Cable rack heat generation monitoring system, cable rack heat generation monitoring method, and cable rack heat generation monitoring program

Abstract

To provide a cable rack heat generation monitoring system capable of being built without causing an increase in the scale of construction, a cable rack heat generation monitoring method capable of being performed in the cable rack heat generation monitoring system, and a cable rack heat generation monitoring program allowing a computer to perform the cable rack heat generation monitoring method.SOLUTION: A cable rack heat generation monitoring system according to the present embodiment includes: a rail section attached to a cable rack where a plurality of cables are laid, the rail section being disposed below the cable rack; a running section capable of running on the rail section; a photographing section provided in the running section, the photographing section being capable of photographing the cable rack; and a monitoring section monitoring a heat generation state in the cable rack based on an image of the cable rack photographed by the photographing section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a heat generation monitoring system for a cable rack that monitors heat generation in a cable rack where a large number of cables are laid, a heat generation monitoring method for a cable rack, and a heat generation monitoring program for a cable rack.

Background Art

[0002] For example, the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a large number of tiles are laid on a double floor formed under the floor of a computer room. These tiles are coated with a conductive paint whose electrical resistance value changes according to a change in temperature. Electrodes are provided at opposite corners of these tiles, respectively. According to the system of Patent Document 1 configured in this way, by detecting the resistance value between the electrodes in a large number of tiles with a monitoring device, the position where abnormal heat generation has occurred can be specified and displayed on a display.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in order to construct the system of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to apply a conductive paint to a large number of tiles and provide electrodes, and further, operations such as laying a large number of tiles and temporarily removing cables must also be performed, resulting in a large-scale construction.

[0005] Therefore, the present embodiment provides a cable rack heat generation monitoring system that can be constructed without causing large-scale construction work, a cable rack heat generation monitoring method that can be performed in the cable rack heat generation monitoring system, and a cable rack heat generation monitoring program that causes a computer to execute the cable rack heat generation monitoring method.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The cable rack heat generation monitoring system according to the present embodiment is attached to a cable rack in which a large number of cables are laid, and includes a rail portion disposed below the cable rack, a traveling portion capable of traveling on the rail portion, a photographing portion provided on the traveling portion and capable of photographing the cable rack, and a monitoring portion that monitors the heat generation situation in the cable rack based on an image of the cable rack photographed by the photographing portion.

[0007] The cable rack heat generation monitoring method according to the present embodiment is attached to a cable rack in which a large number of cables are laid, and includes a rail portion disposed below the cable rack, a traveling portion capable of traveling on the rail portion, and a photographing portion provided on the traveling portion and capable of photographing the cable rack. In the cable rack heat generation monitoring system, monitoring processing for monitoring the heat generation situation in the cable rack is performed based on an image of the cable rack photographed by the photographing portion.

[0008] The cable rack heat generation monitoring program according to the present embodiment causes a computer to execute the cable rack heat generation monitoring method according to the present embodiment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment related to a "heating monitoring system for cable racks", a "heating monitoring method for cable racks", and a "heating monitoring program for cable racks" will be described with reference to the drawings. The heating monitoring system 1 for cable racks illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a self-propelled monitoring robot 10 and a central monitoring device 20. Hereinafter, the heating monitoring system 1 for cable racks may be simply referred to as the "monitoring system 1", the self-propelled monitoring robot 10 may be simply referred to as the "monitoring robot 10", and the central monitoring device 20 may be simply referred to as the "monitoring device 20".

[0011] The monitoring robot 10 is an example of a traveling unit and includes a control unit 11, a transmission / reception unit 12, a traveling motor 13, a position sensor 14, an infrared camera 15, and the like. The control unit 11 is mainly configured by, for example, a microcomputer, and controls the overall operation of the monitoring robot 10 based on a control program, setting data, and the like. The transmission / reception unit 12 is configured by, for example, a wireless communication module, and can transmit and receive various data to and from external devices.

[0012] The traveling motor 13 drives a roller (not shown) provided in the monitoring robot 10. Thereby, the monitoring robot 10 can travel. The position sensor 14 is configured by a sensor capable of reading various information such as characters and codes displayed on a marker or the like. The position sensor 14 can identify the position of the monitoring robot 10 by reading the information displayed on the imaging spot marker 56 described later.

[0013] The infrared camera 15 is an example of an imaging unit, and is capable of receiving infrared rays radiated from a subject and visualizing, that is, imaging them. According to the image data captured by the infrared camera 15, that is, the infrared image data, the temperature distribution situation of the subject is reflected, and the presence or absence of a heat source can be specified. Note that the monitoring robot 10 is equipped with various functions such as a timekeeping function for specifying time.

[0014] The monitoring device 20 includes a control unit 21, a transmission / reception unit 22, a data storage unit 23, and the like. The control unit 21 is configured by a computer mainly including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls the overall operation of the monitoring device 20 based on a control program, setting data, and the like. The transmission / reception unit 22 is configured by, for example, a wireless communication module, and is capable of transmitting and receiving various data to and from external devices.

[0015] The data storage unit 23 is configured by a storage medium such as a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, etc., and can store various data received by the monitoring device 20 from the outside by the transmission / reception unit 22. Also, the data storage unit 23 can store various data such as small animal data described later.

[0016] Further, the control unit 21 virtually realizes an image analysis unit 24 by software, for example, by executing a control program. Note that the image analysis unit 24 may be configured by hardware, or may be configured by a combination of software and hardware. The image analysis unit 24 is an example of a monitoring unit, and can execute various analysis processes based on the data stored in the data storage unit 23. In this case, the image analysis unit 24 can execute at least a heat generation situation monitoring process. The heat generation situation monitoring process is a process capable of monitoring the heat generation situation in the monitoring target.

[0017] The monitoring device 20 can transmit the analysis results by the image analysis unit 24 to external devices via the transmission / reception unit 22. The external devices may be devices that can output information by, for example, voice or characters. Specifically, the external devices are, for example, a tablet terminal 30 carried by a monitoring operator, a monitoring display device 40 equipped with at least a display, and the like.

[0018] Next, a configuration example of the monitoring robot 10 will be described in more detail. As illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, in an electrical room 50 where electrical equipment (not shown) such as power distribution equipment, communication equipment, and control panels is deployed, a cable rack 51 is provided. The cable rack 51 extends linearly along the ceiling surface of the electrical room 50. A large number of cables 52 are laid on the cable rack 51.

[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cable rack 51 has a configuration combining a pair of main beam portions 51a and a plurality of sub - beam portions 51b. The main beam portions 51a are long plate - like members along the ceiling surface of the electrical room 50 and face each other with a predetermined interval in the short - hand direction of the cable rack 51. The plurality of sub - beam portions 51b connect between the pair of main beam portions 51a. The plurality of sub - beam portions 51b are arranged with a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the cable rack 51. A large number of cables 52 are placed on the plurality of sub - beam portions 51b between the pair of main beam portions 51a.

[0020] Below the cable rack 51, a pair of rail portions 53 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the cable rack 51. The rail portions 53 are respectively arranged below the main beam portions 51a. The lower end portions of the suspension brackets 54 are fixed to the outer surfaces of the rail portions 53 by, for example, welding. The suspension brackets 54 extend in the vertical direction, and their upper end portions are bent in a hook shape.

[0021] The rail part 53 is arranged to be suspended below the cable rack 51 by hooking the upper end part of the suspension fitting 54 to the upper end of the main girder part 51a of the cable rack 51. That is, the rail part 53 is indirectly attached to the cable rack 51 via the suspension fitting 54. Also, the rail part 53 is arranged at a predetermined distance downward from the cable rack 51. Further, the rail part 53 is not directly attached to the ceiling surface of the electrical chamber 50, but is indirectly attached to the ceiling surface of the electrical chamber 50 via at least the cable rack 51 and the suspension fitting 54.

[0022] An auxiliary bridge part 55 is spanned between the pair of rail parts 53. The auxiliary bridge part 55 suppresses the distance between the pair of rail parts 53 from expanding or narrowing. In this case, the auxiliary bridge part 55 is directly connected to the suspension fitting 54 and is indirectly connected to the rail part 53. However, the auxiliary bridge part 55 may be directly connected to the rail part 53.

[0023] The monitoring robot 10 is arranged between the pair of rail parts 53 below the cable rack 51 and can travel along the longitudinal direction of the cable rack 51 while being sandwiched by these rail parts 53.

[0024] More specifically, the monitoring robot 10 is provided with rollers (not shown) driven by a traveling motor 13 at both ends in the short side direction of the cable rack 51. And the rollers (not shown) are rotatably placed on a lane plate 53a provided on the inner surface of the rail part 53. Thereby, the monitoring robot 10 can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the rail part 53 by rotating the rollers (not shown) by the traveling motor 13.

[0025] The infrared camera 15 is disposed on the upper surface of the surveillance robot 10, that is, on the surface on the cable rack 51 side, and can photograph the cable rack 51 from below. The upper end of the infrared camera 15 is lower than the lower end of the auxiliary bridge portion 55. Therefore, when the surveillance robot 10 reciprocates along the longitudinal direction of the rail portion 53, the infrared camera 15 passes below the auxiliary bridge portion 55. That is, the auxiliary bridge portion 55 is provided at a position that does not obstruct the travel of the surveillance robot 10 along the rail portion 53.

[0026] A plurality of imaging spot markers 56 are provided on the inner surface of the rail portion 53. A plurality of imaging positions, that is, imaging points, for causing the surveillance robot 10 to execute imaging processing by the infrared camera 15 are set on the rail portion 53. The imaging spot markers 56 are respectively arranged at the plurality of imaging positions set on the rail portion 53.

[0027] Information indicating the imaging position specified by the imaging spot marker 56 is displayed on the imaging spot marker 56. The information indicating the imaging position may be, for example, characters or a code. When the information indicating the imaging position is character information, the surveillance robot 10 includes at least a position sensor 14 capable of reading characters. When the information indicating the imaging position is code information, the surveillance robot 10 includes at least a position sensor 14 capable of reading the code.

[0028] When the surveillance robot 10 detects the imaging spot marker 56 by the position sensor 14, it reads the information indicated by the imaging spot marker 56 to identify the imaging position at which the surveillance robot 10 has arrived. Then, when the surveillance robot 10 reaches the imaging spot marker 56 and identifies the imaging position at which it has arrived, it photographs the cable rack 51 with the infrared camera 15.

[0029] As described above, the cable 52 is placed on a plurality of sub - rail parts 51b that constitute the cable rack 51. Therefore, when the monitoring robot 10 takes a picture of the cable rack 51 while being positioned below the sub - rail part 51b, the cable 52 will be hidden by the sub - rail part 51b. Therefore, the photographing spot marker 56 is preferably provided at a position shifted from the sub - rail part 51b in the longitudinal direction of the rail part 53, rather than below the sub - rail part 51b. Further, the photographing spot marker 56 may be configured to be attached to the inner surface of the rail part 53, or may be configured to be printed or coated on the inner surface of the rail part 53.

[0030] Although detailed illustration is omitted, the monitoring robot 10 incorporates a rechargeable battery, while the rail part 53 is provided with a charging device capable of charging the battery. When the charge amount of the battery of the monitoring robot 10 drops below a predetermined reference amount, the monitoring robot 10 moves to the charging device in the rail part 53 and is configured to automatically charge the battery.

[0031] Next, an example of the control flow by the monitoring system 1 will be described in detail. First, the control flow on the monitoring robot 10 side will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the monitoring robot 10 checks whether it has received monitoring start command information from, for example, the tablet terminal 30 (step A1). Then, when the monitoring robot 10 receives the monitoring start command information (step A1: YES), it starts the image data collection process (step A2). When the monitoring robot 10 starts the image data collection process, it drives the traveling motor 13 to start traveling on the rail part 53 (step A3).

[0032] Here, the monitoring start command information in step A1 includes traveling plan specifying information for specifying a traveling plan on the rail part 53. The monitoring robot 10 travels along the specified traveling plan on the rail part 53 based on the traveling plan specifying information included in the received monitoring start command information.

[0033] The designation of the travel plan specifically specifies the order of moving to each of a plurality of shooting positions set on the linear rail portion 53. That is, for example, when shooting positions 1 to 5 are sequentially set along the linear rail portion 53, the travel plan is information that designates moving first to shooting position 1, then to shooting position 4, then to shooting position 2, then to shooting position 5, and finally to shooting position 3. Note that this is merely an example, and the designation of the travel plan can be set by appropriately changing it.

[0034] When the monitoring robot 10 traveling on the rail portion 53 detects the shooting spot marker 56 provided on the rail portion 53 by the position sensor 14 (step A4: YES), the position sensor 14 reads the information of the shooting spot marker 56 and identifies which shooting position has been reached. Then, the monitoring robot 10 checks whether the currently stopped shooting position matches the shooting position designated by the travel plan designation information (step A5).

[0035] When the currently stopped shooting position of the monitoring robot 10 does not match the shooting position designated by the travel plan designation information (step A5: NO), it starts traveling again (step A3) to search for another shooting spot marker 56. Also, when the currently stopped shooting position of the monitoring robot 10 matches the shooting position designated by the travel plan designation information (step A5: YES), that is, when it has stopped at the designated shooting position, it stops driving the travel motor 13, that is, stops traveling, at that position (step A6).

[0036] When the monitoring robot 10 stops traveling at the designated shooting position, it executes the shooting process of the cable rack 51 by the infrared sensor 15 (step A7). Then, the monitoring robot 10 transmits the image data of the cable rack 51 captured by the infrared camera 15 to the monitoring device 20 (step A8).

[0037] Here, in step A7, the monitoring robot 10 executes imaging processing by the infrared sensor 15 every predetermined period, for example, every few seconds such as 2 to 3 seconds. Therefore, in step A8, a plurality of image data captured by the monitoring robot 10 every predetermined period is transmitted to the monitoring device 20. Note that the monitoring robot 10 may transmit the image data to the monitoring device 20 immediately every time the image data is obtained by the infrared sensor 15, or may transmit a predetermined number of image data after collecting them together and then transmit them to the monitoring device 20.

[0038] In addition, the monitoring robot 10 attaches imaging position information indicating the imaging position read from the imaging spot marker 56 to the image data. Also, the monitoring robot 10 attaches imaging time information indicating the time when the imaging processing by the infrared sensor 15 was executed to the image data. Therefore, the monitoring device 20 can identify which imaging position the image data received from the monitoring robot 10 is the image data captured at based on the imaging position information attached to the image data. Also, the monitoring device 20 can identify which time the image data received from the monitoring robot 10 is the image data captured at based on the imaging time information attached to the image data.

[0039] When the monitoring robot 10 has not received monitoring stop command information from, for example, the tablet terminal 30 (step A9: NO), it returns to step A3 to resume traveling and searches for another imaging spot marker 56. Also, when the monitoring robot 10 receives monitoring stop command information from, for example, the tablet terminal 30 (step A9: YES), it stops the image data collection process (step A10) and ends this control flow. That is, when the monitoring robot 10 receives predetermined monitoring start command information from external devices, it then continues the image data collection process until it receives predetermined monitoring stop command information from external devices.

[0040] Next, the control flow on the monitoring device 20 side will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the monitoring device 20 receives image data from the monitoring robot 10 (step B1: YES), it stores the received image data in the data storage unit 23 (step B2). Then, the monitoring device 20 executes an analysis process (step B3). The analysis process is a process of analyzing the heat generation situation in the cable rack 51 based on the image data stored in the data storage unit 23, that is, the infrared image data of the cable rack 51 captured by the monitoring robot 10.

[0041] More specifically, the monitoring device 20 extracts image data that does not contain a heat source higher than a predetermined temperature from the image data stored in the data storage unit 23, and sets the extracted image data as reference image data. The reference image data is image data indicating a state in which no heat source higher than the predetermined temperature is generated in the cable rack 51, that is, a state in which no heat generation occurs. The predetermined temperature can be set by appropriately changing it. For example, it is advisable to set a temperature lower than the temperature assumed as the temperature of small animals.

[0042] When a plurality of image data are transmitted one by one from the monitoring robot 10 at predetermined time intervals, the monitoring device 20 can set the first received image data as reference image data. Further, when the monitoring device 20 has already received a plurality of image data from the monitoring robot 10, it can set the image data captured at the earliest possible time among these plurality of image data as reference image data.

[0043] The reference image data is image data that does not contain a heat source higher than the predetermined temperature. Therefore, it can be defined as non-heat generation state image data indicating a non-heat generation state in which no heat generation occurs in the cable rack 51, and can also be defined as normal state image data indicating a normal state.

[0044] Further, when the monitoring device 20 sets the reference image data, it extracts, as comparison target data, the image data captured at a time after the reference image data among the plurality of image data stored in the data storage unit 23. The comparison target data may be image data captured at a time after the reference image data. Therefore, it may be the image data captured next after the reference image data, or may be the image data captured after the image data captured next after the reference image data.

[0045] Then, when the monitoring device 20 sets the reference image data and the comparison target data, it analyzes whether heat generation has occurred in the cable rack 51 by comparing these reference image data and the comparison target data.

[0046] In this analysis process, the monitoring device 20 checks whether there is a new heat source not included in the reference image data, in other words, a heat source with a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature, in the comparison target data by a well-known temperature analysis method or the like. And when there is no new heat source in the comparison target data (step B4: NO), the monitoring device 20 determines that no heat generation has occurred in the cable rack 51 and ends this control flow. At this time, the monitoring device 20 may execute a reporting process for reporting that no heat generation has occurred in the cable rack 51.

[0047] When there is a new heat source in the comparison target data (step B4: YES), the monitoring device 20 determines that heat generation has occurred or there may be a risk of heat generation in the cable rack 51. Here, the heat generation in the cable rack 51 may be due to ignition from the cable 52 or overheating in the cable 52, but heat generation by small animals that have entered the cable rack 51 is also conceivable. Therefore, the monitoring device 20 executes a small animal determination process (step B5) to clarify the cause of the heat generation in the cable rack 51.

[0048] In this small animal determination process, the monitoring device 20 determines whether the heat source existing in the comparison target data is a fever caused by a small animal by comparing the small animal data containing information about the small animal with the comparison target data. The small animal data is stored in advance in the data storage unit 23. In addition, the small animal data includes at least small animal shape pattern information indicating the shape pattern of the small animal and small animal temperature information indicating the temperature of the small animal. The temperature of the small animal is a temperature that is usually considered as the body temperature of the small animal or a temperature approximating the temperature.

[0049] When the shape of the heat source existing in the comparison target data matches or approximates the shape pattern of the small animal indicated by the small animal data, or when the temperature of the heat source existing in the comparison target data matches or approximates the temperature of the small animal indicated by the small animal data, the monitoring device 20 determines that the heat source existing in the comparison target data is a small animal (step B6: YES). Then, the monitoring device 20 issues a small animal alarm indicating that a small animal has invaded the cable rack 51 or there is a possibility that a small animal has invaded (step B7), and ends this control flow.

[0050] When the shape of the heat source existing in the comparison target data does not match or approximate the shape pattern of the small animal indicated by the small animal data, or when the temperature of the heat source existing in the comparison target data does not match or approximate the temperature of the small animal indicated by the small animal data, the monitoring device 20 determines that the heat source existing in the comparison target data is not a small animal (step B6: NO).

[0051] When the monitoring device 20 determines that the heat source existing in the comparison target data is not a small animal, it determines that heat generation not caused by a small animal has occurred in the cable rack 51. Then, the monitoring device 20 executes a heat generation situation monitoring process (step B8).

[0052] In this heat generation status monitoring process, the monitoring device 20 sets the comparison target data as the first image data. Alternatively, the monitoring device 20 extracts, from the plurality of image data stored in the data storage unit 23, the image data captured at a time later than the comparison target data and sets it as the first image data. Further, the monitoring device 20 extracts, from the plurality of image data stored in the data storage unit 23, the image data captured at a time later than the first image data and sets it as the second image data. The second image data may be the latest image data among the plurality of image data stored in the data storage unit 23, that is, the image data that the monitoring device 20 has received most recently. Then, the monitoring device 20 monitors the progress of heat generation in the cable rack 51 by comparing the first image data and the second image data.

[0053] More specifically, when the shape of the heat source existing in the second image data is larger than the shape of the heat source existing in the first image data, or the number of heat sources existing in the second image data has increased compared to the number of heat sources existing in the first image data, or the temperature of the heat source existing in the second image data is higher than the temperature of the heat source existing in the first image data, the monitoring device 20 determines that the heat generation is in a situation of expanding (step B9: YES).

[0054] Also, when the shape of the heat source existing in the second image data is smaller than the shape of the heat source existing in the first image data, or the number of heat sources existing in the second image data has decreased compared to the number of heat sources existing in the first image data, or the temperature of the heat source existing in the second image data is lower than the temperature of the heat source existing in the first image data, the monitoring device 20 determines that the heat generation is in a situation of shrinking (step B9: NO).

[0055] When the monitoring device 20 determines that the heat generation is in a situation where it is expanding (step B9: YES), it means that heat generation due to factors other than small animals has occurred in the cable rack 51, and that the heat generation is expanding, or there is a possibility that the heat generation will expand. Then, a heat generation expansion alarm is issued (step B10), and this control flow ends.

[0056] Also, when the monitoring device 20 determines that the heat generation is in a situation where it is shrinking (step B9: NO), it means that heat generation due to factors other than small animals has occurred in the cable rack 51, and that the heat generation is shrinking, or there is a possibility that the heat generation will shrink. Then, a heat generation shrinkage alarm is issued (step B11), and this control flow ends.

[0057] According to the control flow exemplified above, when there is an intrusion of small animals or a possibility of intrusion into the cable rack 51, a small animal alarm is issued. Therefore, for example, the monitoring operator can take measures to drive out small animals from the cable rack 51. If damage, deterioration, leakage, etc. of the cable 52 occur due to gnawing by small animals, etc., there is a risk of leading to a fire. Therefore, by issuing an alarm about the intrusion or the possibility of intrusion of small animals and prompting to quickly start the extermination of small animals, the occurrence of a fire in the cable rack 51 can be prevented.

[0058] Also, when there is heat generation or a possibility of heat generation due to factors other than small animals in the cable rack 51, a heat generation expansion alarm or a heat generation shrinkage alarm is issued. Furthermore, when the heat generation shows an expanding trend, a heat generation expansion alarm is issued. On the other hand, when the heat generation shows a shrinking trend, a heat generation shrinkage alarm is issued. Therefore, for example, the monitoring operator can not only recognize that there is heat generation or a possibility of heat generation, but also recognize whether the heat generation is trending upward or downward, and can select a coping method according to the type of the issued alarm.

[0059] In addition, the monitoring device 20 may include, in various alarms, the image data used for analysis processing and information indicating the position and time at which the image data was captured. Thereby, for example, more detailed information can be provided to the monitoring operator, the spread of heat generation can be quickly suppressed, and early correction can be achieved. Further, the monitoring device 20 may issue various alarms from the monitoring device 20 itself, or may issue alarms from an external tablet terminal 30, display device 40, or the like.

[0060] According to the monitoring system 1 illustrated above, the monitoring robot 10 is provided so as to be able to travel on the rail portion 53 disposed below the cable rack 51. Further, the monitoring device 20 can monitor the heat generation situation in the cable rack 51 based on the infrared image data of the cable rack 51 captured by the monitoring robot 10. According to the monitoring system 1 configured in this way, the heat generation situation in the long cable rack 51 can be monitored by one movable monitoring robot 10.

[0061] And in the monitoring system 1 provided so as to be able to monitor the heat generation situation in the cable rack 51 in this way, the rail portion 53 on which the monitoring robot 10 travels is attached to an existing cable rack 51 provided in advance on the ceiling surface of the electrical room 50. According to this configuration example, the monitoring system 1 can be constructed without, for example, temporarily removing the cable 52. Therefore, compared with the conventional system, the monitoring system 1 can be constructed without causing a large-scale construction project.

[0062] In addition, the cable rack 51 provided along the ceiling surface of the electrical room 50 is, for example, at a position higher than the monitoring operator, and visual inspection is difficult. The monitoring system 1 has a configuration in which the monitoring robot 10 is provided on the cable rack 51 itself where such visual inspection is difficult. Therefore, the monitoring robot 10 can monitor the heat generation situation in the cable rack 51 where visual inspection is difficult, on behalf of the monitoring operator.

[0063] Further, according to the monitoring system 1, the monitoring device 20 monitors the heat generation situation in the cable rack 51 by comparing reference image data indicating a state where no heat generation occurs in the cable rack 51 with the image data of the cable rack 51 captured by the monitoring robot 10. According to this configuration example, based on the reference image data, it is possible to accurately determine the presence or absence of heat generation in the cable rack 51.

[0064] Further, according to the monitoring system 1, the monitoring robot 10 captures an image of the cable rack 51 at regular intervals. Then, when the monitoring device 20 determines that heat generation has occurred in the cable rack 51, the monitoring device 20 monitors the progress of heat generation in the cable rack 51 by comparing a plurality of image data of the cable rack 51 captured by the monitoring robot 10. According to this configuration example, not only can it be determined whether heat generation has occurred in the cable rack 51, but also when heat generation has occurred or there is a possibility of heat generation, the progress of the heat generation can be monitored.

[0065] Further, according to the monitoring system 1, the monitoring device 20 can determine whether the heat source is a small animal by comparing small animal data including information about small animals with the image data of the cable rack 51 captured by the monitoring robot 10. As factors of heat generation in the cable rack 51, in addition to ignition and overheating in the cable 52, the intrusion of small animals into the cable rack 51 is also considered. According to the monitoring system 1, it is possible to determine whether the factor of heat generation in the cable rack 51 is the intrusion of small animals or other factors. Note that small animals include, for example, rats, snakes, insects, etc., and are a concept including all organisms that can invade the cable rack 51.

[0066] Also, according to the monitoring system 1, a plurality of imaging spot markers 56 are provided on the rail part 53, and when the monitoring robot 10 reaches the imaging spot marker 56, it executes the imaging process of the cable rack 51 by the infrared camera 15. According to this configuration example, by appropriately providing the imaging spot marker 56 at a position where it is easy to image the cable 52 in the cable rack 51, it is possible to obtain image data that accurately reflects the heat generation situation of the cable 52 in the cable rack 51.

[0067] The control flows illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 include the heat generation monitoring method for the cable rack. Also, the control programs executed by the control unit 11 of the monitoring robot 10 and the control programs executed by the control unit 21 of the monitoring device 20 include the heat generation monitoring program for the cable rack.

[0068] Note that the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described one embodiment, and modifications, expansions, etc. can be appropriately made without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the data communication between the components of the monitoring system 1 such as the monitoring robot 10, the monitoring device 20, the tablet terminal 30, the display device 40, etc. may be wireless communication, may be wired communication, or may be a mixture of wireless communication and wired communication.

[0069] The monitoring system 1 is not configured as a combination of the monitoring robot 10 and the monitoring device 20. For example, the whole of it may be realized within the monitoring robot 10. That is, by mounting the functions of the monitoring device 20 on the monitoring robot 10, it is possible to provide the monitoring robot 10 in which the monitoring system 1 is realized. In this case, the monitoring robot 10 can be defined as a "heat generation monitoring device for cable rack".

[0070] The monitoring robot 10 may be configured to include sensor devices capable of detecting heat sources such as a thermal camera, for example, instead of or together with the infrared camera 15.

[0071] The tablet terminal 30 may be configured to be able to transmit not only monitoring start command information and monitoring stop command information to the monitoring robot 10, but also other command information such as, for example, command information for changing the traveling speed, command information for changing the traveling plan, command information for changing the shooting interval, and the like. Further, the terminal for transmitting various command information to the monitoring robot 10 is not limited to the tablet terminal 30, and may be other devices.

[0072] Instead of the position sensor 14, or together with the position sensor 14, the monitoring robot 10 may be configured to be able to specify its position by utilizing a positioning system such as, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System).

[0073] For the small animal alarm, for example, the level of the alarm to be issued may be varied according to the appearance frequency or the number of appearances of small animals. Further, for the heat expansion alarm, for example, the level of the alarm to be issued may be varied according to the degree of heat expansion. Further, for the heat shrinkage alarm, for example, the level of the alarm to be issued may be varied according to the degree of heat shrinkage.

[0074] When a plurality of cable racks 51 are provided in the electrical room 50, the rail part 53 may be arranged to connect between different cable racks 51. That is, one end part of the rail part 53 may be connected to one cable rack 51, and the other end part of the rail part 53 may be connected to the other cable rack 51.

[0075] Further, in the electrical room 50, when the cable rack 51 is non-linear, for example, due to bending or branching, the rail part 53 may also be deformed according to the non-linear shape of the cable rack 51. Thereby, the heat generation situation in the non-linear portion of the cable rack 51 can also be monitored.

[0076] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented merely as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, etc. can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Signs

[0077] In the drawings, 1 is a heating monitoring system for a cable rack, 10 is a monitoring robot (traveling unit), 15 is an infrared camera (imaging unit), 24 is an image analysis unit (monitoring unit), 51 is a cable rack, 52 is a cable, and 53 is a rail section.

Claims

1. It is attached to a cable rack in which a plurality of cables are laid, a rail portion disposed below the cable rack, a traveling portion capable of traveling on the rail portion, a photographing portion provided on the traveling portion and capable of photographing the cable rack, a monitoring portion that monitors the heat generation situation in the cable rack based on an image of the cable rack photographed by the photographing portion, A heat generation monitoring system for a cable rack comprising:

2. The monitoring portion monitors the heat generation situation in the cable rack by comparing a reference image indicating a state in which no heat generation occurs in the cable rack with an image of the cable rack photographed by the photographing portion. The heat generation monitoring system for a cable rack according to Claim 1.

3. The photographing portion photographs the cable rack at predetermined intervals, When the monitoring portion determines that heat generation is occurring in the cable rack, the monitoring portion monitors the progress of heat generation in the cable rack by comparing a plurality of images of the cable rack photographed by the photographing portion. The heat generation monitoring system for a cable rack according to Claim 1.

4. The monitoring portion can determine whether the heat source is a small animal by comparing small animal data including information about small animals with an image of the cable rack photographed by the photographing portion. The heat generation monitoring system for a cable rack according to Claim 1.

5. A plurality of photographing points are provided on the rail portion, When the traveling portion reaches the photographing point, the photographing portion photographs the cable rack. The heat generation monitoring system for a cable rack according to Claim 1.

6. In a heat generation monitoring system for a cable rack that is attached to a cable rack in which a plurality of cables are laid, includes a rail portion disposed below the cable rack, a traveling portion capable of traveling on the rail portion, and a photographing portion provided on the traveling portion and capable of photographing the cable rack, A heat generation monitoring method for a cable rack that performs a monitoring process for monitoring the heat generation situation in the cable rack based on an image of the cable rack photographed by the photographing portion.

7. A heat generation monitoring program for a cable rack that causes a computer to execute the heat generation monitoring method for a cable rack according to Claim 6.

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