Cloud Robotics: An Integrated Technology Relying on Cloud Computing, Cloud Storage, Networking and Other Internet Technologies

 Cloud robotics is an area of robotics, which attempt to apply cloud technologies including cloud computing, cloud storage, networking and other Internet technology based on the advantages of converged infrastructure, shared services, and low cost for robotics. This approach has a broader definition than just software defined robotics but one that include both computer vision and robotic automation. The key difference between cloud robotics and traditional robotics is that the traditional model tends to be more static or "conditioned" to cloud robotics attempt to allow for flexibility and growth. This means that many new robotic application ideas may actually come from cloud technology if they were originally developed in another environment. For example, a computer vision system may be trained on an unstructured set of images in a specific environment and then be deployed in a new setting with no prior training.

It is important to realize that there are different approaches to cloud robotics and not all of them are designed to take advantage of the same cloud technologies. Most cloud strategies attempt to first allow a system to train on some pre-constructed templates that it finds in the cloud, then allow the model to adapt to its environment on the real world. However, there are also some strategies that rely on a much more dynamic strategy where multiple cloud models are used in parallel and the robot is allowed to adapt to different environments. In fact, some cloud strategies use a hybrid approach of both static and dynamic adaptability. These two different strategies are highly useful in several applications including autonomy, reconfiguring, and scheduling.

The approach of using cloud technologies to support robotics is becoming very common because of the large investment in time and money by major corporations. In fact, many big names such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook have made large investments in robotics research and development. This investment is not entirely new, because prior to this modern era, robotics researchers and manufacturers had been working on similar cloud technologies. However, the large scale investment by these companies paved the way for better resources to be allocated to research and development of new robots.

The biggest benefit of using cloud robotics is the large selection of tools that these systems can use. Most robotic devices are designed for a particular function. Therefore, if you are interested in a robotic assistant, you will want one that performs the task that you specify. This means that a generic robot will not be suitable for your home. This can easily be solved with cloud robotics because you will be provided with a complete operating platform that can perform multiple tasks in different situations. By using different platforms, the cloud can easily customize the robotic system to perform specific tasks in specific environments. For instance, in July 2021, Fetch Robotics, a provider of cloud robotics solutions, announced a new integrated case pick-to-pallet solution with Körber AG, a strategic management holding company.