3D plant table for collaborative layout planning

Abstract

A 3D planning table for collaborative layout planning, characterized by a flexible, rollable display (e.g., OLED display or higher) on which additively printed 2.5D miniatures of planning objects (e.g., machines, workstations, etc.) are placed. The current layout state is continuously captured using a 2D or 3D camera and transmitted via an interface to a CAD program, which translates the 2.5D representation into a 3D representation of the layout and displays it on a monitor and via VR glasses. Saved intermediate states can be transferred back to the OLED display via an interface between the CAD software and the planning process. All 2.5D miniatures are equipped with a camera-readable code, which allows further information to be retrieved from a central database using a smartphone camera.

Description

Layout planning is a key task in factory design for industrial plants. Based on the floor plan of a production or logistics hall, the machines, equipment, workstations, and other items necessary for manufacturing are arranged. Criteria such as material flow, employee walking routes, accessibility for operation and maintenance, etc., play a crucial role in this process. This layout planning is now carried out almost exclusively using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) systems, based on scaled hall layouts and scaled machine and equipment symbols. These symbols are created by digitizing real objects, for example, with the help of a 3D point cloud scanner. The objects are digitized three-dimensionally using CAD software. The factory planner arranges these objects into a layout, evaluates it, and generates different variations as part of the planning process, from which the best one is then further developed and implemented. Since the factory planner – especially if they are an external service provider – cannot always be aware of and consider all the specific constraints involved in this work, it is advisable to involve specialists from the company being planned. In practice, it has proven effective to use scaled symbols printed and cut out on cardboard or paper for this purpose. These are placed and moved on a scaled floor plan of the factory building until everyone involved is satisfied with the result. This plan is then photographed and subsequently digitized in a CAD system. The advantage of this method is that it involves a very collaborative effort between the people involved, with all hierarchical levels represented planning on an equal footing. The main disadvantage of this method is that all results exist only on paper and must be digitized and transferred to the relevant software systems for further evaluation – e.g., of the material flow. This is time-consuming and can usually only be done after a planning meeting, once all participants have left. Furthermore, the planning process is quite difficult for employees less familiar with planning to understand, as it takes place relatively abstractly on paper. The planning table for collaborative factory planning starts at this point. This is a display that lies flat on a table. Ideally, a flexible, possibly even rollable, OLED display is used to create the feeling of a printed floor plan for those involved, while minimizing transport costs. The floor plan of the hall to be planned is displayed on this screen at a suitable scale. The floor plan includes only the elements that remain constant throughout the planning process (walls, doors / gates, hall columns, etc.). As a preliminary step, all objects to be placed (machines, equipment, shelves, cabinets, workbenches, etc.) are printed to the same scale as the hall floor plan. However, this is not done on paper as is conventional practice; instead, the objects are additively created as so-called 2.5D miniatures based on precise measurements taken in reality. All objects are created to a standardized height, ideally between 5 mm and 10 mm, regardless of their actual height. These objects can now be placed, moved, and rearranged on the layout by those involved in the planning process. To ensure that all necessary relevant information about these objects is always readily available during this process, each object is assigned a QR code. Using this code and their smartphones, any participant in the planning process can retrieve information from a central database and incorporate it into their planning. Simultaneously, a 3D camera continuously captures images of the current state of the layout process. This image data is analyzed by software and displayed on a screen for those involved in the planning. The precise placement of all objects on the hall layout is taken into account. At the same time, the 2.5D objects are replaced by the precisely captured and digitized 3D objects from the CAD system, creating a virtual representation of the plan that can even be viewed using VR glasses. The key advantage of the invention is that the collaborative planning approach is retained, even though the actual planning process is carried out indirectly using a CAD system. The planning experience is significantly more immersive and immediate for all involved. The 2.5D objects offer a more three-dimensional experience than paper cutouts. The 3D display on the monitor allows for immediate monitoring of the planning results and thus provides feedback to the planners. Interim planning stages can be saved and restored at any time by transferring them back to the planning table (OLED display) to facilitate further planning. By combining QR codes with the planning objects, all relevant information can be made available to all participants in a virtually barrier-free manner; there is no such thing as "dominant knowledge".

Claims

A 3D planning table for collaborative layout planning, characterized by a flexible, rollable display (e.g., OLED display or higher) on which additively printed 2.5D miniatures of planning objects (e.g., machines, workstations, etc.) are placed. The current layout state is continuously captured using a 2D or 3D camera and transmitted via an interface to a CAD program, which translates the 2.5D representation into a 3D representation of the layout and displays it on a monitor and via VR glasses. Saved intermediate states can be transferred back to the OLED display via an interface between the CAD software and the planning process. All 2.5D miniatures are equipped with a camera-readable code, which allows further information to be retrieved from a central database using a smartphone camera. 3D plant table for collaborative layout planning, characterized by the fact that the camera-readable code is a QR code. 3D plant table for collaborative layout planning, characterized by the fact that a transfer back from the CAD system to the OLED display is omitted. 3D planning table for collaborative layout planning, characterized by the use of a projector instead of an OLED display to project the hall layout onto the table. 3D planning table for collaborative layout planning, characterized by the fact that instead of an OLED display, a printed floor plan of the hall is used to place the 2.5D miniatures. 3D planning table for collaborative layout planning, characterized by the use of 2D graphics printed on cardboard or paper instead of additively printed 2.5D miniatures.