Embedded robotic solution: Integrating robotics interfaces with a high-level CPU in a system-on-a-chip

Abstract

In today's robotic systems, on one hand, time-critical tasks have to be executed, like the management of several different sensors and actors, while, on the other hand, highly sophisticated jobs, for example positioning systems, node networks, or web-based user interfaces, need to be performed in parallel. Conventional solutions, which are mostly deploying an high-end microcontroller as well as one or more separate integrated circuits which are in charge of the sensors and actors, have significant disadvantages: they are inflexible, need more PCB place, and consume more power. System-on-a-Chip (SoC) based approaches minimize the complexity and PCB place as well as power consumption, and therefore the costs, of such systems. Since all functionality can be included in one single chip, the PCB's size and the system's power dissipation can be reduced. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.