Measuring device, measuring system, measuring method, and program

Abstract

To provide a method for automatically measuring the time required when an indication needle of an indicator is moved from a starting position to an end position.SOLUTION: A measuring device has: means that acquires a photographed image obtained by photographing an indicator indicating an indication value with the position of an indication needle; means that estimates the indication value indicated by the indication needle; and means that measures the time required for the indication needle to enter a state where it indicates a predetermined second indication value from a state where it indicates a predetermined first indication value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a measurement apparatus, a measurement system, a measurement method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] A method has been proposed in which an indicator, which indicates a state by a pointer, is photographed by a camera and the value indicated by the pointer is read from the photographed image. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a meter measurement device that compares a photographed image of an indicator with a reference image photographed in a state where the value indicated by the pointer is known, determines the rotation angle of the pointer photographed in the photographed image, and specifies the indicated value from the rotation angle and scale information.

[0003] There is an inspection task that measures the time required to move the pointer of an indicator from a specified start position to an end position. Conventionally, in this inspection task, a person measures the time required for the pointer to move from the start position to the end position using a stopwatch or the like. For example, in this inspection task, when there are multiple indicators to be inspected, multiple people must simultaneously perform the inspection task at a position where they can check the pointer. In addition, when one person is in charge of the inspection task of multiple indicators, the inspection task must be performed repeatedly for each indicator. Furthermore, when an indicator is installed in a narrow area or multiple indicators are installed in one place, the workability is deteriorated. In this way, when the above inspection task is performed by a person, the work cost tends to be high. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-166332 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] To provide a method for automatically measuring the time required to move an indicator needle from a start position to an end position.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a measurement device, a measurement system, a measurement method, and a program that can solve the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The measuring device disclosed herein includes a means for acquiring an image of an indicator that indicates an indication value depending on the position of the indicator needle, a means for estimating the indication value indicated by the indicator needle, and a means for measuring the time required for the indicator needle to change from a state indicating a predetermined first indication value to a state indicating a predetermined second indication value.

[0008] The measurement system of the present disclosure includes a management device and one or more of the above-mentioned measurement devices, and the management device includes a means for accepting settings of the first indication value and the second indication value for each of the one or more measurement devices, a means for instructing the one or more measurement devices to measure the time, and a means for acquiring the time measured from each of the one or more measurement devices and displaying the acquired time for each of the one or more measurement devices.

[0009] The measurement method disclosed herein includes the steps of acquiring an image of an indicator that indicates an indication value depending on the position of the indicator needle, estimating the indication value indicated by the indicator needle, and measuring the time it takes for the indicator needle to change from indicating a predetermined first indication value to indicating a predetermined second indication value.

[0010] The program disclosed herein causes a computer to execute the steps of acquiring an image of an indicator that shows an indication value depending on the position of the indicator needle, estimating the indication value shown by the indicator needle, and measuring the time it takes for the indicator needle to change from a state indicating a predetermined first indication value to a state indicating a predetermined second indication value. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the above-described measuring device, measuring system, measuring method, and program, it is possible to automatically measure the time required for moving the pointer of the indicator from the start position to the end position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a measurement system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an indicator (measuring instrument) according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of functions of a measurement system according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating estimation of an instruction value according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating weighting coefficients according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a nonlinear interpolation table according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating a process for improving reading accuracy according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a stop determination according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a measurement screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a measurement process according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a measurement system according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, the measurement system of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment> (System Configuration) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a measurement system according to an embodiment. The measurement system 100 includes indicators 1a-1 to 1a-3, cameras 5a-1 to 5a-2, a measuring device 10a, indicators 1b-1 to 1b-3, cameras 5b-1 to 5b-2, a measuring device 10b, indicators 1c-1 to 1c-3, cameras 5c-1 to 5c-2, a measuring device 10c, indicators 1d-1 to 1d-3, cameras 5d-1 to 5d-2, a measuring device 10d, and a management device 20. The measurement system 100 can be used, for example, to read the measurement value of an indicator (e.g., a hydraulic gauge) provided on a hydraulic steering device of a ship, or to measure the steering stroke time in a steering test. In a steering test, the rudder is moved up and down and left and right within a predetermined target range, and the time required to move the rudder within the target range (referred to as steering time) is measured, and the measurement value of the hydraulic gauge during that time is recorded. Indicators 1a-1, 1b-1, 1c-1, and 1d-1 are steering angle gauges that indicate the steering angle of the rudder, and indicators 1a-2 to 1a-3, 1b-2 to 1b-3, 1c-2 to 1c-3, and 1d-2 to 1d-3 are hydraulic gauges provided in the hydraulic steering device.

[0014] In the configuration of Fig. 1, there are four rudders to be tested, and for each rudders, the hydraulic steering device that controls the rudders is provided with one steering angle gauge and two hydraulic gauges. The measurement system 100 is configured in a master / slave format with the management device 20 as the master and the measurement devices 10a to 10d as slaves. The indicators 1a-1 to 1a-3, the cameras 5a-1 to 5a-2, and the measurement device 10a are a subsystem 1 provided for the steering test of the first rudders of the four. Similarly, a subsystem 2 including indicators 1b-1 to 1b-3, cameras 5b-1 to 5b-2, and a measuring device 10b is provided for the steering test of the rudder of the second machine, a subsystem 3 including indicators 1c-1 to 1c-3, cameras 5c-1 to 5c-2, and a measuring device 10c is provided for the steering test of the rudder of the third machine, and a subsystem 4 including indicators 1d-1 to 1d-3, cameras 5d-1 to 5d-2, and a measuring device 10d is provided for the steering test of the fourth machine. The management device 20 performs processing such as setting the test contents of the steering tests performed on the rudder of the first to fourth machines, notifying the measuring devices 10a to 10d of the test contents, notifying the start and end of the steering tests, collecting the steering time and the measured values ​​of the hydraulic gauges measured by the measuring devices 10a to 10d, and displaying the measurement results. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the systems and individual units, the indicators 1a-1 to 1d-3 will be simply described as indicator 1. Similarly, the cameras 5a-1 to 5d-2, the measuring devices 10a to 10d, the indicator needles 2a-1 and 2a-2 described below, etc. may be described as the camera 5, the measuring device 10, and the indicator needle 2. Although Fig. 1 illustrates a configuration with four rudders, the number of rudders may be other than four, and the measuring devices 10 are provided according to the number of rudders.

[0015] An example of the indicator 1a-1 is shown in FIG. 2(a). The steering angle meter is, for example, a horizontal analog measuring instrument as shown in the figure. For example, when the rudder is at X degrees on the steering wheel, the indicator needle 2a-1 points to m1, and when the rudder is at X degrees on the starboard wheel, the indicator needle 2a-1 points to m2. In a steering test, when the rudder is instructed to move from X degrees on the steering wheel to X degrees on the starboard wheel, an inspection task is performed to measure the time it takes for the indicator needle 2a-1 to move from m1 to m2. The indicator 1a-1 is a measuring instrument without a communication means, and the measured rudder angle cannot be transmitted to another device. Therefore, in conventional inspections, a person measures the steering time using a stopwatch or the like, but in the measurement system 100, the indicator 1a-1 is photographed by the camera 5a-1, and the photographed image is analyzed by the measurement device 10a to measure the steering time for the indicator needle 2a-1 to move from m1 to m2.

[0016] An example of the indicator 1a-2 is shown in FIG. 2(b). The oil pressure gauge is, for example, a round analog measuring instrument as shown in the figure, and indicates pressure according to the position indicated by the indicator needle 2a-2. The indicator 1a-2 is a measuring instrument that does not have a communication means. In the conventional inspection, the oil pressure while the rudder is moved is visually confirmed by a person in the steering test, but in the measurement system 100, the indicators 1a-2 to 1a-3 are photographed by the camera 5a-2, the photographed image is analyzed by the measurement device 10a, and the indicated values ​​indicated by the indicators 1a-2 and 1a-3 are read. In the configuration example of FIG. 1, the indicator 1a-1 (steering angle gauge) is photographed by the camera 5a-1, and the indicators 1a-2 to 1a-3 (oil pressure gauges) are photographed by the camera 5a-2, but a camera 5 may be provided for each indicator 1, or one camera 5 may be used to photograph three indicators 1. 2 shows examples of round and horizontal indicators, but indicators targeted by the measurement system 100 are not limited to these. For example, it may be a vertical indicator as shown in Fig. 2(c), or a dial switch as shown in Fig. 2(d), or a lever switch, knob switch, or slide switch (not shown). When the indicator is a switch, the measurement system 100 can read the set value and measure the time it takes for the indicator (knob) to move between set values.

[0017] Next, the function of the measurement system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The camera 5 is installed in a position where it can photograph the indicator 1, and continuously photographs the value indicated by the indicator 1 at all times or at predetermined time intervals. The camera 5 is connected to the measurement device 10 so as to be able to communicate with the measurement device 10, and outputs the photographed image to the measurement device 10. The measurement device 10 may be installed in the vicinity of the camera 5, or may be installed at a location distant from the camera 5.

[0018] The measuring device 10 is, for example, a PC (personal computer), a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. The measuring device 10 is connected to the management device 20 so as to be able to communicate with it. The measuring device 10 analyzes an image (referred to as a photographed image) taken by the camera 5, reads the measurement value indicated by the indicator 1, and transmits the measurement value as digital data to the management device 20. The measuring device 10 also analyzes the photographed image to measure the time it takes for the indicator needle 2 of the indicator 1 to move through a predetermined range (for example, steering time). More specifically, the measuring device 10 detects that the indicator needle 2 has reached one end (start position) of the predetermined range by analyzing the photographed image, and stores the time at that time. The measuring device 10 then detects that the indicator needle 2 has reached the other end (end position) of the predetermined range by analyzing the photographed image, and stores the time at that time. The measuring device 10 calculates the difference between the stored times, measures the time it takes for the indicator needle 2 to move through the predetermined range, and transmits the measured time to the management device 20.

[0019] The measurement device 10 includes an image acquisition unit 11 , an image processing unit 12 , an indication value estimation unit 13 , a time measurement unit 14 , a control unit 15 , a storage unit 16 , and a communication unit 17 . The image acquisition unit 11 acquires the image captured by the camera 5 . The image processor 12 performs image processing such as resizing the captured image and cutting out only the area required for reading the indicated value.

[0020] The indication value estimation unit 13 moves an indication needle (referred to as a pseudo needle) simulating an indication needle or lever, etc., within the movable range of the indication needle on an image simulating the indicator 1 (referred to as a pseudo image), and evaluates the degree of overlap with the indication needle captured in the captured image. FIG. 4(a) shows an example of a captured image 50 of a round measuring instrument (indicator 1). In the captured image 50, an indication needle 51 points to an indication value α. FIG. 4(b) shows a pseudo image 60 of the captured image 50 of FIG. 4(a). In the pseudo image 60, a pseudo needle 61 corresponding to the indication needle 51 is configured to be movable (moved by image processing). min to max shown in FIG. 4(b) correspond to the movable range of the indication needle 2 provided in the indicator 1. In the pseudo image 60, the indication value estimation unit 13 moves the pseudo needle 61 clockwise from a predetermined start position (for example, the min position) with a predetermined resolution. The resolution is the minimum amount of movement, and this amount of movement directly becomes the resolution in terms of reading accuracy. For example, the amount of movement in which the tip of the pseudo needle 61 moves by one pixel at a time can be the resolution. The indication value estimation unit 13 superimposes the photographed image 50 and the pseudo image 60 to evaluate the degree of overlap between the indicator needle 51 and the pseudo needle 61. The indication value estimation unit 13 calculates the degree of overlap between the indicator needle 51 of the photographed image 50 each time the pseudo needle 61 moves. For example, the signal intensity indicating the degree of overlap between the pseudo needle 61 and the indicator needle 51 may be calculated by convolution integral. The indication value estimation unit 13 specifies the amount of movement (movement angle) θ when the signal intensity indicating the degree of overlap between the pseudo needle 61 and the indicator needle 51 is maximum. The relationship between the amount of movement of the indicator needle 2 in the indicator 1 and the indication value is analyzed in advance, and a table that defines the correspondence between the amount of movement and the indication value is recorded in the storage unit 16. The instruction value estimating unit 13 estimates an instruction value α from the identified movement amount θ and a table that defines the correspondence relationship between the movement amount and the instruction value.

[0021] When calculating the signal strength indicating the degree of overlap between the pseudo needle 61 and the pointer 51, the indication value estimation unit 13 may calculate the signal strength by setting a large weighting coefficient for the characteristics of the pointer 2. For example, the indication value estimation unit 13 divides the pointer 51 having a shape exemplified in FIG. 5 into three regions 51a to 51c, and calculates the signal strength of the degree of overlap for each region. Then, the indication value estimation unit 13 calculates the signal strength indicating the degree of overlap between the pseudo needle 61 and the pointer 51 by assigning the largest weighting coefficient to the region 51a having the most characteristic shape, the smallest weighting coefficient to the region 51c having the least characteristic shape, and a medium weighting coefficient to the region 51b. For example, if the signal strengths calculated for the regions 51a to 51c are Sa to Sc, respectively, and the weighting coefficients for the regions 51a to 51c are ka to kc (ka>kb>kc), respectively, the indication value estimation unit 13 calculates the signal strength indicating the degree of overlap by ka·Sa+kb·Sb+kc·Sc. Any method can be used to calculate the signal strength indicating the degree of overlap between the pseudo needle 61 and the indicator needle 51. Although the weighting has been described using the indicator needle 51 of the photographed image 50 in Fig. 5, a weighting coefficient may be set for the pseudo needle 61 of the pseudo image 60. Although a round indicator (oil pressure gauge) has been used as an example in Figs. 4 and 5, the same applies to a horizontal indicator (steering angle gauge).

[0022] Furthermore, the indication value estimation unit 13 may correct the reading value using a nonlinear interpolation table to improve the reading accuracy of a horizontal indicator (steering angle indicator). The pseudo image 60 is created for each indicator of the same type, and the intervals of the steering angle scale are equal, but the actual indicator 1 may have a difference in the intervals of the scale even for indicators of the same type, and may have a slight variation in the intervals of the scale even within the same indicator. This difference or variation for each indicator is corrected by a nonlinear interpolation table. FIG. 6(a) shows a pseudo image 60 of the indicator 1 (steering angle indicator), and FIG. 6(b) shows a nonlinear interpolation table 600. For example, the indication value estimation unit 13 converts the indication value of the steering angle estimated by the above method into a relative position X% when the steering angle at full starboard is 0% and the steering angle at full starboard is 100%. In the nonlinear interpolation table 600, a true indication value (engineering value) is set for each indicator 1 (steering angle gauge) in association with the relative position. A line 601 in FIG. 6 is the true indication value. As shown in the figure, even for the same indicator 1, there is variation in the scale in the a section of 0 to A%, the b section of A to B%, the b' section of B to C, and the a' section of C to 100%, and the true indication value according to the variation in each section is read from the nonlinear interpolation table 600. For example, when the relative position converted from the indication value of the steering angle estimated by the indication value estimation unit 13 using the above method is x%, the indication value estimated by the indication value estimation unit 13 using the above method is, for example, y1. The indication value estimation unit 13 refers to the nonlinear interpolation table 600 and corrects the estimation result y1 to y. The nonlinear interpolation table 600 may be prepared for each indicator 1. The nonlinear interpolation table 600 is arbitrarily set by the user and registered in the storage unit 16.

[0023] The instruction value estimation unit 13 may also apply a Kalman filter to the estimated value to improve the reading accuracy. The vertical axis of the graph in FIG. 7(a) is the steering angle E, and the horizontal axis is time t. Point 71 is the current instruction value (steering angle estimated at the nth step) estimated by the instruction value estimation unit 13, and point 72 is the estimated value of the instruction value one step later (Δt later). The instruction value estimation unit 13 applies a statistical method such as a Kalman filter using point 71 and several past instruction values ​​(e.g., x marks in FIG. 7(a)) to predict an instruction value one step later (n+1th step) (e.g., point 72). The instruction value estimation unit 13 calculates the difference Δe between the predicted point 72 and the current value 71. Then, the instruction value estimation unit 13 actually estimates the instruction value one step later. The instruction value estimation unit 13 calculates the difference between the instruction value actually estimated one step later and the current value 71, and applies this difference to a normal distribution diagram illustrated in FIG. 7(b). The normal distribution diagram in FIG. 7(b) is a diagram showing the variation of the steering displacement e in one step, centered on the previously calculated Δe. If the difference between the instruction value actually estimated at the n+1th step and the current value (point 71) is within the range of ±2σ in the normal distribution diagram in FIG. 7(b), the instruction value estimation unit 13 adopts the actually estimated instruction value as the correct steering angle, and if it is outside this range, it rejects the actually estimated instruction value as an incorrect steering angle (outlier). In this case, there is no instruction value at the n+1th step. For example, if the difference between the instruction value actually estimated at the n+1th step and the current value (point 71) is Δe+, Δe+ is within the range of ±2σ, so the actually estimated instruction value is adopted and becomes the instruction value at the n+1th step. For example, if the difference between the instruction value actually estimated at the n+1th step and the current value (point 71) is Δe-, Δe- is outside the range of ±2σ, so the actually estimated instruction value at the n+1th step is rejected. The rejected values ​​are not only not adopted as measurement values, but are also not used as samples for estimating the indication value one step later using the Kalman filter.The normal distribution diagram in FIG. 7(b) may be generated, for example, by the instruction value estimation unit 13 calculating the difference Δe between the current instruction value and the statistical estimation value of the instruction value one step later (measurement value estimated using a Kalman filter) for each step during the measurement of the steering time, recording the calculated Δe and the instruction value actually estimated one step later for each step, and generating the normal distribution diagram based on the recorded data, or by analyzing data accumulated during past steering tests. As described above, the instruction value estimation unit 13 estimates the instruction value using the captured image and the pseudo image, but errors may occur due to noise contained in the captured image, superposition of the captured image and the pseudo image, etc. The instruction value estimation unit 13 performs the process described using FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b) each time it estimates the instruction value, thereby removing outliers and maintaining the accuracy of reading the instruction value. In the above explanation, ±2σ is used as the judgment threshold, but this is just one example, and the range for judging whether to adopt or not adopt the actually estimated indication value can be set arbitrarily (for example, ±1σ, ±3σ, etc., or it may be set regardless of the normal distribution diagram). Also, the statistical method used to predict the indication value of the next step is not limited to the Kalman filter. For example, the indication value of the next step may be predicted by simply calculating the average of the differences between the indication value of the kth step estimated in the past and the indication value of the k+1th step, and adding it to the current value.

[0024] The time measurement unit 14 measures the steering time based on the indication value estimated by the indication value estimation unit 13. For example, the time measurement unit 14 may calculate the time from when the indication value estimated by the indication value estimation unit 13 indicates a predetermined first indication value indicating the start position of the measurement to when it indicates a predetermined second indication value indicating the end position of the measurement during the movement of the indicator needle 2, or when a test is started triggered by a predetermined signal from a state in which the indication value estimated by the indication value estimation unit 13 indicates the first indication value, the time measurement unit 14 may measure the time from the time of the signal (for example, when the signal is the transmission of an indication signal to start measurement from the management device 20 to the measuring device 10, the time measurement unit 14 may be the time when the measuring device 10 receives the indication signal) until the indication value indicates the second indication value. For example, the time measurement unit 14 may calculate the steering time as the time until the indication value estimated by the method described with reference to FIG. 7 indicates a state in which the indication value indicates the predetermined second indication value from a state in which the indication value indicates the first indication value. In addition, in general, in a steering test, the rudder is started to be turned from a state where it is stopped at a predetermined first steering angle, and the steering angle is moved until it reaches a predetermined second steering angle, and the steering is stopped when the steering angle reaches the second steering angle. Therefore, the time measurement unit 14 may calculate the time from when the signal is issued until the indicated value of the indicator 1 becomes the second steering angle and stops, or may calculate the time from the start time to the end time, where the time when the indicated value of the indicator 1 starts to move from the state where it is the first steering angle is set as the start time and the time when the indicated value of the indicator 1 becomes the second steering angle and stops is set as the end time. In particular, when the steering angle is changed at a low speed, it may be difficult to determine the moment when the rudder stops at the second steering angle from the captured image. Therefore, the time measurement unit 14 may determine the stop of the indicated value based on Δe calculated by the method described in FIG. 7 being a value close to 0. As shown in Fig. 8(a), when the steering angle becomes the second steering angle and the steering is stopped, the value of Δe gradually decreases as shown by Δe1, Δe2, and Δe3. When the value of Δe calculated by the instruction value estimation unit 13 becomes close to 0 (for example, within the range of H shown in Fig. 8(b)), the time measurement unit 14 may determine that the steering has stopped, that is, the steering angle indicated by the indicator 1a-1, etc. becomes the second steering angle and has stopped.Alternatively, the time measurement unit 14 may determine that the steering angle indicated by the indicator 1a-1, etc., has become the second steering angle and stopped when the value of Δe becomes close to 0 a predetermined number of times in succession. For example, the time measurement unit 14 may specify the time when the value of Δe first becomes close to 0 as the time when the indication value becomes the second indication value. The time measurement unit 14 may also apply a similar determination to the start of the rudder operation. For example, the rudder operation starts with a predetermined signal from the steering test manager, etc., but the timing when the rudder actually starts moving is slightly shifted from the time when the signal is issued, and there is also variation among the 1st to 4th units. For example, the time measurement unit 14 may determine that the rudder operation has started, that is, the steering angle indicated by the indicator 1a-1, etc. has started to change from the first steering angle to the second steering angle when the value of Δe calculated by the indication value estimation unit 13 becomes larger than the vicinity of 0 (for example, within the range of H shown in FIG. 8(b)). Alternatively, the timing unit 14 may determine that the steering operation has started when the value of Δe exceeds the range H a predetermined number of times in succession. For example, the timing unit 14 may identify the time when the value of Δe first exceeds the range near 0 as the start time.

[0025] The control unit 15 controls the measurement process based on instructions from the management device 20. For example, when an instruction signal to start measurement is transmitted from the management device 20, the control unit 15 instructs the image acquisition unit 11, the image processing unit 12, the instruction value estimation unit 13, and the time measurement unit 14 to start measurement. Also, when an instruction signal to stop measurement is transmitted from the management device 20, the control unit 15 instructs the instruction value estimation unit 13 and the like to end measurement. For example, the instruction value estimation unit 13 performs an estimation process of the instruction value based on instructions from the control unit 15. The time measurement unit 14 calculates the steering time based on instructions from the control unit 15.

[0026] The storage unit 16 is configured using a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory, and stores captured images, pseudo images, a table that defines the correspondence between the movement amount and the instruction value, a non-linear interpolation table, and the like.

[0027] The communication unit 17 communicates with other devices. For example, the communication unit 17 transmits the instruction value estimated by the instruction value estimation unit 13 and the steering time measured by the time measurement unit 14 to the management device 20. The communication unit 17 receives an instruction signal to start measurement, an instruction signal to end measurement, and the like from the management device 20.

[0028] The management device 20 is, for example, a PC (personal computer), a server, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc. The management device 20 is communicably connected to the measurement devices 10. The management device 20 instructs the measurement devices 10a to 10d to start and end measurement, and collects and displays measurement results from the measurement devices 10a to 10d.

[0029] The management device 20 includes a data acquisition unit 21 , an input reception unit 22 , a control unit 23 , a storage unit 24 , and a communication unit 25 . The data acquisition unit 21 acquires various data such as the measurement results from the measuring device 10, images captured by the camera 5, and the connection state between the camera 5 and the measuring device 10.

[0030] The input receiving unit 22 is configured using input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and buttons, and acquires various information input by the user using these input devices. For example, the input receiving unit 22 accepts settings such as resolution settings, weighting coefficients, and areas to which the weighting coefficients are assigned. Also, for example, the input receiving unit 22 accepts settings such as the start position, end position, and judgment value of the steering angle for each of the rudders of the first to fourth units as a test schedule for the steering test. Since the steering test is performed in multiple patterns, multiple test schedules are set for each of the rudders of the first to fourth units. The input receiving unit 22 acquires the settings input by the user and records them in the storage unit 24.

[0031] The control unit 23 controls the operation of the management device 20. For example, the control unit 23 generates a measurement screen (FIG. 9) used to carry out a steering test and outputs it to the display device. An example of the measurement screen is shown in FIG. 9. The measurement screen 90 includes a guidance display field 91, a test schedule field 92, a measurement status display field 93, a measurement result display field 94, an alarm display field 95, a measurement app use start button 96, a measurement preparation completion button 97, a start from reverse steering button 98, a measurement start button 99, a measurement stop button 910, a measurement app use end button 911, a child device status confirmation screen button 912, a warning display confirmation screen 913, a test schedule setting screen button 914, and a terminal setting screen 915. The guidance display field 91 displays the next required operation, etc. The test schedule field 92 displays the test schedule. For example, in the case of the example of FIG. 9, in the steering test of test No. 1, the steering time from the center 0° to starboard 35° is measured. Test No. 1 has already been carried out, so it is displayed in gray. The same applies to the steering test of Test No. 2. In the test schedule column 92, the test schedule of Unit 1 is displayed as a representative. In the measurement status display column 93, information is displayed that allows confirmation of whether the steering test can be started, and if the test is in progress, whether the test is being carried out correctly (whether the steering angle is changing in the correct direction). For example, in the case of Unit 1 in the example of FIG. 9, the state before the test of Test No. 2 is shown. As the initial state of the rudder of Unit 1, the start position is at the center 0° position, and since there is no problem with the hydraulic pressure value, it can be confirmed that the test can be started. In addition, a right arrow is displayed in the direction of operation. If the steering test is started in this state and the rudder is mistakenly turned from the center to the steering direction, a left arrow is displayed in red, for example, in the direction of operation. The examiner can quickly understand by looking at this display that the operation is in the opposite direction to the plan. In the measurement result display column 94, the measurement result of the test is displayed after the test is completed. For example, in the case of the example in Fig. 9, the measurement results of test No. 1 are displayed as follows: steering time X seconds, final steering angle 35.8°, and the measured values ​​of the two hydraulic gauges 0.3 Mpa and 0.8 Mpa, respectively. Note that the judgment value indicates that the pass standard is within X1 seconds. The alarm display field 95 notifies the occurrence of an abnormality.For example, if it is within 5 seconds after the occurrence of the abnormality, the control unit 23 causes the warning display field 95 to flash in red, and if it exceeds 5 seconds, the warning display field 95 turns red. When the measurement app use start button 96 is pressed, the control unit 15 starts communication with the measurement devices 10a to 10d. This establishes a communication connection with the measurement devices 10a to 10d. When the measurement preparation completion button 97 is pressed, the control unit 15 transmits a preparation completion signal to the measurement devices 10a to 10d. The measurement devices 10a to 10d are in a standby state until the start of measurement. When the start button 98 is pressed from the reverse rudder, the start position and end position of the test schedule can be reversed. For example, even if the test schedule is scheduled from center 0° to starboard 35°, it may be changed to starboard 35° to center 0° at the test site. In such a case, the start position and end position of the test that has not been performed can be reversed by pressing the start button 98 from the reverse rudder. When the measurement start button 99 is pressed, the control unit 15 transmits a measurement start instruction signal to the measuring devices 10a to 10d. The measuring devices 10a to 10d start measurement. When the measurement stop button 910 is pressed, the control unit 15 transmits a measurement end instruction signal to the measuring devices 10a to 10d. The measuring devices 10a to 10d stop measurement. When the measurement app use end button 911 is pressed, the communication connection with the measuring devices 10a to 10d is cut off. When the child device status confirmation screen button 912 is pressed, a child device status confirmation screen (not shown) is displayed. The child device status confirmation screen displays the connection status between the management device 20 and the measuring device 10, the connection status between the measuring device 10 and the camera 5, the illuminance of the camera 5, the free space of the memory unit of the measuring device 10, and an image of the indicator 1 captured by the camera 5. When the warning display confirmation screen 913 is pressed, a warning display confirmation screen (not shown) is displayed. The warning display confirmation screen displays the details of the abnormality that caused the alarm display field 95 to flash or light up. Pressing the test schedule setting screen button 914 displays a test schedule setting screen (not shown). The test schedule setting screen allows multiple patterns to be set for the test name, test category, start position, end position, and judgment value for each of units 1 to 4. The test schedule set on the test schedule setting screen is displayed in the test schedule field 92 on the measurement screen 90. Pressing the terminal setting screen 915 displays a terminal setting screen (not shown).On the terminal setting screen, it is possible to perform time synchronization of the measurement device 10, setting a storage destination for the measurement results, etc. The control unit 23 displays the measurement screen 90, instructs the measurement device 10 to start measurement when buttons 96 to 911 are pressed, generates a dedicated setting screen when buttons 912 to 915 are pressed, records the contents set on the setting screen in the storage unit 24, etc.

[0032] The storage unit 24 is configured using a storage device such as a HDD or a flash memory, and stores the measurement results obtained from the measuring device 10 and various settings such as a test schedule.

[0033] The communication unit 25 communicates with other devices. For example, the communication unit 25 instructs the measurement device 10 to establish or disconnect a communication connection, or to start or end measurement. The communication unit 25 receives measurement results from the measurement device 10.

[0034] (operation) Next, the operation of the measurement system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the measurement process according to the embodiment. It is assumed that the various settings received by the input receiving unit 22, the pseudo image 60 that allows the pseudo needle 61 to be moved arbitrarily, and a table that defines the correspondence between the amount of movement and the instruction value are pre-recorded in the memory unit 16. The measuring device 10 receives an instruction signal to start measurement from the management device 20 (step S1). The control unit 15 starts measurement. First, the image acquisition unit 11 acquires a photographed image of the indicator 1 photographed by the camera 5 (step S2). The image acquisition unit 11 records the photographed image in the storage unit 16. Next, the image processing unit 12 processes the photographed image 50 (step S3). The image processing unit 12 resizes the photographed image 50 to an image with a predetermined resolution (for example, a minimum resolution required to read the indicated value) or cuts out only the image of a portion required to read the indicated value. These processes are performed to reduce the processing load. The image processing unit 12 records the photographed image 50 after image processing in the storage unit 16. The image processing unit 12 may create a pseudo image 60 by performing a predetermined image processing on the photographed image 50 after image processing, and record the created pseudo image 60 in the storage unit 16.

[0035] Next, the indication value estimation unit 13 estimates the indication value of the indicator 1 using the captured image 50 and the pseudo image 60. First, the indication value estimation unit 13 adjusts the image so that the captured image 50 in FIG. 4(a) and the pseudo image 60 in FIG. 4(b) have the same size. Then, the indication value estimation unit 13 moves the pseudo needle 61 from the movement start position in the pseudo image 60 illustrated in FIG. 4(b) by a predetermined resolution (step S4), and calculates the signal intensity indicating the degree of overlap between the pseudo needle 61 and the indicator needle 51 illustrated in FIG. 4(b) each time. For example, when the movement range is set from min to max in FIG. 4(b), the indication value estimation unit 13 starts from the position where the tip of the pseudo needle 61 points to min and moves it by the resolution unit to the position where the tip of the pseudo needle 61 points to max. The indication value estimation unit 13 records the movement amount (in this example, the angle between the pseudo needle 61 at the movement start position and the pseudo needle 61 after the movement) in association with the signal strength in the storage unit 16. When the movement of the pseudo needle 61 is completed over the entire movement range, the indication value estimation unit 13 identifies the movement amount when the indication needle 51 in the captured image 50 and the pseudo needle 61 in the pseudo image 60 are closest (overlapped) (step S5). Specifically, the indication value estimation unit 13 selects the maximum value from the signal strengths calculated for each movement, and reads out the movement amount recorded in association with the selected signal strength from the storage unit 16. The read-out movement amount is the identified movement amount. Next, the indication value estimation unit 13 estimates the indication value from the identified movement amount (step S6). Specifically, the indication value estimation unit 13 refers to a table that defines the correspondence between the movement amount and the indication value stored in the storage unit 16, and reads out the indication value corresponding to the movement amount that maximizes the signal strength. When the indicator 1 is a steering angle meter, the instruction value estimator 13 may correct the instruction value by referring to a nonlinear complement table stored in the memory unit 16. Regardless of whether the indicator 1 is a steering angle meter or a hydraulic meter, the instruction value estimator 13 may eliminate instruction values ​​with low accuracy by using a Kalman filter, as described with reference to Fig. 7. The instruction value estimator 13 records the estimated instruction value and time in the memory unit 16 in association with each other.

[0036] Next, the communication unit 17 reads out the estimated instruction values ​​(steering angle, hydraulic pressure gauge measurement value) from the memory unit 16 and transmits them to the management device 20 (step S7). In the management device 20, the control unit 23 outputs the transmitted instruction values ​​to the measurement status display field 93 of the measurement screen 90. The examiner performing the steering test can check the instruction values ​​displayed by the indicator 1 in real time without going to the location where the indicator 1 is installed. Also, by referring to the measurement screen 90, the examiner can check whether the steering test is being performed correctly.

[0037] Next, the control unit 15 judges whether one test schedule has been completed (step S8). For example, the control unit 15 judges that the test schedule has been completed if the steering angle indicator indicated value estimated by the indication value estimation unit 13 is at the end position. If the test schedule has not been completed (step S8; No), the process from step S2 is repeatedly executed. If the test schedule has been completed (step S8; Yes), the time measurement unit 14 calculates the steering time (step S9). For example, the time measurement unit 14 may specify data recorded at the last time among data in which the indication value (steering angle) is a start position among the indication values ​​in the time series recorded in the storage unit 16, specify data recorded at the first time among data in which the indication value is an end position, and calculate the steering time by subtracting the time associated with the former data from the time associated with the latter data. Alternatively, when the instruction value estimated by the instruction value estimation unit 13 at the nth step is the start position and the difference between the instruction value estimated at the n+1th step and the instruction value estimated at the nth step is no longer included in a predetermined range based on 0, the time measurement unit 14 may determine the time at which the estimation at the n+1th step (or the nth step) is performed as the start time. Similarly, when the instruction value estimated by the instruction value estimation unit 13 at the nth step is the end position and the difference between the instruction value estimated at the n+1th step and the instruction value estimated at the nth step is included in a predetermined range based on 0, the time measurement unit 14 may determine the time at which the estimation at the nth step (or the n+1th step) is performed as the end time. In this case, the time measurement unit 14 calculates the steering time by subtracting the start time from the end time. The time measurement unit 14 records the calculated steering time in the storage unit 16.

[0038] Next, the communication unit 17 reads out the measurement results (final steering angle and steering time, and hydraulic pressure gauge measurement values) from the memory unit 16 and transmits them to the management device 20 (step S10). In the management device 20, the control unit 23 outputs the transmitted indication values ​​to the measurement result display field 94 on the measurement screen 90. The test personnel can check the results of the steering test by referring to the measurement screen 90 output by the management device 20.

[0039] (effect) As described above, according to this embodiment, the indicated value displayed by the indicator 1, such as an analog measuring instrument that can only be checked on-site, can be read with high accuracy. In addition, the time required for the indicated value of the indicator 1 to move from the start position to the end position can be automatically measured. There is no need to prepare teaching data or perform learning in order to read the indicated value, and reading and measurement of the time the indicator needle moves can be performed with a relatively low processing load. Furthermore, by making the resolution finer, the reading accuracy can be improved, so that the reading accuracy can be improved quickly (without the need to perform learning, etc.). Furthermore, the user can change the resolution simply by setting the resolution.

[0040] In addition, by connecting a plurality of measuring devices 10 to the management device 20 in a communicable manner, it is possible to automatically perform reading of a large number of indicators 1 and measurement of the time required for the movement of the indicated value in parallel at the same time. In addition, by transmitting a test schedule from the management device 20 to the measuring device 10 and collecting and displaying the measurement results performed according to the test schedule in the management device 20, a large number of indicators 1 can be monitored by one person, which makes it possible to reduce the number of test personnel. In addition, since the data size of the indicated value is small, there are few communication constraints, and it can be applied to many plants, factories, facilities, etc., including plants that impose restrictions on the amount of communication, such as nuclear plants. As a result, for example, work such as visually checking the indicated value of the indicator 1 by on-site workers can be automated, and work efficiency can be improved. In addition, even if the indicators 1 are installed in a narrow place or are installed densely in one place, there is no need for a person to monitor the indicators 1 nearby, so there is no need to worry about a decrease in workability. In the above embodiment, an example has been described of measuring the steering time in a steering test of a ship, but the application of the technology of automatically measuring the time required to move the indicator needle of the indicator 1 in this embodiment from the start position to the end position is not limited to steering tests.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the measurement system according to the embodiment. The computer 900 includes a CPU 901 , a main memory device 902 , an auxiliary memory device 903 , an input / output interface 904 , and a communication interface 905 . The above-mentioned measuring device 10 and management device 20 are implemented in a computer 900. The above-mentioned functions are stored in the auxiliary storage device 903 in the form of a program. The CPU 901 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 903, loads it in the main storage device 902, and executes the above-mentioned processing in accordance with the program. The CPU 901 also reserves a storage area in the main storage device 902 in accordance with the program. The CPU 901 also reserves a storage area in the auxiliary storage device 903 for storing data being processed in accordance with the program.

[0042] In addition, a program for realizing all or part of the functions of the measuring device 10 and the management device 20 may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to perform processing by each functional unit. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. In addition, if a WWW system is used, the term "computer system" also includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment). In addition, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a CD, DVD, or USB, and a storage device such as a hard disk built into a computer system. In addition, if the program is distributed to the computer 900 through a communication line, the computer 900 that receives the program may deploy the program in the main storage device 902 and execute the above processing. In addition, the above program may be for realizing part of the above-mentioned functions, and may further be capable of realizing the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0043] As described above, several embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described, but all of these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims, as well as in the scope and gist of the invention.

[0044] <Additional Notes> The measurement method, the measurement device, the measurement system, and the program described in each embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0045] (1) A measuring device according to a first aspect has a means for acquiring an image of an indicator that indicates an indication value depending on the position of a pointer, a means for estimating the indication value indicated by the pointer, and a means for measuring the time required for the pointer to change from a state indicating a predetermined first indication value to a state indicating a predetermined second indication value. This makes it possible to automatically measure the time required to move the pointer of the indicator from the start position to the end position.

[0046] (2) A measuring device according to a second aspect is the measuring device of (1), wherein, during the period from when the indicator needle changes from indicating the first indication value to when it changes to indicating the second indication value, the estimating means estimates the indication value at a predetermined time interval, estimates the indication value to be estimated at the n+1th step by a statistical method based on a plurality of the indication values ​​actually estimated up to the nth step, calculates a reference displacement which is the difference between the estimated indication value at the n+1th step and the indication value estimated at the nth step, and if the difference between the indication value actually estimated at the n+1th step and the indication value estimated at the nth step is not included within a predetermined range based on the reference displacement, the indication value actually estimated at the n+1th step is not adopted. This makes it possible to remove measurement values ​​that have become outliers due to disturbances or the like, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy.

[0047] (3) A measuring device according to a third aspect is the measuring device of (1) to (3), wherein the measuring means determines that the indicator needle has reached a state indicating the second indication value at the nth step when the indication value estimated by the estimating means at the nth step becomes the second indication value and a difference between the indication value actually estimated at the n+1th step and the indication value estimated at the nth step is within a predetermined range based on 0. This makes it possible to estimate the end time of the measurement (the time when the steering was stopped in the steering test).

[0048] (4) A measuring device according to a fourth aspect is the measuring device of (1) to (3), wherein the measuring means determines that, when the indication value estimated by the estimating means in the nth step becomes the first indication value and a difference between the indication value actually estimated in the n+1th step and the indication value estimated in the nth step is no longer included in a predetermined range based on 0, the indicator needle has changed from a state indicating the first indication value to a state indicating the second indication value in the n+1th step. This makes it possible to estimate the start time of the measurement (the time when the steering wheel begins to turn in the steering test).

[0049] (5) A measurement system according to a fifth aspect includes a management device and one or more measurement devices described in (1) to (4). The management device includes a means for accepting settings of the first indication value and the second indication value for each of the one or more measurement devices (test schedule setting screen button 914), a means for instructing the one or more measurement devices to measure the time (measurement start button 99), and a means for acquiring the time measured from each of the one or more measurement devices and displaying the acquired time for each of the one or more measurement devices (measurement status display field 93, measurement result display field 94). This allows multiple measuring devices 10 to perform measurements simultaneously in parallel, and the measurement results of each measuring device 10 can be confirmed by the management device 20.

[0050] (6) A measurement system according to a sixth aspect is the measurement system of (5), and includes a means (reverse steering start button 98) for reversing the settings of the first indication value and the second indication value for each of the one or more measuring devices, setting the first indication value before the reversal to the second indication value, and setting the second indication value before the reversal to the first indication value, and a means (measurement start button 99) for instructing the one or more measuring devices to measure the time based on the first indication value and the second indication value after the reversal. This makes it possible to quickly carry out the steering test even if the start and end positions of the steering angle in the steering test are reversed.

[0051] (7) A measurement system according to a seventh aspect is the measurement system of (5) to (6), further comprising an indicator that indicates an indicated value by the position of a pointer, and a camera that photographs the indicator. This makes it possible to remotely check the indication value of the indicator, which can only be confirmed by going to the site where the indicator is installed, by acquiring a photographed image.

[0052] (8) A measurement system according to an eighth aspect is a measurement system according to any one of (5) to (7), wherein the management device acquires from the one or more measurement devices the captured image, first connection status information indicating a connection status between the measurement device and the management device, and second connection status information indicating a connection status between the measurement device and the camera, and has a means (child unit status confirmation screen button 912) for displaying the acquired captured image, the first connection status information, and the second connection status information. This allows the state of the measuring device 10 to be known from the management device 20.

[0053] (9) A measurement method according to a ninth aspect includes the steps of acquiring an image of an indicator that indicates an indication value depending on the position of a pointer, estimating the indication value indicated by the pointer, and measuring the time required for the pointer to change from indicating a predetermined first indication value to indicating a predetermined second indication value.

[0054] (10) A program according to a tenth aspect causes a computer to execute the steps of acquiring an image of an indicator that shows an indication value depending on the position of the indicator needle, estimating the indication value shown by the indicator needle, and measuring the time it takes for the indicator needle to change from a state indicating a predetermined first indication value to a state indicating a predetermined second indication value. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1, 1-a1~1-d3... indicator 2... Indicator needle 5, 5a-1~5d-2... Camera 10, 10a to 10d...Measuring device 11. Image acquisition section 12. Image processing section 13. Indication value estimation section 14. Time measurement section 15 Control section 16...Storage section 17. Communications Department 20...Management device 21 Data acquisition section 22 Input reception section 23 Control section 24...Storage section 25. Communications Department 100...Measuring System 900...Computer 901···CPU 902...Main memory 903...Auxiliary storage device 904 Input / Output Interface 905 Communication Interface

Claims

1. A means for acquiring a photographed image of an indicator that indicates an indicated value according to the position of a pointer; means for estimating the indicated value indicated by the indicator needle; a means for measuring the time taken for the indicator needle to change from a state indicating a first predetermined indicated value to a state indicating a second predetermined indicated value; A measuring device having the above structure.

2. During the period from when the indicator needle changes from indicating the first indicated value to when it changes to indicating the second indicated value, the estimating means estimates the indicated value at a predetermined time interval, predicts the indicated value to be estimated at the n+1th step by a statistical method based on the plurality of indicated values ​​estimated up to the nth step, calculates a reference displacement which is the difference between the predicted indicated value at the n+1th step and the indicated value estimated at the nth step, and does not adopt the indicated value actually estimated at the n+1th step if the difference between the indicated value actually estimated at the n+1th step and the indicated value estimated at the nth step is not included within a predetermined range based on the reference displacement. The measurement device according to claim 1 .

3. The measuring means includes: when the indication value estimated by the estimating means at the nth step becomes the second indication value, and a difference between the indication value estimated at the n+1th step and the indication value estimated at the nth step is within a predetermined range based on 0, it is determined that the indicator needle has reached a state indicating the second indication value at the nth step or the n+1th step. The measurement device according to claim 1 .

4. The measuring means includes: when the indication value estimated by the estimating means at the nth step becomes the first indication value, and a difference between the indication value estimated at the n+1th step and the indication value estimated at the nth step is no longer included in a predetermined range based on 0, it is determined that the indicator needle has started to change from a state indicating the first indication value to a state indicating the second indication value at the n+1th step or the nth step. The measurement device according to claim 1 .

5. A management device and one or more measurement devices according to claim 1, The management device includes: a means for receiving settings of the first indication value and the second indication value for each of the one or more measuring devices; means for instructing the one or more measuring devices to measure the time; a means for acquiring the time measured from each of the one or more measuring devices and displaying the acquired time for each of the one or more measuring devices; A measurement system having the above configuration.

6. a means for inverting settings of the first indication value and the second indication value for each of the one or more measuring devices, and setting the first indication value before the inversion to the second indication value and setting the second indication value before the inversion to the first indication value; a means for instructing the one or more measurement devices to measure the time based on the first indication value and the second indication value after inversion; The measurement system of claim 5 , further comprising:

7. an indicator that indicates an indicated value by the position of a pointer; A camera for photographing the indicator; The measurement system of claim 6 , further comprising:

8. The management device includes: a means for acquiring, from the one or more measurement devices, the captured image, first connection status information indicating a connection status between the measurement device and the management device, and second connection status information indicating a connection status between the measurement device and the camera, and displaying the acquired captured image, the first connection status information, and the second connection status information; The measurement system of claim 7 , further comprising:

9. acquiring an image of an indicator that indicates an indicated value according to a position of a pointer; A step of estimating the indicated value indicated by the indicator needle; measuring a time period from when the indicator needle indicates a first predetermined value to when the indicator needle indicates a second predetermined value; A measurement method having the following characteristics.

10. On the computer, acquiring an image of an indicator that indicates an indicated value according to a position of a pointer; A step of estimating the indicated value indicated by the indicator needle; measuring a time period from when the indicator needle indicates a first predetermined value to when the indicator needle indicates a second predetermined value; A program that executes the following.

Images