SoftBank has developed what it claims is a new cableless server rack to enable robotic automation in data centers.

The new design will help robots fulfill tasks such as the installation and removal of servers, replacing faulty units, and conducting inspections, the Japanese tech conglomerate said.

“Until now, a major obstacle to automation in data centers has been loads of cables packed inside server racks,” a SoftBank statement said.

“Dense cabling makes it difficult for robots to correctly identify and handle equipment within racks, which impacts their accuracy and efficiency.”

To overcome this issue, SoftBank’s engineers have developed a design that eliminates the need for visible power and communication cabling. “This enables robots to perform tasks – such as server installation and replacement – efficiently and smoothly, without having to manipulate or get around cables,” the statement said.

SoftBank said the proprietary design adopts a “bus bar” system that supplies power directly through metal bars at the rear, as well as “a ‘blind-mate’ connector that allows simple insertion of water-cooling components for liquid cooling, and an optical connector that utilizes optical signals for communication.” Taken together, the company added, “these features enable cableless power, cooling, and communication.”

Based on images supplied by the company, it appears that, in practice, the new design features an adapter at the rear of the server, which allows it to plug into power, cooling, and communications cables hidden away in the second part of the adapter, connected to the rack. So it may not be entirely cableless, but it is certainly a lot tidier than many data center racks.

The rack will now be tested with robots in what SoftBank describes as real-world environments, as part of a wider push to adopt robotics in its data centers. This could also eventually include autonomous mobile robots and robotic forklift trucks.

The company intends to implement robotic automation at its Hokkaido Tomakomai data center in Japan, which is currently under construction and will offer an initial 50MW capacity. This is scheduled to come online in 2027.

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son reportedly sees robotics as a big opportunity, and has pitched the idea of building a robot factory in Arizona, US, to the American government and chip manufacturing giant TSMC. Whether this project will get off the ground remains to be seen.

Implementation of robots in data centers has so far been limited. Google has reportedly experimented with using robots for removing hard drives from its racks, while Microsoft is developing a modular robotic system for data centers, though this appears to be at an early stage.

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/softbank-develops-cableless-server-rack-for-data-center-robots/