Escalator inspection method and escalator inspection system

Abstract

To provide an escalator inspection method and system that eliminate the need for manual inspection work and enable inspections of consistent quality. [Solution] Markers are placed at multiple specific points within the drone's field of view and that the drone can recognize. Each marker has at least one inspection item set for that specific point. During the inspection, the drone reads the inspection items set in the markers and performs the inspection of the escalator. Once the inspection items set for one marker are completed, the drone moves to the location of the next marker within its field of view and performs the inspection according to the inspection items set for that marker.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an escalator inspection method and an escalator inspection system.

Background Art

[0002] Inspections of escalators include daily inspections and regular inspections about once a month. Inspection items cover a wide range, such as abnormal noises during driving, vibrations of steps, dirt and scratches on handrail belts, strange odors, displacements of gaps, etc. Conventionally, these inspections have been carried out by workers.

[0003] Recently, attempts have been made to introduce robots and drones to save manpower. For example, there are technologies for monitoring the trends of escalator users with drones, and technologies in which while an inspection robot is placed on the steps for inspection, a drone hovers on the landing and notifies that inspection is in progress.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the prior art, drones have only been introduced for some inspection operations and do not directly inspect escalators. [[ID=#]]

[0006] Assuming that daily inspections and regular inspections are to be carried out by drones instead, employment and training of pilots are required. Also, even if remote operation is possible, if it involves highly complex operations, it will not lead to labor saving.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an escalator inspection method and an escalator inspection system that eliminate the need for manual inspection work and enable inspections to be performed with a consistent quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An embodiment for achieving the above objective is an inspection method for inspecting an escalator using a drone, wherein markers are placed at multiple specific points within the drone's field of view and that the drone can recognize. Each marker has at least one inspection item set for that specific point. During the inspection, the drone reads the inspection items set in the markers and performs the inspection of the escalator. Once the inspection items set for one marker are completed, the drone moves to the location of the next marker within its field of view and performs the inspection according to the inspection items set for that marker. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A diagram showing the external appearance of an escalator to which an escalator inspection method and escalator inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing the configuration of an escalator inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] A flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of an escalator inspection method and escalator inspection system according to embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 3B] A flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of an escalator inspection method and escalator inspection system according to embodiments of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] 《Configuration of the Embodiment》 Figure 1 is a diagram showing the external appearance of an escalator to which an escalator inspection method and escalator inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied.

[0011] Escalator 1 transports users between the lower and upper floors by moving steps 2. Handrail belts 4 are installed on railing panels 3 that stand on either side of the steps 2 and move in sync with the steps 2. Lower boarding plates 5 are installed at the lower floor entrance and upper boarding plates 6 are installed at the upper floor entrance and exit, and exit combs 7 are installed at the boundary between boarding plates 5 and 6 and the steps 2. A machine room 8 is installed at the bottom of railing panels 3, and this machine room 8 houses the electric motors, sprockets, etc., for moving the steps.

[0012] In this embodiment, when the drone 20 inspects the escalator 1, markers are positioned so that the drone 20 can always recognize the next marker during the inspection. A first marker 11 is installed on the upper surface of the lower boarding plate 5, and a second marker 12 is installed on the railing panel 3 near the exit comb 7 on the lower floor. A third marker 13 is installed on the railing panel 3 near the exit comb 7 on the upper floor, and a fourth marker 14 is installed on the upper surface of the upper boarding plate 6. In this embodiment, four markers 11 to 14 are installed, but there may be five or more depending on the length of the escalator 1. The installation locations of the markers 11 to 14 may also be triangular guards (protective plates) or the walls on the building side.

[0013] These markers 11-14 are constructed by attaching sheets printed with two-dimensional barcodes (QR codes: registered trademark) that can be read by the drone 20. The two-dimensional barcodes contain at least the inspection items to be performed by the drone 20.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the drone 20 includes a camera 21, a drone control unit 22, sensors 23, an inspection data storage unit 24, and a flight path storage unit 25.

[0015] Camera 21 flies while taking images of the area around drone 20, and at inspection points on escalator 1, it reads the inspection items set on markers 11 to 14.

[0016] The drone control unit 22 controls the drone 20 based on the captured image of the camera 21 and the flight path set in the flight path storage unit 25.

[0017] The sensors 23 are equipped with various sensors for inspecting the escalator 1. For example, there are a vibration sensor for measuring the vibration of the escalator, an acoustic sensor for measuring the running sound of the escalator, an odor sensor for measuring the abnormal odor of the escalator 1, etc. In addition, it is also possible to deploy a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the escalator 1 and the ambient temperature, and these sensors 23 will also be increased or decreased according to the increase or decrease of inspection items in the future.

[0018] The inspection data storage unit 24 stores the imaging data by the camera 21 and the sensor data from the sensors 23 as inspection data.

[0019] The flight path storage unit 25 stores the basic flight path of the drone 20 inside the building. In particular, the flight path from the storage location to the installation location of the escalator 1 is stored, and the drone 20 moves to the inspection location based on the stored flight path.

[0020] The communication unit 26 communicates between the escalator control device 30 and the cloud server 40, and the inspection data of the inspection data storage unit 24 is transmitted to the cloud server 40.

[0021] The escalator control device 30 includes a communication unit 31 and an escalator drive unit 32.

[0022] The communication unit 31 is interconnected with the drone 20 and the cloud server 40, and inputs the inspection data of the drone 20 during inspection and outputs it to the escalator drive unit 32.

[0023] The escalator drive unit 32 controls the running of the escalator 1 based on the inspection items of the drone 20 during inspection.

[0024] The cloud server 40 includes a communication unit 41, an inspection data storage unit 42, and an inspection data analysis unit 43.

[0025] The communication unit 41 is interconnected with the drone 20 and the escalator control device 30, and inputs inspection data from the drone 20 during inspections. The communication unit 41 is also connected to a remote monitoring center that oversees and monitors escalators in various locations.

[0026] The inspection data storage unit 42 stores the input inspection data.

[0027] The inspection data analysis unit 43 analyzes the inspection data stored in the inspection data storage unit 42 to evaluate whether there are any abnormalities in the escalator 1, wear on parts, etc.

[0028] Processing procedure of the embodiment Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] When the scheduled inspection time arrives, the drone 20 moves to the inspection location of the escalator 1 to be inspected, following the flight path stored in the flight path memory unit 25.

[0030] When the drone arrives at escalator 1 (S1YES), it first reads the first marker 11 on the lower boarding / alighting plate 5 and starts the inspection (S2). During this point detection, escalator 1 is driven and various inspections are performed from above the lower boarding / alighting plate 5 (S3). The inspection items include checking the handrail belt by going around it once for dirt and scratches on the surface, and checking for abnormal noises, vibrations, and odors during operation. The condition of the exit comb 7 is also checked from above.

[0031] Once the inspection using the escalator 1 is complete (S4YES), the escalator is stopped and the drone 20 is placed on the lower boarding platform 5 for inspection. The inspection items include checking for any unusual noises or odors in the machine room 8, checking for dirt on the handrails, and checking for gaps in the steps 2 (S5).

[0032] Once the inspection at the first marker location is complete (S6YES), the second marker 12 installed on the railing panel 3 next to the horizontal step is read and the inspection is performed (S7).

[0033] Once the inspection at the second marker 12 is complete (S8YES), the drone 20 moves to the third marker 13 located on the railing panel 3 next to the horizontal step, which is within its field of view, reads the 2D barcode on the third marker 13, and performs an inspection (S9). The inspection items include flying the drone 20 directly above the third marker 13 and inspecting the appearance of the area around the upper panel and the condition of the step 2 from above.

[0034] Once the inspection at the third marker position is completed (S10YES), the 2D barcode on the fourth marker 14 on the upper boarding / alighting plate 6 is read and an inspection is performed (S11). The inspection items are the same as those at the first marker 11 position, and include checking for any abnormal noises in the machine room 8 above and checking the condition of the exit comb 7.

[0035] When the inspection at the fourth marker position 14 is completed (S12YES), the inspection data is sent to the cloud server 40 (S13). The cloud server 40 stores the inspection data in the inspection data storage unit 42 and analyzes the inspection data using the inspection data analysis unit 43.

[0036] Once all inspections are complete (S14YES), drone 20 retreats to its storage position (S15).

[0037] In this embodiment, the drone 20 reads the inspection items set in the markers 11 to 14 and performs an inspection of the escalator 1. Once the inspection items set for one marker are completed, the drone 20 moves to the location of the next marker within its field of view and performs an inspection according to the inspection items set for that marker.

[0038] Therefore, according to this embodiment, human operation of the drone is unnecessary, and by integrating the drone 20 into the escalator system, a series of escalator inspections can be performed automatically. Furthermore, when designing the software, by creating standard operations for the inspection content to be performed by the drone 20 at each point, the same inspection can be performed regardless of the property specifications or equipment specifications, thus creating a highly versatile system.

[0039] Furthermore, the 2D barcode can be used to correct the GPS location information of the drone 20, enabling more accurate inspections.

[0040] Examples of changes The two-dimensional barcode may be digitized, and instruction information, including inspection items, may be updated from the cloud server 40 as needed. In this case, the markers are film-like displays installed at multiple predetermined locations, which receive instruction information via communication from the cloud server 40 and display the updated two-dimensional barcode on the screen.

[0041] As mentioned earlier, in addition to the four locations where markers can be installed, they can also be installed in the middle section of escalator 1. Escalator 1 can then be stopped in the middle section, and drone 20 can be flown over it to perform an overall visual check of escalator 1, as well as inspect the steps and handrails from above.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inspection was carried out from the bottom to the top of the escalator 1, but the inspection starting point could be from the top instead of the bottom.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inspection data is analyzed by the inspection data analysis unit 43 of the cloud server 40, but the analysis may also be performed at a remote monitoring center. Also, if there is only one escalator 1, the inspection data analysis unit may be provided within the escalator control device 30 for analysis.

[0044] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1...Escalator, 2...Steps, 3...Balustrade panel, 4...Handrail belt, 5...Lower boarding / alighting plate, 6...Upper boarding / alighting plate, 7...Exit comb, 8...Machine room, 11...First marker, 12...Second marker, 13...Third marker, 14...Fourth marker, 20...Drone, 21...Camera, 22...Drone control unit, 23...Sensors, 24...Inspection data storage unit, 25...Flight path memory unit, 26...Communication unit, 30...Escalator control device, 31...Communication unit, 32...Escalator drive unit, 40...Cloud server, 41...Communication unit, 42...Inspection data storage unit, 43...Inspection data analysis unit

Claims

1. An inspection method that uses drones to inspect escalators, Markers are placed at multiple specific points within the drone's field of view and that the drone can recognize. The marker has inspection items set for at least each specific point. During the inspection, the drone reads the inspection items set in the marker and performs the inspection of the escalator. An escalator inspection method in which, once the inspection items set for one marker are completed, the drone moves to the location of the next marker within its field of view and performs the inspection according to the inspection items set for that marker.

2. The escalator inspection method according to claim 1, wherein after the inspection is performed by a drone, the inspection data is transferred to an escalator control device that controls the escalator or a cloud server that comprehensively controls the escalator control devices.

3. An inspection system that uses drones to inspect escalators, A marker is installed at multiple specific points within the drone's field of view and that the drone can recognize, with at least one marker for each specific point having designated inspection items. The system includes a drone that reads the aforementioned markers and performs inspections of the escalator according to the set inspection items, The aforementioned escalator inspection system involves a drone that, once it has completed the inspection items set for one marker, moves to the location of the next marker within the drone's field of view and performs an inspection according to the inspection items set for that marker.

4. The escalator inspection system according to claim 3, wherein the markers consist of a two-dimensional barcode and are installed in at least four locations: near each lower and upper boarding / alighting plate, and near each side panel of the landing and alighting area.

5. The escalator inspection system according to claim 4, wherein the marker is comprised of a display that displays a two-dimensional barcode in a rewritable manner.

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