Deployment

Calibration Anywhere is deployed in a multi-step process:

Platform setup

Platform setup is the process of configuring Calibration Anywhere to ingest and process sensor data from a specific robot platform. This process is performed by MSA engineers and typically takes a few days when supported by the recommended data in the described format.

Calibration turn-around-time (TAT) is 3-10 days for the first calibration; each additional calibration is faster. TAT is typically less than 1 day when setup is complete.

After platform setup is complete, Calibration Anywhere can process logs and generate results for any instance of that robot platform.

Remote service

Remote service (Calibration-as-a-Service) is the cloud-hosted deployment of Calibration Anywhere. Sensor data is uploaded to the Data Portal and processed by MSA with human review.

• Customer uploads sensor data (from an instance of a robot platform that has been setup) to the Data Portal
• Calibration Anywhere generates a calibration result
• MSA engineers validate the calibration result
• The calibration result is made available for download from the Data Portal

Calibration TAT is typically less than 1 day.

Platform hardening

Platform hardening is the process of configuring Calibration Anywhere to ensure it can self-validate calibration results without a human involved. This process is managed by MSA engineers, requires sensor data collected from different instances of the same platform, and typically takes a few months.

After platform hardening is complete, Calibration Anywhere can process logs, generate results, and self-validate the output without human review.

Automatic remote service, requires hardening

Automatic remote service requires platform hardening.

Automatic remote service is the automated exchange of sensor data for a calibration result:

• Sensor data (from an instance of a robot belonging to a platform that has been setup) is uploaded to the Data Portal
• Calibration Anywhere generates a calibration result
• Calibration Anywhere self-validates the calibration result
• The calibration result is made available for download from the Data Portal

Calibration TAT is a function of the size of the input data and the duration of the input data recording; optimal data collection and a small number of sensors can result in calibrations that take less than 10 minutes, typical TAT is less than 30 minutes.

On-prem deployment, requires hardening

On-prem deployment requires platform hardening.

On-prem deployment uses an MSA-provided Docker container with Calibration Anywhere software configured for a specific platform:

• MSA provides a Docker image configured for a specific platform
• The Docker image is run in a container on the robot or on an external computer
• Sensor data (from an instance of a robot platform that has been setup) is referenced when the Docker container is launched
• Calibration Anywhere generates a calibration result
• Calibration Anywhere self-validates the calibration result
• The calibration result is made available in a target directory

Calibration TAT is a function of the size of the input data, the duration of the input data recording, and the compute resources available on the system; some customers can complete calibrations in under 10 minutes, typical TAT is less than 30 minutes.

Online background (requires hardening)

Online background deployment requires platform hardening and an engineering integration effort.

Online background deployment uses MSA-provided software that runs on a robot belonging to a specific platform:

• MSA provides a software library configured for a specific platform
• Calibration Anywhere software runs online on the robot
• Sensor data is locally buffered
• Calibration Anywhere generates and monitors odometry to identify periods of calibration-suitable motion
• Calibration Anywhere evaluates the proximity of large static structure
• When suitable motion and sufficient nearby static structure has been identified, Calibration Anywhere processes the saved sensor data and generates a calibration result
• Calibration Anywhere self-validates the calibration result
• If the calibration is successful, the software generates a signal that a new calibration is available

Calibrations are generated after the robot completes suitable calibration motion; calibration TAT is a function of the size of the input data, the duration of the input data recording, and the compute resources available on the system.