The Robot Revolution is Here – Robotics in the Data Center

John Yung, Digital Edge Vice President of Technology and Innovation, looks closer at the nascent but rapidly growing field of data center robotics.

The Robot Revolution is Upon Us

We’re witnessing the start of the robot revolution, not the apocalyptic kind from the sci-fi movies, but one equally as disruptive. Task-specific robots have been around for decades at manufacturing lines around the world, but what we’re seeing now is the emergence of autonomous multi-purpose robots for wide use cases, able to move around freely. Add AI, the second big development in tech the past couple of years, and things get very interesting. Within the decade, robots will be everywhere.

How Can Robots be Used in Data Centers?

While data centers will likely always require human resources to manage their complex mechanical and electrical equipment, the use of robots has the potential to greatly improve data center management and operations. As an example, a study by research firm Gartner a couple of years back, showed the use of robotics could lead to a 30% increase in operational efficiency of data centers.

And just last month, it was reported that Google is testing the use of robots to manage hard drives and equipment at its data centers, realizing the potential for scaling, while maintaining safety and reliability in their data center operations.

Within data centers there are a multitude of use cases for robots, such as maintenance and upgrades of server equipment, site monitoring and security. Robotics can, as stated by Gartner, increase efficiency, and be leveraged for predictive maintenance. By using robots for real-time monitoring, combined with Big Data and AI in data center operations, we can achieve the capability to act on issues before they escalate into major problems.

In short, the increasing ability to combine autonomous, multi-purpose robots with AI and big data will usher in the ‘robot revolution’ in the data center industry, which will lead to increased levels of data center automation and AI-powered data centers in the longer term.

How is Digital Edge Using Robots in Data Centers?

As a forward-thinking data center developer and operator, we are always looking at ways to improve our offering to our customers, which is why Digital Edge started using robots very early on in our company history.

Since 2022, a prototype robot has been on trial at our NARRA1 data center in Manila. Affectionately known by the team there as ‘Nora,’ it uses facial recognition to authenticate visitors, and recognizes spoken commands in order to guide visitors through the secure areas to their racks.

More recently we have deployed a drone which utilizes an AI visualization tool to provide support on regular site maintenance. The drone flies above the building and takes photos which can be used to quickly spot faults and support equipment maintenance, particularly following a natural disaster.

This year, at our newly launched SEL2 data center in Seoul, we have also deployed an autonomous robot for cleaning duties, enabling us to keep the facilities spotless 24/7. The robot has been integrated with auto-door openers and elevator operability, enabling it to seamlessly move throughout the building, without any human involvement.

Next we are exploring leveraging robotics to support with security protocols, including having robots patrol the facility to detect and record movement 24/7, alerting security personnel to potential threats while reducing the need for manned patrols.

With robotic technology evolving rapidly, we at Digital Edge are continuously exploring new ways to leverage robotics, and complementary tools such as AI and machine learning, within our facilities to provide maximum benefits to both our business and our customers.

If you would like to learn more about implementing data center robotics or the benefits of using robots in data center operations and management, please feel free to reach out to me at john.yung@digitaledgedc.com.