tasks as well as for task variables such as current and last motion and action.

RanLogic sends the following messages: * "Description message" every minute to Router, which delivers the message as is to OCB.

  • AGV sends "Current motion message" every second via RanLogic to Router which delivers it to OCB.

  • AGV and AgvAction components send a message after every completed assignment to RanLogic, which the RanLogic uses to update its data structures, task variables and state.

3.2.1 Task handling (AgvAction and AGV)

Tasks are executed in the order they are received. When a motion or action assignment with a particular task id is first received, it is inserted into a data structure together with timestamp. Collectively, they form the task queue. Received tasks are executed in the order of ascending timestamp value. Robot motion planning and action execution begins immediately after receiving first assignment message for the task with the lowest timestamp value. All the motion assignments belonging to the same current task are sent to the AGV one by one. After all the motion assignments are completed, action assignments belonging to the current task are sent to the AgvAction component one at a time. The task is completed when all the action assignments have been carried out.

3.2.2 State machine

RanLogic is always in one of the finite states specified in Figure 4. Starting state is state-waiting, which changes to state-task after new task is received. When the first motion assignment belonging to the current task has been received, the state changes to state-motion and RanLogic will start sending motion assingments to the AGV. After all the motion assignments have been completed and the first action assignment belonging to current task has been received, state changes to state-action. In this state, RanLogic sends action assignments one by one to the AgvAction component until all the assignments are completed and RanLogic returns to state-waiting.

Figure 4. RanLogic state machine.

3.3 AgvAction

This component handles the action tasks of the AGV. Currently, the following actions are supported: * 5 Dummy action used for task that does not include actions * 10 Loading parts action * 20 Unloading parts action

3.4 AGV

The identification of the AGV is unique and is determined by an ID. This ID can be set in the AGV properties tab (See Figure 5). The ID of the AGV should be the same as the RanLogic to ensure that the movement messages are delivered to the AGV. (Figure 5)

Figure 5. Screenshot of the AGV configuration properties tab, AGV ID.

Currently, in the VC-RAN demo an AGV interpolator component called "AGV" is used. This AGV interpolates positions between waypoints transmitted through OCB.

3.5 VC-RAN components deployment

In order to facilitate the deployment of the simulation of VC-RAN related components, two components are provided: Router and AGV, which contain the AGV, the AgvAction and the RanLogic. When using the AGV it is required to check during the configuration that the AGV and the RanLogic have the same robot id.

4 Setup

Adding VC-RAN components to the simulation follows the same logic as creating a simulation in Visual Comnponents. Components available in the eCat can be picked and placed in the simulation.

As previously indicated, in order to ease the creation of the simulation, AGV, AgvAction and RanLogic have been deployed as a single component, AGV. Pick and place the Router component in the simulation and place the required "AGV Intepolator" components. Under the connections tab in the Router, as shown in Figure 2, set the Host IP to point to the IP of the OCB. Connect the Router component to every RanLogic component interface by joining RanLogic and Router interfaces as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Screenshot of the connection of the Router with several AGVs through the RanLogic.

Don't forget to check that the robot id in the RanLogic is the same as that in the AGV and the new configuration is ready to be tested.

5 VC-RAN Demo Layout

A demo layout is provided at eCat for testing purposes. The demo layout (VC-RobotAgentNode_Demo) contains a basic production layout. In the simulation, one part is produced in one side of the layout. An AGV controlled through OPIL is called when the part produced is ready and waypoints are provided to move the part from one side to another where the simulation continues.

In the demo layout, there are three tasks which are executed in sequence. First task includes two motion assignments and one action assignment: the AGV moves next to a conveyor through two points and loads a part. Then the AGV moves through two points next to the other conveyor and unloads the part on the conveyor. Finally, the AGV returns to its initial location through three points. This is followed by an empty dummy action to signal the end of the task. The collection of task assignments for the demo is provided as part of a JMeter file (VC_RAN_v2_demo.jmx).

Testing the demo layout: 1. Start the OCB 2. Open RobotAgentNode_Demo layout. 1. Select the SAN component and under the connections tab set the Host IP to point to the IP of the OCB. 2. Check that the connection to the OCB is working by clicking the “Test connection” button. Message “Connection OK” is printed to the output window if OCB is running and the IP was set correctly 3. Initializethe FCB by clicking “Initialize OCB”. This creates an empty rosmsg entity. 3. Open VC_RAN_v2_demo.jmx in JMeter. Select (left click) VC_RAN test in the menu on the left, and change correct values for variables Fiware Orion Context Broker IP (OCB_IP) and hosting computer IP address (HOST_IP) 4. Start (run) the Visual Components demo simulation 5. To start sending assignments to OCB in JMeter, click Run in the menu up top, and then Start in the dropdown menu. 6. Double click VC_RAN test in JMeter to open the hierarchical menu. To view results of the sent requests, click the View Results Tree (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Screenshot of the Jmeter.

6 Potential future improvements

The work in the VC-RAN continues as the entities are updated in the documenation. Features currently missing include: * Cancelling assignments and tasks * Error messages not implemented (not defined)