Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Abstract

Suppress deterioration of the moving body without using human hands. 【Solution means】The application control device 1 includes an acquisition unit 131 that acquires a movement plan of the flying object 2 stored in a storage unit that stores the moving body, and acquires weather information indicating the weather conditions corresponding to the acquired movement plan, and based on the movement plan and the weather information, identifies the degree of influence of a deterioration factor that causes deterioration of the body of the flying object 2 when the flying object 2 moves based on the movement plan, and a determination unit 132 that determines whether to apply a drug to the body of the flying object 2 based on the identified degree of influence.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, inspections of structures and the like have been carried out using flying objects capable of autonomous flight (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When using a flying object at sea or near the sea, it may not be possible to perform maintenance by humans over a long period of time. In this case, seawater adheres to the flying object, causing the flying object to corrode, or dirt adheres to the lens of the camera of the flying object, resulting in deterioration of the flying object.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to suppress deterioration of a moving body without human intervention.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus. This information processing apparatus 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 a weather condition corresponding to the acquired movement plan; a specifying unit that specifies the degree of influence of a degradation factor that causes degradation of the body of the moving body when the moving body moves based on the movement plan, based on the movement plan and the weather information; and a determination unit that determines whether to apply a drug for protecting the body of the moving body to the body of the moving body based on the degree of influence specified by the specifying unit.

[0007] The specifying unit may refer to weather-specific influence information, which is information associating the type of weather with the degree of influence on the degradation of the moving body when the moving body moves in the weather of the type of weather, and specify the degree of influence when the moving body moves to a plurality of positions indicated by the movement plan in the weather indicated by the acquired weather information.

[0008] The specifying unit may refer to the weather-specific influence information, specify the degree of influence corresponding to the weather at each of the plurality of flight times indicated by the movement plan, and based on the sum of the specified degrees of influence, specify the degree of influence when the moving body moves to a plurality of positions indicated by the movement plan in the weather indicated by the weather information.

[0009] The specifying unit may refer to information associating the type of location with the degree of influence on the degradation of the moving body when the moving body moves to a location of the type of location, and specify the degree of influence when the moving body moves to a plurality of positions indicated by the movement plan.

[0010] The moving body is an aircraft, and the specifying unit may refer to location-specific influence information, which is information associating the type of location, the flight altitude of the moving body from the ground surface or the sea surface, and the degree of influence on the degradation of the moving body when the moving body flies at the flight altitude to a location of the type of location, and specify the degree of influence when the moving body flies to a plurality of positions indicated by the movement plan.

[0011] The specific unit refers to the location-specific influence degree information, and for each of the plurality of positions indicated by the movement plan, specifies the influence degree associated with the location type corresponding to the position and the flight altitude, and based on the sum of the specified influence degrees, may specify the influence degree when the moving body flies through the plurality of positions indicated by the movement plan.

[0012] The specific unit specifies the influence degree of each of the plurality of deterioration factors that cause deterioration of the moving body when the moving body moves based on the movement plan, and the determination unit may determine whether to apply a drug to the body of the moving body based on the influence degree of each of the plurality of deterioration factors specified by the specific unit.

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention is an information processing method. This information processing method includes steps of: a computer acquiring a movement plan of a moving body stored in a storage unit that stores the moving body, and acquiring weather information indicating a weather situation corresponding to the acquired movement plan; specifying, based on the movement plan and the weather information, the influence degree of a deterioration factor that causes deterioration of the body of the moving body when the moving body moves based on the movement plan; and determining, based on the specified influence degree, whether to apply a drug for protecting the body of the moving body to the body of the moving body.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, there is an effect that deterioration of the moving body can be suppressed without manual intervention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] [Overview of Coating Control Device 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overview of the coating control device 1. The coating control device 1 is provided in a storage facility 3 for storing the flying object 2 or in the vicinity of the storage facility 3, and is a computer for applying a chemical to the flying object 2. The flying object 2 is, for example, a drone capable of autonomous flight. The storage facility 3 is, for example, a drone port as a waiting place where the flying object 2 waits, and a coating device 4 for applying a chemical to the waiting flying object 2 is provided. The coating device 4 applies a chemical for protecting the body of the flying object 2, such as a coating agent or a water - repellent agent, to the flying object 2 stored in the storage facility 3 according to the control of the coating control device 1.

[0020] The coating control device 1 acquires the movement plan of the flying object 2 stored in the storage facility 3 ((1) in FIG. 1). When the coating control device 1 acquires the movement plan, it acquires weather information indicating the weather situation corresponding to the movement plan ((2) in FIG. 1).

[0021] Based on the acquired movement plan and weather information, the application control device 1 determines whether to apply a chemical agent to the aircraft 2 ((3) in FIG. 1). When the application control device 1 determines to apply a chemical agent to the aircraft 2, it transmits application instruction information for causing the application device 4 to apply a chemical agent to the aircraft 2 to the application device 4, thereby controlling the application of the chemical agent to the aircraft 2 by the application device 4 ((4) in FIG. 1). By doing so, the application control device 1 can automatically apply the chemical agent to the aircraft 2, so that the deterioration of the aircraft 2 can be suppressed without manual intervention.

[0022] [Functional Configuration of Application Control Device 1] Subsequently, the functional configuration of the application control device 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the application control device 1. The application control device 1 includes 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 aircraft 2 and the like via a communication network such as a mobile phone line or the Internet. The storage unit 12 is a storage medium for storing various data, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like. The storage unit 12 stores the 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 functions as an acquisition unit 131, a determination unit 132, and an application control unit 133 by executing the program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0025] The acquisition unit 131 acquires the 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 the 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 aircraft 2.

[0026] When the acquisition unit 131 acquires the flight plan of the aircraft 2, it specifies the date and time when the aircraft 2 indicated by the flight plan flies and the flight location of the aircraft 2. The flight plan includes, for example, flight route information associating the flight date and time corresponding to each of a plurality of positions indicating the flight route along which the aircraft 2 flies with three-dimensional position information indicating the altitude and latitude and longitude of the position.

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

[0028] In addition, the acquisition unit 131 acquires, as weather information, the observation result of the weather in the vicinity of the storage facility 3, which is the flight start location of the aircraft 2 indicated by the flight plan, from an observation device (not shown) provided in or near the storage facility 3 for observing the weather around the storage facility.

[0029] The determination unit 132 determines whether to apply a drug to the aircraft 2 to protect the body of the aircraft 2 based on the flight plan and the weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 131. For example, the determination unit 132 specifies the influence degree of the deterioration factor that causes the deterioration of the body of the aircraft 2 when the aircraft 2 moves according to the flight plan based on the flight plan and the weather information, and determines whether to apply a drug to the aircraft 2 based on the specified influence degree.

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

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

[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the location-specific influence degree information. As shown in FIG. 4, the location-specific influence degree information is information associating the location type, the flight altitude of the flying object from the ground surface or the sea surface, and the influence degree on the deterioration of the flying object when the flying object flies at the flight altitude in the location of the location type.

[0033] The determination unit 132 refers to the weather-specific influence degree information and calculates the influence degree on the deterioration of the flying object 2 caused by the weather when the flying object 2 flies at a plurality of 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 flying object 2 flies from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, based on the weather information, the influence degree on the deterioration of the flying object 2 every 10 minutes is calculated, and the calculated influence degrees are totaled to calculate the influence degree on the deterioration of the flying object 2 caused by the weather.

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

[0035] Similarly, the determination unit 132 refers to the location-specific influence degree information and calculates the degree of influence on the deterioration exerted by the flight location on the aircraft 2 when flying through a plurality of positions indicated by the flight route information included in the flight plan. For example, the determination unit 132 refers to the map information indicating the location type of each of the plurality of positions, and identifies the location type corresponding to the plurality of positions indicated by the flight route information. Then, the determination unit 132 identifies the influence degree associated with the corresponding location type and the flight altitude for each of the plurality of positions indicated by the flight route information.

[0036] For example, when the aircraft 2 flies from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, the determination unit 132 calculates the influence degree associated with the location type corresponding to each of the plurality of positions and the flight altitude for each of the plurality of positions indicated by the flight route information, and calculates the degree of influence on the deterioration exerted by the flight location on the aircraft 2 by summing the influence degrees of each of the plurality of positions. For example, the determination unit 132 calculates the degree of influence on the deterioration of the aircraft 2 every 10 minutes, and calculates the degree of influence on the deterioration exerted by the flight location on the aircraft 2 by summing the calculated influence degrees.

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

[0038] The determination unit 132 calculates the degree of influence on the deterioration of the aircraft 2 due to the weather and the degree of influence on the deterioration of the aircraft 2 due to the flight location, and then sums them up to calculate the degree of influence on the deterioration of the aircraft when the aircraft 2 flies in the weather indicated by the acquired weather information according to the flight plan. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the determination unit 132 sums up the degree of influence calculated in the example shown in FIG. 5 and the degree of influence calculated in the example shown in FIG. 6, and calculates that the degree of influence due to chloride damage is 9, the degree of influence due to rust is 18, and the degree of influence due to dust is 8 as the degree of influence on the deterioration of the aircraft 2.

[0039] If the determination unit 132 determines that the calculated degree of influence exceeds a predetermined threshold for determining whether to apply a drug to the aircraft, it determines to apply a drug to protect the body of the aircraft 2 to the aircraft 2. For example, when the predetermined threshold is 10 and the degree of influence due to rust is 18, exceeding the predetermined threshold, the determination unit 132 determines to apply a drug to protect the body of the aircraft 2 to the aircraft 2.

[0040] When the determination unit 132 determines to apply a drug to the aircraft 2, the application control unit 133 causes the application device 4 that applies the drug to apply the drug to the aircraft 2. Specifically, first, the application control unit 133 selects a drug to be applied to the aircraft 2 from among a plurality of drugs that can be applied to the aircraft 2.

[0041] In the storage unit 12, the drug name as the drug identification information of each of the plurality of drugs is associated with the deterioration factor that causes the deterioration of the aircraft 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 aircraft 2 flies based on the flight plan, and selects the drug associated with the deterioration factor corresponding to the identified weather conditions and location type as the drug to be applied to the aircraft 2.

[0042] For example, the application control unit 133 selects, as the chemical agent to be applied to the aircraft 2, the chemical agent associated with the degradation factor having the highest influence degree among the influence degrees of the plurality of degradation factors caused by the aircraft 2 moving according to the flight plan under the weather conditions indicated by the weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 131 and specified by the determination unit 132.

[0043] Further, the application control unit 133 controls the application amount of the chemical agent based on the influence degree of the degradation factor that causes the degradation of the body of the aircraft 2 as the aircraft 2 moves according to the flight plan and is specified by the determination unit 132. For example, in the storage unit 12, the range of the influence degree of each of the plurality of degradation factors is associated with the application amount of the chemical agent and stored as application amount information. The application control unit 133 refers to the application amount information, specifies the degradation factor with the highest influence degree among the influence degrees of the plurality of degradation factors specified by the determination unit 132, and determines the application amount of the chemical agent associated with the degradation factor, which is the application amount associated with the range including the highest influence degree, as the application amount of the chemical agent to be applied to the aircraft 2. Then, the application control unit 133 causes the application device 4 to apply the selected chemical agent to the aircraft 2 in the specified application amount.

[0044] Note that the application device 4 may be capable of washing the aircraft 2 with water. In this case, when the determination unit 132 determines that a chemical agent is to be applied to the aircraft 2, the application control unit 133 may cause the application device 4 to wash the aircraft 2 before applying the chemical agent to the aircraft 2 by the application device 4.

[0045] Further, the acquisition unit 131 may acquire a captured image of the aircraft 2. Then, the application control unit 133 may determine whether the aircraft 2 is dirty based on the captured image acquired by the acquisition unit 131. And when the application control unit 133 determines that the aircraft 2 is dirty, the application control unit 133 may cause the application device 4 to wash the aircraft 2 before applying the chemical agent to the aircraft 2 by the application device 4. By doing so, the application control device 1 can apply the chemical agent to the aircraft 2 after removing the dirt adhering to the aircraft 2, so that the application effect of the chemical agent can be enhanced.

[0046] [Flow of Processing in Coating Control Device 1] Subsequently, the flow of processing in the coating control device 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing related to the coating control device 1.

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

[0048] Subsequently, the determination unit 132 specifies the influence degree of each of a plurality of deterioration factors that cause deterioration of the body of the aircraft 2 when the aircraft 2 moves according to the flight plan, based on the acquired flight plan and weather information (S3).

[0049] Subsequently, the determination unit 132 determines whether or not the specified influence degree exceeds a predetermined threshold value for determining whether or not to apply a chemical to the aircraft 2 (S4). When the determination unit 132 determines that the specified influence degree exceeds the predetermined threshold value (YES in S4), the process proceeds to S5. When the determination unit 132 determines that the specified influence degree is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value (NO in S4), the process according to this flowchart ends.

[0050] Subsequently, the coating 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 influence degree of each of the plurality of deterioration factors specified by the determination unit 132 (S5).

[0051] Subsequently, the coating control unit 133 specifies the coating amount of the chemical to be applied to the aircraft 2, based on the highest influence degree among the influence degrees of each of the plurality of deterioration factors specified by the determination unit 132 (S6). Then, the coating control unit 133 performs coating control of causing the coating device 4 to apply the selected chemical to the aircraft 2 in the specified coating amount (S7).

[0052] [Modification Example] In the above-described embodiment, the determination unit 132 determines whether to apply a drug to the flying object 2 based on the movement plan, but it is not limited to this. The determination unit 132 may determine whether to apply a drug to the flying object 2 based further on the application history of the drug to 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 the drug identification information for identifying the applied drug, the date on which the drug was applied, and the application amount of the drug, and stores them in the storage unit 12 as application history information.

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

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

[0056] The determination unit 132 specifies the drug last applied to the flying object 2 based on the application history, and also specifies the elapsed time since the drug was applied. The determination unit 132 obtains the degree of deterioration by inputting the elapsed time to the function corresponding to the specified drug. Then, when the degree of influence of the flight location on the deterioration of the flying object 2 exceeds a first threshold value and the obtained degree of deterioration exceeds a second threshold value, the determination unit 132 determines to apply a drug to the flying object 2. By doing so, the application control device 1 can control the application of the drug in consideration of the deterioration since the drug was applied.

[0057] In the above-described embodiment, an example of applying a chemical agent to the flying object 2 has been described. However, the application control device 1 may control the application of the chemical agent to a movable object capable of autonomous movement. The movable object capable of independence may be, for example, an automobile capable of autonomous driving or a robot capable of autonomous movement.

[0058] [Effects of the Present Embodiment] As described above, based on the flight plan of the flying object 2 stored in the storage facility 3 that stores the flying object 2 and the weather information indicating the weather conditions corresponding to the flight plan, the application control device 1 determines whether to apply a chemical agent for protecting the body of the flying object 2 to the flying object 2. When it is determined to apply the chemical agent, the application control device 1 causes the application device 4 that applies the chemical agent to apply the chemical agent to the flying object 2. By doing so, the application control device 1 can suppress the deterioration of the flying object 2 without manual intervention.

[0059] In addition, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to contribute to Goal 9, "Build the infrastructure for industry and innovation," of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described using 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. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically dispersing and integrating it in an arbitrary unit. In addition, new embodiments generated by any combination of a plurality of embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments generated by the combination have the effects of the original embodiments combined.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0061] 1 Application control device 2 Flying object 3 Storage facility 4 Application device 11 Communication unit 12 Storage unit 13 Control unit 131 Acquisition unit 132 Determination unit 133 Coating control unit

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires a moving 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 moving plan; an identification unit that identifies, based on the movement plan and the weather information, an influence degree of a deterioration factor that causes deterioration of a body of the moving object when the moving object moves based on the movement plan; a determination unit that determines whether to apply a chemical agent for protecting the body of the moving object to the body of the moving object based on the degree of influence determined by the determination unit; An information processing device having the above configuration.

2. The identification unit refers to weather-specific impact information, which is information that associates a weather type with a degree of impact on deterioration of a body of the moving body when the moving body moves in the weather of the weather type, and identifies the degree of impact when the moving body moves to a plurality of positions indicated by the movement plan in the weather indicated by the acquired weather information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the identification unit refers to the weather-specific impact information, identifies an impact corresponding to the weather at each of the multiple flight times indicated in the movement plan, and identifies an impact when the moving object moves to the multiple positions indicated in the movement plan in the weather indicated by the weather information based on a sum of the identified impacts. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The identification unit refers to information associating location types with degrees of impact on deterioration of a body of the moving body when the moving body moves to locations of the respective location types, and identifies a degree of impact when the moving body moves to a plurality of locations indicated by the movement plan.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The moving object is an aircraft, The identification unit refers to location-specific impact information, which is information that associates a location type, a flight altitude of the moving body from the ground surface or sea surface, and a degree of impact on deterioration of the body of the moving body when the moving body flies at the flight altitude through a location of each location type, and identifies a degree of impact when the moving body flies through a plurality of locations indicated by the movement plan. The information processing device according to claim 4.

6. the identification unit refers to the location-specific impact information, and identifies, for each of a plurality of locations indicated in the movement plan, an impact associated with a location type corresponding to the location and a flight altitude, and identifies an impact in the case where the moving body flies through the plurality of locations indicated in the movement plan based on a sum of the identified impacts. The information processing device according to claim 5 .

7. the identification unit identifies the degree of influence of each of a plurality of deterioration factors that cause deterioration of a body of the moving body when the moving body moves based on the movement plan, The determination unit determines whether to apply a medicine to the body of the moving object based on the degree of influence of each of the plurality of deterioration factors identified by the identification unit. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. 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, based on the movement plan and the weather information, an influence degree of a deterioration factor that causes deterioration of a body of the moving object when the moving object moves based on the movement plan; determining whether to apply a chemical to the body of the moving object for protecting the body of the moving object based on the determined degree of influence; An information processing method comprising the steps of:

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