Blockchain-based cloud-edge collaborative data management for human-robot collaboration digital twin system

Abstract

Human-robot collaboration demonstrates broad application prospects in product customization. Digital twin represents an advanced real-virtual interaction technology that plays an essential role in enhancing perception and interaction for human-robot collaboration. A digital twin-based human-robot collaboration system has been proposed to devise collaborative strategies, simulate collaborative processes, and ensure human safety. However, there exist research gaps in implementing human-robot collaboration digital twin systems. A significant challenge lies in constructing data models for describing data types and content in human-robot collaboration digital twin systems. Additionally, addressing data management aspects, including data sharing and storage, is crucial for the effective operation of human-robot collaboration digital twin systems. To bridge existing deficiencies, a novel approach is introduced for managing data in human-robot collaboration digital twin systems through a blockchain-based cloud-edge collaborative method. Initially, a conceptualization of the human-robot collaboration digital twin system alongside a cloud-edge data management framework is introduced. Subsequently, a data model is delineated to outline data categories and contents of human-robot collaboration digital twin systems. Following this, an exploration is conducted on methodologies for data sharing and storage utilizing blockchain and cloud technologies. Ultimately, the efficacy of the proposed approaches is validated through a case study.