How do you simplify your robot's architecture and components?

1 Identify the core functions

The first step is to identify the core functions that your robot needs to perform. These are the essential tasks that define the purpose and value of your robot. For example, if you are building a robot for cleaning floors, the core functions might include moving, vacuuming, and avoiding obstacles. You should focus on these functions and eliminate any unnecessary or redundant features that add complexity and overhead.

2 Use modular design

The second step is to use a modular design approach that divides your robot into smaller, independent, and interchangeable units. Each module should have a clear function, interface, and specification. This way, you can reuse existing modules, swap them for different ones, or add new ones as needed. Modular design also makes it easier to isolate and fix problems, update and upgrade components, and customize your robot for different scenarios.

3 Choose standard and compatible components

The third step is to choose standard and compatible components that work well together and follow common protocols and formats. This can save you time and money by avoiding custom or proprietary parts that are hard to find, expensive, or incompatible. Standard and compatible components also make it easier to integrate your robot with other systems and devices, such as sensors, controllers, or networks.

4 Apply design patterns and principles

The fourth step is to apply design patterns and principles that can help you simplify your robot's architecture and components. Design patterns are proven solutions to common problems that can improve the structure, behavior, and communication of your robot. For example, you can use the publisher-subscriber pattern to decouple the modules that produce and consume data. Design principles are general guidelines that can help you avoid complexity and achieve simplicity. For example, you can use the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid) to avoid unnecessary complications and focus on the simplest solution.

5 Use simulation and testing tools

The fifth step is to use simulation and testing tools that can help you validate, verify, and optimize your robot's architecture and components. Simulation tools can help you model and visualize your robot's behavior and performance in different environments and conditions. Testing tools can help you check and debug your robot's functionality and quality. These tools can help you identify and eliminate errors, bugs, and inefficiencies that can complicate your robot's architecture and components.

6 Refactor and revise

The final step is to refactor and revise your robot's architecture and components as you learn and improve. Refactoring is the process of improving the internal structure of your robot's code without changing its external behavior. Revising is the process of changing the external behavior of your robot's code to meet new requirements or expectations. Both processes can help you simplify your robot's architecture and components by removing unnecessary or outdated code, improving readability and maintainability, and enhancing functionality and performance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?