Welding training system, welding training method, and program

Abstract

To provide a welding training system, a welding training method and a program capable of appropriately simulating a phenomenon in which a welding rod becomes short.SOLUTION: An information processing device 1 constituting a welding training system includes a distance determination unit 13 for determining a distance between a tip part of a welding rod object to be used for welding work and a base material object on the basis of a distance between a point object for distance determination to be arranged at the tip part and the base material object, a welding processing execution unit 14 for executing welding processing in a virtual space if the determined distance is a prescribed threshold or below, a welding rod length correction unit 15 for making the length of the welding rod object in an axial direction small if the welding processing is executed, a distance determination object movement unit 17 for moving the point object to the tip part of the corrected welding rod object, and a display control unit 19 for displaying an image including the corrected welding rod object and the moved point object in a display unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a welding training system, a welding training method, and a program for supporting training in welding work. [Background technology]

[0002] With the advancement of virtual reality technology, various systems that support welding training using this technology have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a welding system that includes a welding tool for performing real-world welding, a welding helmet including a face-mounted display, and a spatial tracker that tracks the welding tool and welding helmet in 3D space relative to an object to be processed, and is configured to generate a virtual object based on information from the spatial tracker and send the virtual object to a predetermined position on the face-mounted display. With this welding system, welding training can be performed while viewing an image on the face-mounted display. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-101124 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of the conventional welding systems described above, the welding tools (torch, welding gun, etc.) used to perform real-world welding must be operated, which leads to inconveniences such as the large-scale configuration of the equipment. It would be convenient to use an existing VR controller instead of such special tools, but in that case, it becomes difficult to simulate in the virtual space the phenomenon of the welding rod shortening during the welding process.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main object is to provide a welding training system, a welding training method, and a program that can support training in welding work with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the welding training system of the present invention is a welding training system that supports training in welding work by presenting the status of welding work to a trainee in a virtual space, and is characterized by comprising: a determination unit that determines the distance between the tip of a welding rod object used in the welding work and a base material object based on the distance between the base material object and a point object for distance determination placed at the tip; a welding processing unit that performs welding processing in the virtual space if the determined distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold; a correction unit that reduces the axial length of the welding rod object when the welding processing is performed; a movement unit that moves the point object to the tip of the welding rod object after the correction; and a display control unit that displays an image including the corrected welding rod object and the moved point object on a display unit.

[0007] In the above aspect, the display control unit may cause the point object to be displayed transparently on the display unit.

[0008] In addition, in the above aspect, the present invention may further include a setting unit that sets a value that changes the axial length of the welding rod object, and the correction unit may reduce the axial length of the welding rod object based on the value set by the setting unit.

[0009] In the above aspect, the welding processing unit may stop the welding process when the determined distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

[0010] In the above aspect, the welding processing unit may stop the welding process when the axial length of the welding rod object becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

[0011] A welding training method according to one aspect of the present invention is a welding training method that supports training in welding work by presenting the status of welding work to a trainee in a virtual space, and is characterized in that the distance between the tip of a welding rod object used in the welding work and a base material object is determined based on the distance between the base material object and a point object for distance determination that is placed at the tip, and if the determined distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, a welding process is performed in the virtual space, and when the welding process is performed, a correction is made to reduce the axial length of the welding rod object, the point object is moved to the position of the tip of the welding rod object after the correction, and an image including the corrected welding rod object and the moved point object is displayed on a display unit.

[0012] One aspect of the program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a welding training device that assists in training welding work by presenting the status of welding work to a trainee in a virtual space, and causes the computer to function as a determination unit that determines the distance between the tip of a welding rod object used in the welding work and a base material object based on the distance between the base material object and a point object for distance determination that is placed at the tip, a welding processing unit that performs welding processing in the virtual space if the determined distance is below a predetermined threshold, a correction unit that reduces the axial length of the welding rod object when the welding processing is performed, a movement unit that moves the point object to the position of the tip of the welding rod object after the correction, and a display control unit that displays an image including the corrected welding rod object and the moved point object on a display unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately simulate in virtual space the phenomenon in which a welding rod shortens during a welding process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a welding training system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device (welding training system). [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a displayed screen. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the operation of the information processing device (welding training system). [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a welding rod shortening process. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a welding training system according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of methods and devices for embodying the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the following. Various modifications can be made to the technical concept of the present invention within the technical scope described in the claims.

[0016] (Embodiment 1) [System Configuration] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a welding training system according to embodiment 1. A welding training system 100 according to the present embodiment is configured by an information processing device 1.

[0017] The information processing device 1 is communicatively connected to a head mounted display (HMD) 2, and images are displayed on a display unit 21 provided in the HMD 2 according to display control from the information processing device 1. The information processing device 1 is also communicatively connected to an input device 3 operated by the trainee, and executes various processes using information input from the input device 3.

[0018] In this embodiment, the trainee operates the input device 3 as if it were a welding device such as a welding torch while observing an image displayed on the display unit 21 of the HMD 2. The input device 3 is configured as a hand controller (VR controller) that can be operated by the trainee's hand. This hand controller has a position sensor, and the detection result of the position sensor is output from the input device 3 to the information processing device 1. Similarly, the HMD 2 also has a position sensor, and the detection result of the position sensor is output from the HMD 2 to the information processing device 1.

[0019] Next, we will explain the detailed configuration of the information processing device 1. The information processing device 1 is a computer including a CPU, RAM, ROM, nonvolatile memory, an input / output interface, a communication interface, etc. The CPU of the information processing device 1 executes information processing according to a program loaded from the ROM or nonvolatile memory to the RAM.

[0020] The above program may be supplied to the information processing device 1 via an information storage medium such as an optical disc or a memory card, or may be supplied via a communication network such as the Internet or a LAN.

[0021] 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 1. The information processing device 1 includes an input information acquisition unit 11, a position calculation unit 12, a distance determination unit 13, a welding process execution unit 14, a welding rod length correction unit 15, a correction value database (DB) 16, a distance determination object movement unit 17, an image generation unit 18, and a display control unit 19. These functional units are realized by the CPU of the information processing device 1 executing information processing in accordance with a program.

[0022] The input information acquisition unit 11 acquires various types of information input from the input device 3 and the HMD 2. The information input from the input device 3 includes position information indicating the position of the input device 3 operated by the trainee, and selection information indicating the content selected by the trainee using the input device 3. Furthermore, the information input from the HMD 2 includes position information indicating the position of the HMD 2.

[0023] The position calculation unit 12 calculates the position of each object displayed in the virtual space based on the position information input from the input device 3 and the HMD 2.

[0024] Distance determination unit 13 determines the distance between the tip of a welding rod object (described later) and the base material object. This distance is determined based on the distance between the base material object and a point object for distance determination (hereinafter referred to as a "distance determination object") that is placed at the tip of the welding rod object.

[0025] The welding process execution unit 14 executes the welding process based on the distance between the tip of the welding rod object and the base metal object determined by the distance determination unit 13. This simulates the phenomenon of flying sparks in the case of arc welding, for example.

[0026] Welding rod length correction unit 15 corrects the length of the welding rod object to simulate in virtual space the phenomenon in which the axial length of the welding rod decreases as the welding process progresses. The extent to which the length should be reduced is determined by a setting value stored in correction value DB 16.

[0027] The correction value DB 16 is a database that stores setting values (correction values) for correcting the length of the welding rod object as described above. In this correction value DB 16, a correction value is defined for each type of welding. For example, three types of welding are defined: arc welding, semi-automatic welding, and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, and different correction values (3.5 mm per second, 4.5 mm per second, etc.) are defined for each type of welding. Note that the correction value DB 16 may be provided outside the information processing device 1 as long as it is accessible by the information processing device 1.

[0028] As the welding rod object is shortened, distance judgment object moving unit 17 moves the distance judgment object in virtual space. As will be described later, the distance judgment object moves while following the tip of the shortened welding rod object.

[0029] The image generation unit 18 generates an image to be displayed in the virtual space based on the position of each object detected by the position calculation unit 12, whether or not the welding process is performed by the welding process execution unit 14, the correction process by the welding rod length correction unit 15, and the movement process by the distance judgment object movement unit 17.

[0030] The display control unit 19 instructs the HMD 2 to display the image generated by the image generation unit 18. As a result, the image generated by the image generation unit 18 is displayed on the display unit 21 of the HMD 2.

[0031] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 21 of the HMD 2. In the example shown in Fig. 3, a torch object 41 corresponding to a torch, which is welding equipment, a welding rod object 42 corresponding to a welding rod attached to the torch, and a base metal object 43 corresponding to a material to be welded (base metal) are included on the screen 40. Furthermore, the screen 40 includes a distance determination object 44, which is a point object located at the tip of the welding rod object 42, and a base end object 45, which is also a point object located at the base end of the welding rod object 42.

[0032] In this embodiment, the distance judgment object 44 and the base end object 45 are displayed transparently. Therefore, the trainee cannot visually confirm the distance judgment object 44 and the base end object 45 on the screen 40. Note that the distance judgment object 44 and the base end object 45 may be displayed in a color other than transparent, but since there are no corresponding objects in real space, it is preferable to display them transparently. However, as will be described later, the distance judgment object 44 and the base end object 45 move following the tip end and base end of the welding rod object 42, respectively, and therefore no particular problem occurs if they are displayed in an inconspicuous color (for example, the same color as the welding rod object 42).

[0033] The torch object 41 and the welding rod object 42 move within the virtual space in response to the trainee's operation of the input device 3. Then, the welding process is performed according to the distance between the tip of the welding rod object 42 and the base metal object 43. The status of such welding work in the virtual space is displayed on the display unit 21 of the HMD 2.

[0034] [System Operation] Next, the operation of welding training system 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The trainee puts on the HMD 2 and checks the type of training displayed on the display unit 21 of the HMD 2. The types of training include the type of welding (arc welding, semi-automatic welding, TIG welding), the type of base material (fillet, V-groove), and the method of placing the base material (downward, vertical, horizontal). The trainee decides the desired type of welding, base material, and method of placing the base material, and selects it using the input device 3.

[0035] 4, when the information processing device 1 receives the selection made by the input device 3 as described above (S101), it executes a welding work training process for carrying out the selected type of training (S102). In this welding work training process, position information indicating the position of the input device 3 operated by the trainee and position information indicating the position of the HMD 2 worn by the trainee are continuously input to the information processing device 1. Based on the position information, the information processing device 1 calculates the positions of each object, such as the torch object 41, welding rod object 42, base material object 43, distance judgment object 44, and base end object 45, in the virtual space, and generates an image according to the calculation results. The image generated in this manner is transmitted from the information processing device 1 to the HMD 2 and displayed on the display unit 21 of the HMD 2.

[0036] When the welding rod object 42 moves in the virtual space in response to an operation by the trainee, the positions of the tip and base ends of the welding rod object 42 change accordingly. At this time, the information processing device 1 also changes the positions of the distance judgment object 44 and the base end object 45 in accordance with the change in the positions of the tip and base end of the welding rod object 42. By performing such processing, the distance judgment object 44 and the base end object 45 can be maintained in a state in which they are located at the tip and base end of the welding rod object 42, respectively.

[0037] In the welding training process, a welding rod shortening process is executed to simulate in virtual space the phenomenon in which the axial length of the welding rod shortens as the welding process proceeds. This process will be described in detail later.

[0038] After a certain amount of training has been performed by the welding work training process in step S102, the information processing device 1 determines whether or not to end the training (S103). For example, when the trainee uses the input device 3 to instruct the end of the training, or when the number of times and time of training have reached a predetermined number of times and time, it is determined that the training has ended (YES in S103), and the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the training should be continued without ending (NO in S103), the information processing device 1 returns to step S102, and the training is performed again.

[0039] Next, the welding rod shortening process will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 5. Note that this welding rod shortening process is repeatedly executed in the above-mentioned welding work training process.

[0040] The information processing device 1 calculates the distance between the distance determination object 44 placed at the tip of the welding rod object 42 and the base material object 43 (S201), and determines whether the distance is equal to or less than a preset threshold value T1 (S202). Note that the threshold value T1 is set to a value such as 0.1 mm.

[0041] When it is determined in step S202 that the distance calculated is equal to or less than the threshold value T1 (YES in S202), the information processing device 1 executes the welding process (S203). As described above, in the present embodiment, the welding process is executed when the distance between the distance judgment object 44 and the base material object 43 is equal to or less than a certain value. This is because the distance can be regarded as the distance between the tip of the welding rod object 42 and the base material object 43. After the welding process is executed in this manner, the welding rod object 42 is shortened and the distance judgment object 44 is moved, which are required for the welding process.

[0042] First, the information processing device 1 executes a correction process (S204) to reduce the axial length of the welding rod object 42 in accordance with the correction value defined in the correction value DB 16. For example, if arc welding is selected in the current training and a correction value of 3.5 mm per second is defined for arc welding in the correction value DB 16, the information processing device 1 reduces the axial length of the welding rod object 42 by moving the tip end of the welding rod object 42 axially toward its base end at 3.5 mm per second.

[0043] Next, the information processing device 1 moves the distance judgment object 44 so that the distance judgment object 44 follows the tip of the welding rod object 42 shortened as described above (S205). More specifically, the information processing device 1 calculates the three-dimensional position coordinate pos_e1_new of the distance judgment object 44 in the virtual space after the length of the welding rod has been corrected by the following equation 1, and moves the distance judgment object 44 to the calculated position coordinate pos_e1_new. pos_e1_new = pos_e1 - shorten_distance×(pos_e1 - pos_e2) / edge_distance …Formula 1 Here, pos_e1 is the current three-dimensional position coordinates (e1.x, e1.y, e1.z) of the distance determination object 44, and pos_e2 is the current three-dimensional position coordinates (e2.x, e2.y, e2.z) of the base end object 45. Also, shorten_distance is the correction value used in correcting the length of the welding rod object 42 in step S204. Furthermore, edge_distance is the distance between pos_e1 and pos_e2, and is calculated by the following equation 2.

number

[0044] After correcting the length of the welding rod (S204) and moving the distance judgment object 44 (S205) as described above, the information processing device 1 returns to step S201 and repeats the subsequent processes.

[0045] If it is determined in step S202 that the distance is greater than the threshold T1 (NO in S202), the information processing device 1 determines whether the distance is equal to or less than a preset threshold T2 (S206). Note that the threshold T2 is greater than the threshold T1, and a value such as 10.0 mm is set as the threshold T2.

[0046] If it is determined in step S206 that the distance is equal to or greater than the threshold value T2 (YES in S206), the information processing device 1 stops the welding process that has been executed (S207). As described above, in the present embodiment, the welding process is stopped when the distance between the distance determination object 44 and the base material object 43 becomes equal to or less than a certain value. This is because the distance can be regarded as the distance between the tip of the welding rod object 42 and the base material object 43. Thereafter, the information processing device 1 returns to step S201 and repeats the subsequent processes.

[0047] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S206 that the distance is smaller than the threshold value T2 (NO in S206), the information processing device 1 calculates the length of the welding rod object 42 (S208). This length is obtained as the distance between pos_e1 and pos_e2, that is, edge_distance.

[0048] Next, the information processing device 1 determines whether the length of the welding rod object 42 is equal to or less than a preset threshold T3 (S209). Note that the threshold T3 is set to a value (e.g., 20.0 mm) indicating a welding rod length at which it is not appropriate to continue the welding process.

[0049] If it is determined in step S209 that the length of the welding rod object 42 is equal to or less than the threshold value T3 (YES in S209), the information processing device 1 stops the welding process that has been executed (S207). As described above, in the present embodiment, the welding process is stopped when the length of the welding rod object 42 becomes inappropriate for the welding process. Thereafter, the information processing device 1 returns to step S201 and repeats the subsequent processes.

[0050] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S209 that the length of the welding rod object 42 is greater than the threshold value T3 (NO in S209), the information processing device 1 returns to step S201 without stopping the welding process, and repeats the subsequent processes.

[0051] By repeatedly executing the welding rod shortening process, the welding process is started / stopped depending on the distance between the distance determination object 44 and the base metal object 43, and when the welding process is executed, the welding rod object 42 is corrected to be shorter. This makes it possible to simulate in virtual space the phenomenon of the welding rod shortening during the welding process.

[0052] If a method for directly determining the distance between the tip of the welding rod object 42 and the base material object 43 is adopted instead of using the distance determination object 44, the tip is an area made up of multiple points, and so it becomes unclear which of the points making up the tip should be used to determine the distance between the base material object 43 and the tip. By introducing the distance determination object 44 for determining the distance to the base material object 43, as in this embodiment, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of such a problem.

[0053] Furthermore, because the distance judgment object 44 is a separate object from the welding rod object 42, if the welding rod object 42 becomes shorter as the welding process is performed, the distance between the tip of the welding rod object 42 and the base material object 43 cannot be appropriately obtained unless the distance judgment object 44 is moved accordingly. Therefore, in this embodiment, the distance judgment object 44 is moved so as to follow the tip of the welding rod object 42 that has moved toward the base end due to the shortening. This makes it possible to position the distance judgment object 44 at the tip of the shortened welding rod object 42, and therefore the distance between the tip of the welding rod object 42 and the base material object 43 can be appropriately obtained using the distance judgment object 44.

[0054] (Embodiment 2) In the second embodiment, the information processing device and HMD in the first embodiment are configured as a single device. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a welding training system in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, welding training system 200 in this embodiment is configured as an HMD, and includes information processing unit 201 and display unit 202. Information processing unit 201 corresponds to information processing device 1 in the first embodiment, and display unit 202 corresponds to display unit 21. Furthermore, welding training system 200 is communicably connected to input device 3 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0055] The information processing unit 201 executes the same processing as the information processing device 1 in the first embodiment, and displays the status of the welding work in the virtual space on the display unit 202. As a result, in the present embodiment, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0056] (Other embodiments) In each of the above embodiments, a head-mounted display is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other wearable devices such as a glasses-type display may also be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1. Information processing equipment 11 Input information acquisition section 12 Position calculation section 13 Distance determination unit 14 Welding Processing Execution Department 15 Welding rod length correction section 16 Correction Value Database 17 Distance judgment object movement part 18 Image generation unit 19 Display control unit 2. Head-mounted display 21 Display section 3 Input Devices 41 Torch Object 42 Welding Rod Object 43 Base Material Object 44 Distance Judgment Object 45 Base end object 100,200 Welding Training System

Claims

1. A welding training system that supports training of welding work by presenting a welding work situation to a trainee in a virtual space, a determination unit that determines a distance between a tip end of a welding rod object in the virtual space used for the welding work and a base material object based on a distance between the base material object and a point object for distance determination that is arranged at the tip end of the welding rod object in the virtual space; a welding processing unit that performs welding processing in the virtual space when the determined distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value; A welding training system comprising:

2. A welding training method for supporting training of welding work by presenting a welding work situation in a virtual space to a trainee, comprising: determining a distance between a tip end of a welding rod object in the virtual space used for the welding work and a base material object based on a distance between a point object for distance determination that is located at the tip end of the welding rod object in the virtual space and the base material object; A welding training method, characterized in that, when the determined distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, a welding process is performed in the virtual space.

3. A program for causing a computer to function as a welding training device that supports training in welding work by presenting a welding work situation to a trainee in a virtual space, a determination unit that determines a distance between a tip end of a welding rod object in the virtual space used for the welding work and a base material object based on a distance between the base material object and a point object for distance determination that is arranged at the tip end of the welding rod object in the virtual space; and a welding processing unit that performs welding processing in the virtual space when the determined distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. A program to function as a

Images