Remote control training device

Abstract

To provide a remote control training device that can increase the safety of training the operation of a remote controller.SOLUTION: A remote control training device 1 includes: an operation unit working device attached to an operation unit of a heavy machine 100; a first remote controller 10 having a first operation unit 110; a second remote controller 20 having a second operation unit 210; a switch device for switching the connection destination of the operation unit working device between the first remote controller 10 and the second remote controller 20; and a controller. The controller includes: a first operation acquisition unit for acquiring a move of the first operation unit 110; a second operation acquisition unit for acquiring a move of the second operation unit 210; and an operation instructing unit for causing the operation unit working device so that the operation unit will make the same move as the move of the first operation unit 110 acquired by the first operation acquisition unit or the move of the second operation unit 210 acquired by the second operation acquisition unit according to a switching operation of the switch device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote control training device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in heavy machinery such as power shovels, an operator sits in the driver's seat and operates an operating lever to perform work such as excavation and transport. Meanwhile, a remote control device has been proposed that allows the operator to operate the operating lever from a remote location in places that are difficult for the operator to access, such as dangerous areas during disasters (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-168784 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to operate heavy machinery using a remote control device, training is required that differs from that required for operating heavy machinery from within the vehicle. Furthermore, when conducting remote control training, it is necessary to enhance safety to prevent the heavy machinery from being operated by mistake.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control training device that can improve the safety of training in operating a remote control device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a remote control training device comprising: an operation unit operation device attached to an operation unit of a heavy machine having a predetermined movable state and operating the operation unit; a first remote control device having a first operation unit having the same movable state as the operation unit; a second remote control device having a second operation unit having the same movable state as the operation unit; a switching device having a first switching unit that switches the connection target of the operation unit operation device between the first remote control device and the second remote control device; and a control unit that controls the operation of the operation unit operation device, the first remote control device, and the second remote control device, wherein the control unit comprises a first action acquisition unit that acquires the movement of the first operation unit, a second action acquisition unit that acquires the movement of the second operation unit, and an action instruction unit that operates the operation unit operation device so that the operation unit moves in the same movement as the movement of the first operation unit acquired by the first action acquisition unit or the movement of the second operation unit acquired by the second action acquisition unit, in accordance with the switching operation of the switching device.

[0007] Furthermore, it is preferable that the remote control training device further comprises a status detection unit that detects status information including the tilting state and / or vibration state of the heavy equipment, and that the first remote control device and / or the second remote control device further comprise a seat on which the operator sits and a seat movable unit that tilts and / or vibrates the seat, and that the control unit further comprises a seat movable control unit that acquires the status information detected by the status detection unit and moves the seat movable unit based on the acquired status information.

[0008] Furthermore, it is preferable that the remote control training device further includes a first operating unit operating device attached to the first operating unit and operating the first operating unit, the switching device further includes a second switching unit that connects or disconnects the first operating unit operating device and the second remote control device, and the operation instruction unit operates the first operating unit operating device so that the first operating unit moves in the same movement as the movement of the second operating unit acquired by the second operation acquisition unit when the first operating unit operating device and the second remote control device are connected by the second switching unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the remote control training device of the present invention, the safety of training in operating a remote control device can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a remote control training device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout of a remote control training device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a first remote control device according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the remote control training device of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The remote control training device 1 is used when training is given to operate heavy machinery such as a power shovel or a wheel loader using a remote control device. The remote control training device 1 includes an operation unit operating device (not shown), a status detection unit (not shown), a trainee control device 10 as a first remote control device, a first operation unit operating device (not shown) attached to the trainee control device 10, an instructor control device 20 as a second remote control device, a switching device (not shown), a server 40 including a control unit, and a display 50 as a display unit.

[0012] The operation unit operating device is attached to an operation unit (for example, an operation lever, a handle, or various switches) of heavy equipment having a predetermined movable state. The operation unit operating device is equipped with various mechanisms (motors, link mechanisms, etc., not shown) that operate these operation units (tilting of an operation lever, rotation of a handle, pressing of a switch, etc.) in response to operation of a remote control device (trainee control device 10 or instructor control device 20) described below.

[0013] The status detection unit is attached to the heavy equipment and detects the status information of the heavy equipment. The status detection unit is composed of various sensors and cameras, and detects the tilting state and vibration of the heavy equipment (cockpit) as status information. The cameras serving as the status detection unit include cameras installed from the cockpit facing the work area and cameras installed facing various instruments in the cockpit, and capture images of the work area and instruments as status information.

[0014] The trainee control device 10 is installed in a location away from heavy machinery, such as a training facility for remote control device training. The trainee control device 10 includes a first operation unit 110 that has the same movable state as the operation unit, and an operation state detection unit that detects the operation state of the first operation unit 110. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the first operation unit 110 includes a remote control lever 111 that exhibits the same movable state as the operation lever of the heavy machinery, and a remote control switch 112 that exhibits the same movable state as the electrical equipment-related switch of the heavy machinery. The operation state detection unit is composed of various sensors and detects the operation state of the first operation unit 110 (such as the tilt state of the operation lever and the rotation angle of the operation handle).

[0015] In this embodiment, the trainee control device 10 includes a seat 120 and a seat movable part 130 disposed below the seat 120, as shown in FIG. The seating section 120 has a structure simulating the operator's seat of a heavy machine, and the first operating section 110 is attached to this seating section 120.

[0016] The seating section movable unit 130 is disposed between the seating section 120 and the floor surface. The seating section movable unit 130 moves the seating section 120 under the control of a control unit, which will be described later. More specifically, the seating section movable unit 130 moves the seating section 120 to reproduce the state of a cockpit in a heavy machine, based on state information detected by a state detection unit installed in the heavy machine. That is, when the cockpit of the heavy machine tilts, the seating section movable unit 130 moves the seating section 120 so that the seating section 120 is in the same tilted state as the shape and state of the cockpit of the heavy machine. Furthermore, when the cockpit of the heavy machine vibrates, the seating section movable unit 130 vibrates the seating section 120 so that the seating section 120 is in the same vibration state as the vibration state of the cockpit of the heavy machine. In this embodiment, the seat movable section 130 supports the seat on four axes, allowing the seat to move up and down, tilt forward and backward, tilt left and right, and rotate.

[0017] The first operation unit operating device is attached to the first operation unit 110. The first operation unit operating device has the same configuration as the operation unit operating device. The first operation unit operating device has various mechanisms that operate the first operation unit in response to the operation of the instructor control device 20, which will be described later.

[0018] The instructor control device 20, like the trainee control device 10, is installed in a location away from heavy machinery, such as a training facility for remote control device training. In this embodiment, the instructor control device 20 is installed behind the trainee control device 10 in the same location as the trainee control device 10. The instructor control device 20 may also be installed in a different location from the trainee control device 10. In this case, a display device that displays a video of the trainee control device 10 is installed at the location where the instructor control device 20 is installed.

[0019] The instructor's control device 20 includes a second control unit 210 that has the same movable state as the heavy equipment's control unit and the first control unit 110 of the trainee's control device 10, and an operation status detection unit. In this embodiment, the instructor's control device 20 is configured in a box shape without a seat or movable seat unit, as shown in FIG. 2, and is used by being placed on a table or the like. Like the first control unit 110, the second control unit 210 includes a remote control lever 211 that exhibits the same movable state as the heavy equipment's control lever, and a remote control switch 212 that exhibits the same movable state as the heavy equipment's electrical equipment switch. The operation status detection unit is composed of various sensors and detects the operation status of the second control unit 210 (such as the tilt state of the control lever and the rotation angle of the control handle).

[0020] The switching device includes a first switching unit that switches the connection target of the operation unit operating device attached to the operation unit of the heavy equipment between a trainee control device or an instructor control device, and a second switching unit that connects or disconnects the first operation unit operating device and the instructor control device 20. In this embodiment, the switching device is configured integrally with the instructor control device 20. In other words, it can be said that the instructor control device 20 is equipped with the switching device.

[0021] The server 40 is configured by a terminal such as a personal computer (PC), and may be configured by one computer or multiple computers. When multiple computers are used, these computers are connected via a communication network N, for example. The server 40 may also be configured as a virtual server (virtual machine) provided on a cloud, for example.

[0022] The server 40 is connected to the operation unit operating device, the trainee control device 10, the instructor control device 20, etc. via the communication network N, and includes a control unit, a storage unit, and a communication IF (interface) unit. The control unit is an information processing unit (CPU) that calculates and processes information, and performs overall control of the server 40. The control unit executes various functions in cooperation with the above-mentioned hardware by appropriately reading and executing the operating system (OS) and various application programs stored in the storage unit.

[0023] The control unit includes a first action acquisition unit, a second action acquisition unit, an action instruction unit, and a seat movement control unit.

[0024] The first action acquisition unit acquires the action of the first operation unit 110 via the trainee control device 10 (operation state detection unit). The second action acquisition unit acquires the action of the second operation unit 210 via the instructor control device 20 (operation state detection unit).

[0025] The operation instruction unit operates the operation unit operating device in accordance with the switching operation of the switching device so that the operation unit moves in the same movement as the movement of the first operation unit 110 acquired by the first operation acquisition unit or the movement of the second operation unit 210 acquired by the second operation acquisition unit. In addition, when the first operating unit operating device and the instructor's control device 20 are connected by the second switching unit, the operation instruction unit operates the first operating unit operating device so that the first operating unit 110 moves in the same manner as the movement of the second operating unit 210 acquired by the second operation acquisition unit.

[0026] The seating portion movement control unit acquires the state information (tilting state and vibration state) of the heavy equipment detected by a state detection unit (sensor) attached to the heavy equipment, and moves the seating portion movement unit 130 based on this acquired state information.

[0027] Display 50 is disposed in front of trainee control device 10. Display 50 displays an image captured by a camera serving as a status detection unit attached to the heavy equipment.

[0028] According to the remote control training device 1 of this embodiment described above, a trainee who is training in remote control operation using the trainee control device 10 can practice operating the remote control device under the supervision of an instructor who uses the instructor control device 20, and can acquire operation of the remote control device in a highly safe manner.

[0029] Furthermore, by operating the switching device (first switching unit), the connection state between the operation unit operating device that operates the operation unit of the heavy equipment and the trainee control device 10 or the instructor control device 20 can be switched, allowing the instructor to check the operation status of the trainee and, in dangerous situations, operate the operation unit operating device using the instructor control device 20. This further improves the safety of the remote control training device 1.

[0030] Furthermore, by configuring the trainee control device 10 to include a seating section 120 and a movable seating section 130, the tilting and vibration states of the cockpit of a heavy machine can be reproduced on the trainee control device 10, allowing training to be carried out at the same intervals as when actually riding on a heavy machine.

[0031] Furthermore, by configuring instructor control device 20 in a box shape, an instructor can monitor training by placing instructor control device 20 on a table, for example. Also, the manufacturing cost of remote control training device 1 can be reduced.

[0032] Furthermore, if the operation unit operating devices are attached to various types of heavy machinery and the switching device is provided with a function for switching between the operation unit operating devices to be remotely controlled, it becomes easy to learn how to operate various types of heavy machinery.

[0033] Furthermore, if the instructor's control device 20 is configured to include an emergency stop switch that stops the operation of the control unit operating device, the operation of the heavy equipment's control unit can be stopped in the event of an emergency, further enhancing safety.

[0034] Furthermore, when a first operation unit operating device is attached to the first operation unit 110 of the trainee control device 10, the second switching unit can be used to connect the first operation unit operating device to the instructor control device 20, transmitting the instructor's operation of the second operation unit 210 to the trainee control device 10, allowing the trainee to experience the instructor's operation. This allows the trainee to acquire advanced remote control device operating skills.

[0035] In addition, by storing various images and the operation history of the trainee control device 10 in the server 40, the trainee's skill acquisition level can be evaluated.

[0036] In addition, the safety of the remote control training device 1 can be further enhanced by configuring the control unit to include a location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of the heavy equipment, and an emergency stop unit that stops the operation of the operating unit operating device or the operation of the heavy equipment when the location information of the heavy equipment acquired by the location information acquisition unit falls outside a predetermined setting area.

[0037] In addition, the safety of the remote control training device 1 can be further enhanced by configuring the control unit to include an abnormality detection unit that stops the operation of the operation unit operating device when the status information of the heavy equipment (e.g., tilting status information) detected by the status detection unit exceeds a predetermined safe state range, or operates the operation unit operating device to return to the safe state range.

[0038] By improving the safety of the remote control training device 1 as described above, it becomes possible for one instructor to instruct multiple trainees, for example.

[0039] A preferred embodiment of the remote control training device 1 of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate. For example, in this embodiment, the trainee control device 10 is configured to include the seat 120 and the movable seat part 130, but this is not limited to this. That is, the trainee control device may be a box-shaped device like the instructor control device 20. Furthermore, the instructor control device may be configured to include a seat and a movable seat part.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case where an instructor uses the remote control training device 1 to train a trainee has been described, but this is not limited to this. For example, the remote control training device may be used when an experienced operator monitors an inexperienced operator during construction work at an actual site. In other words, training using the remote control training device includes not only training at a training site, but also construction work that an operator performs at an actual site with the aim of improving their skills. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 Remote control training device 10 Trainee Control Unit (First Remote Control Unit) 20 Instructor control device (second remote control device) 110 1st operation section 111 Remote control lever 112 Remote control switch 120 seating area 130 Movable seating part 210 2nd operation section 211 Remote control lever 212 Remote control switch

Claims

1. an operation unit operating device attached to an operation unit of a heavy machine having a predetermined movable state and for operating the operation unit; a first remote control device including a first operation unit having the same movable form as the operation unit; a second remote control device including a second operating unit having the same movable form as the operating unit; a switching device having a first switching unit that switches a connection target of the operation unit operation device between the first remote control device and the second remote control device; a control unit that controls operations of the operation unit operating device, the first remote control device, and the second remote control device, The control unit a first motion acquisition unit that acquires a motion of the first operation unit; a second motion acquisition unit that acquires a motion of the second operation unit; an operation instruction unit that operates the operation unit operation device so that the operation unit moves in the same motion as the movement of the first operation unit acquired by the first operation acquisition unit or the movement of the second operation unit acquired by the second operation acquisition unit, in response to a switching operation of the switching device; Equipped with a first operation unit actuation device attached to the first operation unit and configured to move the first operation unit; the switching device further includes a second switching unit that connects or disconnects the first operation unit operation device and the second remote control device, The operation instruction unit is a remote control training device that, when the first operation unit operation device and the second remote control device are connected by the second switching unit, operates the first operation unit operation device so that the first operation unit moves in the same manner as the movement of the second operation unit acquired by the second operation acquisition unit.

2. Further provided is a state detection unit that detects state information including a tilt state and / or a vibration state of the heavy equipment, The first remote control device and / or the second remote control device, a seating section on which a pilot sits; and a seating portion movable portion that tilts and / or vibrates the seating portion, The control unit 2. The remote control training device according to claim 1, further comprising a seat movement control unit that acquires the state information detected by the state detection unit and moves the seat movement unit based on the acquired state information.

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