Coating control device and information processing method

Abstract

To suppress deterioration of a moving body without human intervention. [Solution] The coating control device 1 has an acquisition unit 131 that acquires a movement plan for the flying object 2 stored in a storage unit that stores the moving object and acquires weather information indicating weather conditions corresponding to the acquired movement plan, a determination unit 132 that determines whether to apply a chemical to the flying object 2 to protect the body of the flying object 2 based on the movement plan and the weather information, and a coating control unit 133 that causes a coating device 4 that applies the chemical to apply the chemical to the flying object 2 when the determination unit 132 determines that the chemical should be applied to the flying object 2.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coating control device and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, inspections of structures and the like have been carried out using aircraft capable of autonomous flight (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-079526 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When an aircraft is used on the sea or near the sea, it may not be possible to perform manual maintenance for a long period of time. In such cases, seawater may adhere to the aircraft, causing corrosion of the aircraft or dirt to adhere to the camera lens of the aircraft, causing the aircraft to deteriorate.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and has an object to suppress deterioration of a moving body without human intervention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is a coating control device. This coating control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires a movement plan of a moving body stored in a storage unit that stores the moving body and acquires weather information indicating weather conditions corresponding to the acquired movement plan, a determination unit that determines whether to apply a chemical agent for protecting a body of the moving body to the moving body based on the movement plan and the weather information, and a coating control unit that causes a coating device that applies the chemical agent to apply the chemical agent to the moving body when the determination unit determines that the chemical agent should be applied to the moving body.

[0007] The acquisition unit may acquire the weather information in the vicinity of the storage unit, which is the flight start location of the moving body indicated by the movement plan, from an observation device that observes the weather around the storage unit and is installed in or near the storage unit.

[0008] The coating control device may have a communication unit that communicates with a device other than the coating control device, and the acquisition unit may acquire, via the communication unit, the weather information corresponding to the date and time at which the moving body indicated in the movement plan will fly and the flight location of the moving body.

[0009] The determination unit may identify the degree of influence of deterioration factors that cause deterioration of the body of the moving body due to the moving body moving in accordance with the movement plan, based on the movement plan and the weather information, and may determine whether to apply the drug to the moving body based on the identified degree of influence.

[0010] The application control unit may control an application amount of the agent based on the degree of influence.

[0011] The application device may be capable of cleaning the moving body, and when the determination unit determines that the drug is to be applied to the moving body, the application control unit may cause the application device to clean the moving body before applying the drug to the moving body by the application device.

[0012] The acquisition unit may acquire an image of the moving body, and the application control unit may cause the application device to clean the moving body when it determines that the moving body is dirty based on the captured image.

[0013] Each of the multiple drugs may be associated with a deterioration element that causes deterioration of the moving body and corresponds to the weather conditions, and the application control unit may identify the weather conditions that are satisfied by the weather conditions indicated by the weather information, select a drug associated with a deterioration element that corresponds to the identified weather condition as the drug to be applied to the moving body, and cause the application device to apply the selected drug to the moving body.

[0014] The device may have a memory unit that stores application history information indicating the application history of the drug to the moving body, and the judgment unit may determine whether to apply the drug to the moving body based on the application history indicated by the application history information.

[0015] The determination unit may determine whether to apply the agent to the moving body based on the application history indicated by the application history information and the movement plan acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention is an information processing method. The information processing method includes the steps of acquiring a moving plan for a moving body stored in a storage unit that stores the moving body, acquiring weather information indicating weather conditions corresponding to the acquired moving plan, determining whether to apply a chemical agent for protecting a body of the moving body to the moving body based on the moving plan and the weather information, and, when it is determined that the chemical agent should be applied to the moving body, causing an application device that applies the chemical agent to apply the chemical agent to the moving body. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress deterioration of a moving object without human intervention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of a flight control device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a flight control device. [Diagram 3]FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of weather-specific impact information. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of location-specific impact degree information. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of calculating the degree of influence on deterioration of an aircraft based on weather information. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of calculating the degree of influence on deterioration of an aircraft based on a flight plan. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing a process flow related to the coating control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] [Overview of Coating Control Device 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the coating control device 1. The coating control device 1 is provided in a storage facility 3 that stores an aircraft 2, or in the vicinity of the storage facility 3, and is a computer for coating the aircraft 2 with a chemical agent. The aircraft 2 is, for example, a drone that can fly autonomously. The storage facility 3 is, for example, a drone port as a waiting place where the aircraft 2 waits, and is provided with a coating device 4 that coats the aircraft 2 with a chemical agent while waiting. The coating device 4 coats the aircraft 2 stored in the storage facility 3 with a chemical agent such as a coating agent or a water repellent agent to protect the body of the aircraft 2, according to the control of the coating control device 1.

[0020] The coating control device 1 acquires a movement plan for the aircraft 2 stored in the storage facility 3 ((1) in FIG. 1). Upon acquiring the movement plan, the coating control device 1 acquires weather information indicating weather conditions corresponding to the movement plan ((2) in FIG. 1).

[0021] The coating control device 1 determines whether to apply a chemical to the air vehicle 2 based on the acquired movement plan and weather information ((3) in FIG. 1). When the coating control device 1 determines to apply a chemical to the air vehicle 2, it controls the coating device 4 to apply the chemical to the air vehicle 2 by transmitting coating instruction information to the coating device 4 for causing the air vehicle 2 to apply the chemical ((4) in FIG. 1). In this way, the coating control device 1 can automatically apply the chemical to the air vehicle 2, thereby suppressing deterioration of the air vehicle 2 without human intervention.

[0022] [Functional configuration of coating control device 1] Next, a description will be given of the functional configuration of the coating control device 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the coating control device 1. The coating control device 1 has a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0023] The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the flying object 2, etc. via a communication network such as a mobile phone line or the Internet. The storage unit 12 is a storage medium that stores various data, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), etc. The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 13. The storage unit 12 stores a program that causes the control unit 13 to function as an acquisition unit 131, a determination unit 132, and an application control unit 133.

[0024] The control unit 13 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 13 executes the programs stored in the storage unit 12 to function as an acquisition unit 131, a determination unit 132, and an application control unit 133.

[0025] The acquisition unit 131 acquires a flight plan of the aircraft 2 as a movement plan of the aircraft 2 stored in the storage facility 3 serving as a storage unit for storing the aircraft 2, and acquires weather information indicating weather conditions corresponding to the acquired flight plan. For example, the acquisition unit 131 accesses a flight management device (not shown) that manages the flight of the aircraft 2 via the communication unit 11, and acquires the flight plan of the aircraft 2 stored in the storage facility 3. The acquisition unit 131 may access the aircraft 2 via the communication unit 11, and acquire the flight plan of the aircraft 2 stored in the storage facility 3.

[0026] When the acquisition unit 131 acquires the flight plan of the aircraft 2, it identifies the date and time when the aircraft 2 will fly, and the flight location of the aircraft 2, indicated by the flight plan. The flight plan includes, for example, flight route information that associates flight dates and times corresponding to each of a plurality of positions indicating the flight route of the aircraft 2 with three-dimensional position information indicating the altitude and latitude and longitude of the positions.

[0027] The acquisition unit 131 accesses a weather server (not shown) that provides weather forecasts for multiple areas as weather information via the communication unit 11, and acquires weather information corresponding to the date and time when the aircraft 2 will fly as indicated in the flight plan and the flight location of the aircraft 2.

[0028] In addition, the acquisition unit 131 acquires, as weather information, the observation results of the weather in the vicinity of the storage facility 3, which is the flight starting location of the aircraft 2 indicated in the flight plan, from an observation device (not shown) that observes the weather around the storage facility 3 and is installed in the vicinity of the storage facility 3 or the storage facility 3.

[0029] The determination unit 132 determines whether to apply a chemical to the air vehicle 2 to protect the body of the air vehicle 2, based on the flight plan and weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 131. For example, the determination unit 132 identifies the degree of influence of a deterioration factor that causes deterioration of the body of the air vehicle 2 due to the air vehicle 2 moving according to the flight plan, based on the flight plan and weather information, and determines whether to apply a chemical to the air vehicle 2, based on the identified degree of influence.

[0030] Specifically, the determination unit 132 refers to weather-specific impact information indicating the degree of impact on deterioration of the aircraft when the aircraft flies in each of a plurality of weather types, and location-specific impact information indicating the degree of impact on deterioration of the aircraft when the aircraft flies through each of a plurality of location types, and calculates the degree of impact on deterioration of the aircraft 2 when the aircraft 2 flies in weather indicated by the acquired weather information according to the flight plan.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of weather-specific impact information. As shown in FIG. 3, weather-specific impact information is information that associates a weather type with a degree of impact on deterioration of an aircraft when the aircraft flies in the weather of the weather type. An impact degree is provided for each of a plurality of elements, such as salt damage, rust, and dust. In the example shown in FIG. 3, an impact degree corresponding to one element is associated with one weather type, but an impact degree corresponding to each of a plurality of elements may be associated with one weather type.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of location-specific impact information. As shown in Fig. 4, the location-specific impact information is information that associates a location type, a flight altitude of the aircraft from the ground surface or sea surface, and a degree of impact on deterioration of the aircraft when the aircraft flies at the flight altitude in a location of the location type.

[0033] The determination unit 132 refers to the weather-specific impact information, and calculates the degree of impact of weather on deterioration of the aircraft 2 when the aircraft 2 flies through multiple positions indicated by the flight route information included in the flight plan in the weather indicated by the acquired weather information. For example, when the aircraft 2 flies from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the degree of impact of weather on deterioration of the aircraft 2 is calculated for every 10 minutes based on the weather information, and the calculated degrees of impact are summed up to calculate the degree of impact of weather on deterioration of the aircraft 2.

[0034] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of the degree of influence on the deterioration of the aircraft 2 based on weather information. As shown in Fig. 5, it can be seen that the influence of rust on the deterioration of the aircraft 2 is calculated to be 9 based on the weather every 10 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

[0035] Similarly, the determination unit 132 refers to the location-specific impact information and calculates the impact of the flight location on deterioration of the flying object 2 when the flying object 2 flies through multiple locations indicated by the flight route information included in the flight plan. For example, the determination unit 132 refers to map information indicating the location type of each of the multiple locations, and identifies the location type corresponding to the multiple locations indicated by the flight route information. Then, the determination unit 132 identifies the impact associated with the corresponding location type and flight altitude for each of the multiple locations indicated by the flight route information.

[0036] For example, when the flying object 2 flies from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the determination unit 132 calculates the influence degree associated with the location type and flight altitude corresponding to each of the multiple positions indicated by the flight route information, and totals the influence degrees of each of the multiple positions to calculate the influence degree of the flight location on the deterioration of the flying object 2. For example, the determination unit 132 calculates the influence degree of the flight location on the deterioration of the flying object 2 every 10 minutes, and totals the calculated influence degrees to calculate the influence degree of the flight location on the deterioration of the flying object 2.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of the degree of influence on deterioration of the aircraft 2 based on the flight plan. As shown in Fig. 6, it can be confirmed that the degree of influence on deterioration of the aircraft 2 is calculated as follows: the influence of salt damage is 9, the influence of rust is 9, and the influence of sand and dust is 8, based on the location type and altitude corresponding to the flight position every 10 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

[0038] The determination unit 132 calculates the degree of influence of weather on the deterioration of the aircraft 2 when the aircraft 2 flies in the weather indicated by the acquired weather information according to the flight plan by adding up the calculated degree of influence of weather on the deterioration of the aircraft 2 and the calculated degree of influence of the flight location on the deterioration of the aircraft 2. For example, the determination unit 132 calculates the degree of influence of salt damage to be 9, the degree of influence of rust to be 18, and the degree of influence of dust to be 8 as the degrees of influence on the deterioration of the aircraft 2 by adding up the degrees of influence calculated in the example shown in Fig. 5 and the degrees of influence calculated in the example shown in Fig. 6.

[0039] Then, when the determination unit 132 determines that the calculated degree of influence exceeds a predetermined threshold for deciding whether or not to apply a chemical to the aircraft 2, it determines that the aircraft 2 should be applied with a chemical to protect the body of the aircraft 2. For example, when the predetermined threshold is 10, the degree of influence due to rust is 18, which exceeds the predetermined threshold, so the determination unit 132 determines that the aircraft 2 should be applied with a chemical to protect the body of the aircraft 2.

[0040] When the determination unit 132 determines that the flying object 2 is to be coated with a chemical, the coating control unit 133 causes the coating device 4, which applies the chemical, to coat the flying object 2. Specifically, first, the coating control unit 133 selects the chemical to be coated on the flying object 2 from among a plurality of chemicals that can be coated on the flying object 2.

[0041] The storage unit 12 associates each of the multiple drugs with a drug name as drug identification information, and a deterioration element that causes deterioration of the flying object 2, corresponding to the weather conditions and the location type. The application control unit 133 identifies the weather conditions satisfied by the weather situation indicated by the weather information and the location type of the location where the flying object 2 will fly based on the flight plan, and selects a drug associated with a deterioration element that corresponds to the identified weather conditions and location type as a drug to be applied to the flying object 2.

[0042] For example, the application control unit 133 selects, as the drug to be applied to the flying object 2, the drug associated with the deterioration element with the highest degree of influence among the multiple deterioration elements that are caused by the flying object 2 moving according to the flight plan under the weather conditions indicated by the weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 131, as identified by the judgment unit 132.

[0043] The application control unit 133 also controls the application amount of the agent based on the degree of influence of the deterioration element identified by the determination unit 132 that causes deterioration of the body of the aircraft 2 as the aircraft 2 moves according to the flight plan. For example, the memory unit 12 stores the range of the degree of influence of each of the deterioration elements and the application amount of the agent in association with each other as application amount information. The application control unit 133 refers to the application amount information, identifies the deterioration element with the highest degree of influence among the degrees of influence of each of the deterioration elements identified by the determination unit 132, and identifies the application amount of the agent associated with the deterioration element and associated with the range including the highest degree of influence as the application amount of the agent to be applied to the aircraft 2. Then, the application control unit 133 causes the application device 4 to apply the selected agent to the aircraft 2 by the identified application amount.

[0044] The coating device 4 may be capable of washing the flying object 2 with water. In this case, when the determination unit 132 determines that the flying object 2 is to be coated with a chemical, the coating control unit 133 may cause the coating device 4 to wash the flying object 2 before the coating device 4 applies the chemical to the flying object 2.

[0045] The acquisition unit 131 may also acquire an image of the flying object 2. The application control unit 133 may then determine whether the flying object 2 is dirty based on the image acquired by the acquisition unit 131. If the application control unit 133 determines that the flying object 2 is dirty, it may cause the application device 4 to clean the flying object 2 before the application device 4 applies the agent to the flying object 2. In this way, the application control device 1 can remove dirt adhering to the flying object 2 before applying the agent to the flying object 2, thereby improving the application effect of the agent.

[0046] [Processing flow in the coating control device 1] Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing in the coating control device 1. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing related to the coating control device 1.

[0047] First, the acquisition unit 131 acquires a flight plan for the aircraft 2 stored in the storage facility 3 serving as a storage unit for storing the aircraft 2 (S1). Next, the acquisition unit 131 acquires weather information indicating weather conditions corresponding to the acquired flight plan (S2).

[0048] Next, based on the acquired flight plan and weather information, the determination unit 132 identifies the degree of influence of each of a plurality of deterioration factors that cause deterioration of the body of the aircraft 2 due to the aircraft 2 moving in accordance with the flight plan (S3).

[0049] Next, the determination unit 132 determines whether the identified impact level exceeds a predetermined threshold for determining whether or not to apply the agent to the air vehicle 2 (S4). If the determination unit 132 determines that the identified impact level exceeds the predetermined threshold (YES in S4), it proceeds to S5, and if the determination unit 132 determines that the identified impact level is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold (NO in S4), it ends the processing related to this flowchart.

[0050] Next, the application control unit 133 selects a chemical to be applied to the aircraft 2 from among a plurality of chemicals that can be applied to the aircraft 2, based on the degree of influence of each of the plurality of deterioration elements identified by the judgment unit 132 (S5).

[0051] Next, the application control unit 133 specifies the amount of the agent to be applied to the flying object 2 based on the highest influence level among the influence levels of each of the multiple deterioration factors specified by the determination unit 132 (S6). Then, the application control unit 133 performs application control of the agent to cause the application device 4 to apply the specified amount of the selected agent to the flying object 2 (S7).

[0052] [Variations] In the above embodiment, the determination unit 132 determines whether to apply a drug to the flying object 2 based on the movement plan, but this is not limited to the above. The determination unit 132 may determine whether to apply a drug to the flying object 2 based on the drug application history of the flying object 2.

[0053] In this case, when the application of the drug to the flying object 2 by the application device 4 is completed, the application control unit 133 associates drug identification information that identifies the applied drug, the date the drug was applied, and the amount of drug applied, and stores them in the memory unit 12 as application history information.

[0054] The determination unit 132 determines whether to apply a drug to the flying object 2, further based on the application history indicated by the application history information stored in the memory unit 12. The determination unit 132 determines whether to apply a drug to the flying object 2, based on the application history indicated by the application history information and the movement plan and weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 131.

[0055] For example, the determination unit 132 identifies the degree of deterioration of the durability effect due to application based on the elapsed time from the date and time of application of the medicine included in the application history. For example, a function is provided that outputs the degree of deterioration in response to an input of the elapsed time from the date and time of application for each of a plurality of medicines.

[0056] The determination unit 132 identifies the agent last applied to the flying object 2 based on the application history, and identifies the time that has elapsed since the agent was applied. The determination unit 132 acquires the deterioration level by inputting the elapsed time into a function corresponding to the identified agent. The determination unit 132 then determines that the agent should be applied to the flying object 2 when the degree of influence of the flight location on the deterioration of the flying object 2 exceeds a first threshold value and the acquired deterioration level exceeds a second threshold value. In this manner, the application control device 1 can control the application of the agent, taking into account the deterioration after the application of the agent.

[0057] In the above embodiment, an example of applying a chemical to the flying object 2 has been described, but the application control device 1 may control application of a chemical to an autonomously movable object. The autonomously movable object may be, for example, an autonomously running automobile or an autonomously movable robot.

[0058] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, the coating control device 1 determines whether to coat the aircraft 2 with an agent for protecting the body of the aircraft 2 based on the flight plan of the aircraft 2 stored in the storage facility 3 that houses the aircraft 2 and weather information indicating weather conditions corresponding to the flight plan, and when it determines to apply the agent, causes the coating device 4 that applies the agent to apply the agent to the aircraft 2. In this way, the coating control device 1 can suppress deterioration of the aircraft 2 without human intervention.

[0059] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote industry, innovation and infrastructure."

[0060] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1 Flight control unit 2. Flying Objects 3. Containment Facility 4 Coating equipment 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Control section 131 Acquisition Department 132 Judgment section 133 Coating control unit

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires a movement plan of a moving object stored in a storage unit that stores the moving object, and acquires weather information indicating a weather condition corresponding to the acquired movement plan; a determination unit that determines whether to apply a chemical to the moving object for protecting a body of the moving object based on the movement plan and the weather information; an application control unit that, when the determination unit determines that the medicine is to be applied to the moving body, causes an application device that applies the medicine to apply the medicine to the moving body; A coating control device having the above structure.

2. The acquisition unit acquires the weather information in the vicinity of the storage unit, which is a flight start location of the moving body indicated by the movement plan, from an observation device that is provided in the storage unit or in the vicinity of the storage unit and observes the weather in the vicinity of the storage unit. The coating control device according to claim 1 .

3. A communication unit that communicates with a device different from the coating control device, The acquisition unit acquires, via the communication unit, the weather information corresponding to a date and time when the moving object will fly and a flight location of the moving object indicated by the movement plan. The coating control device according to claim 1 .

4. The determination unit determines an influence of a deterioration factor that causes deterioration of a body of the moving body due to the moving body moving according to the moving plan, based on the moving plan and the weather information, and determines whether to apply the agent to the moving body based on the determined influence. The coating control device according to claim 1 .

5. The application control unit controls the application amount of the drug based on the degree of influence. The coating control device according to claim 4 .

6. The coating device is capable of cleaning the moving body, When the determination unit determines that the agent is to be applied to the moving body, the application control unit causes the application device to clean the moving body before the application device applies the agent to the moving body. The coating control device according to claim 1 .

7. The acquisition unit acquires a captured image of the moving object, When the application control unit determines that the moving body is dirty based on the captured image, the application control unit causes the application device to clean the moving body. The coating control device according to claim 6 .

8. A deterioration factor that causes deterioration of the moving object corresponding to a weather condition is associated with each of the plurality of drugs; The application control unit specifies a weather condition that is satisfied by the weather situation indicated by the weather information, selects a chemical agent associated with a deterioration element corresponding to the specified weather condition as a chemical agent to be applied to the moving body, and causes the application device to apply the selected chemical agent to the moving body. The coating control device according to claim 1 .

9. A storage unit stores application history information indicating an application history of the drug to the moving body, The determination unit determines whether to apply the agent to the moving body based on the application history indicated by the application history information. The coating control device according to claim 1 .

10. The determination unit determines whether to apply the agent to the moving body based on the application history indicated by the application history information and the movement plan acquired by the acquisition unit. The coating control device according to claim 9 .

11. The computer executes acquiring a movement plan of the moving object stored in a storage unit for storing the moving object, and acquiring weather information indicating weather conditions corresponding to the acquired movement plan; determining whether to apply a chemical to the moving object to protect the body of the moving object based on the movement plan and the weather information; When it is determined that the medicine is to be applied to the moving body, an application device that applies the medicine applies the medicine to the moving body; An information processing method comprising the steps of:

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