Verification support device and computer-readable recording medium

Abstract

A verification support device according to the present disclosure comprises: a transmission unit that transmits, to an interactive-type response device, information related to a specific operation generated in an industrial machine, machine information related to the industrial machine at the generation of the specific operation, and a verification purpose related to the specific operation; a reception unit that receives, from the interactive-type response device, change information which is created by the interactive-type response device on the basis of the information related to the specific operation, the machine information, and the verification purpose and which is related to the change of the machine information required for achieving the verification purpose; a selection unit that determines a verification priority for the change information on the basis of the change information received by the reception unit, the verification purpose, and the machine information; and an output unit that outputs the change information and the verification priority.

Description

Verification support device and computer-readable recording medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a verification support device and a computer-readable recording medium.

[0002] There are cases where attempts are made to solve a specific problem (such as the generation of an alarm, the occurrence of a machining defect, or machining) that has occurred in an industrial machine such as a machine tool or a robot. At this time, verification may be performed using the industrial machine or a simulation device while changing the machine settings, machining program, etc., with the aim of identifying the cause of the problem, resolving it, or improving it (see, for example, Patent Document 1). If the purpose of this verification is difficult to achieve, repeated trial and error may be performed by finely changing the settings of the industrial machine, etc.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-063240

[0004] When users change settings or programs during verification, the amount of time and effort required for verification varies greatly depending on the user's experience and knowledge. Furthermore, when it is difficult to pinpoint the cause, the number of verification conditions (changes to settings) tends to increase, creating the challenge of having to consider the conditions more time and effort. Support technology that reduces the burden of verification work is desired in the field.

[0005] The verification support device according to the present disclosure creates changes to machine information, such as settings and program commands for the industrial machine, for specific operations that occur in the industrial machine using an interactive response device equipped with a generative AI such as a large-scale language model (LLM). Then, a simulation is performed for the operation of the industrial machine with the machine information changed based on the created change information, thereby enabling verification without relying on experience or knowledge, thereby solving the above-mentioned problem. The change information used for verification is prioritized based on the purpose of the verification, information contained in the industrial machine manual, and past verification results for the industrial machine. By performing a simulation taking the priority into account, the number of required verifications is reduced, thereby shortening the verification time.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a verification support device including: a transmitting unit that transmits, to an interactive response device, information related to a specific operation that occurs in an industrial machine, machine information related to the industrial machine at the time the specific operation occurred, and a verification purpose related to the specific operation; a receiving unit that receives from the interactive response device change information created by the interactive response device based on the information related to the specific operation, the machine information, and the verification purpose, the change information related to changes to the machine information necessary to achieve the verification purpose; a selecting unit that determines a verification priority for the change information based on the change information received by the receiving unit, the verification purpose, and the machine information; and an output unit that outputs the change information and the verification priority.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of a verification support device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing schematic functions of the verification support device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing examples of templates, which is a schematic diagram showing examples of a plurality of templates stored in a template storage unit. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing schematic functions of a verification support device according to a modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing schematic functions of a verification support device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a template.

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions of those components may be omitted.

[0009] In this application, "based on XX" means "based on at least XX," and includes cases where it is based on other elements in addition to XX. Furthermore, "based on XX" is not limited to cases where XX is used directly, but also includes cases where it is based on XX that has been calculated or processed. "XX" is any element (for example, any information).

[0010] 1 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram showing the main parts of a verification support device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The verification support device 1 according to this embodiment can be implemented on a computer, such as a personal computer attached to a control device, a personal computer connected to the control device via a wired / wireless network, a cell computer, a fog computer 6, or a cloud server 7. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the verification support device 1 is implemented on a computer connected via a network to a control device that controls industrial machinery.

[0011] The CPU 11 included in the verification support device 1 according to this embodiment is a processor that controls the entire verification support device 1. The CPU 11 reads a system program stored in the ROM 12 via the bus 22 and controls the entire verification support device 1 in accordance with the system program. The RAM 13 temporarily stores temporary calculation data, display data, various data acquired from outside, and the like.

[0012] The nonvolatile memory 14 is configured, for example, by a battery-backed memory (not shown) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and maintains its stored state even when the verification support device 1 is powered off. The nonvolatile memory 14 stores programs and data read from an external device 72 via the interface 15, programs and data input via the input device 71, programs and data acquired from the industrial machine 4 or other devices via the network 5, etc. The programs and data stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 may be expanded into the RAM 13 when executed / used. In addition, various system programs such as known analysis programs are written in the ROM 12 in advance.

[0013] The interface 15 is an interface for connecting the CPU 11 of the verification support device 1 to an external device 72 such as a USB device. For example, system programs, setting data, etc. are read from the external device 72. In addition, programs and setting data created and edited within the verification support device 1 can be stored in external storage means via the external device 72.

[0014] The interface 20 is an interface for connecting the CPU 11 of the verification support device 1 to a wired or wireless network 5. The network 5 may communicate using technologies such as serial communication such as RS-485, Ethernet (registered trademark), optical communication, wireless LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc. At least one industrial machine 4 to be verified, an interactive response device 2 that responds to inquiries from users, a fog computer 6, a cloud server 7, etc. are connected to the network 5, and data is exchanged between the network 5 and the verification support device 1.

[0015] The display device 70 displays data and the like obtained as a result of executing various data and programs loaded into memory, output via the interface 17. An input device 71, which is comprised of a keyboard, pointing device, voice input device, etc., passes instructions, data, etc. based on operations by an operator to the CPU 11 via the interface 18.

[0016] The interactive response device 2 is configured as a device that returns a response sentence in response to a predetermined sentence. The interactive response device 2 includes a large-scale language model (LLM) that has learned a response sentence for the predetermined sentence. This model can be a known model, such as a Transformer model. The large-scale language model learns, for each text, the probability that the given sentence will be a response to the given sentence when the given sentence is input. It also learns the probability that each of the given texts will be followed by other texts. By repeating this learning process, the large-scale language model, when input, comes to output a text string with a high probability as a response to the given sentence. Depending on how the learning process learns documents that will be responses to the given sentence, the interactive response device 2 can be used for purposes such as dialogue, question and answer session, text summarization, text editing, text translation, text conversion, text modification, text optimization, text interpretation / detection, recognition, prediction, judgment, code generation, image generation, and comprehensive judgment.

[0017] The verification support device 1 according to the present disclosure is assumed to be connected to an interactive response device 2 via a network 5. This interactive response device 2 may be one that has learned various documents including manuals for industrial machines 4 and reports recording problems that have occurred in the industrial machines 4 in the past, the causes of those problems, and solutions to those problems. By narrowing down the information used for learning, it is possible to prepare an interactive response device 2 that returns responses to inquiries with a certain degree of accuracy.

[0018] 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating functions of the verification support apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Each function of the verification support apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is realized by the CPU 11 of the verification support apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 executing a system program and controlling the operation of each unit of the verification support apparatus 1.

[0019] The verification support device 1 of this embodiment includes a specific action information acquisition unit 100, a machine information acquisition unit 110, a verification objective acquisition unit 120, a prompt generation unit 130, a transmission unit 140, a reception unit 150, a selection unit 160, and an output unit 170. The RAM 13 to the nonvolatile memory 14 of the verification support device 1 also include a template storage unit 200, which is an area for pre-storing templates related to prompts, and a priority rule storage unit 210, which is an area for storing priority rules, which are rules for assigning priorities.

[0020] The specific operation information acquisition unit 100 acquires information related to specific operations that have occurred in the industrial machine 4. Specific operations include noteworthy operations that have occurred in the industrial machine 4, and are mainly operations in which some problematic event has occurred. For example, this may include stopping of the spindle while machining a workpiece, stopping of the feed axis, generation of an alarm in a control device, generation of an alarm in a peripheral device, generation of an alarm when starting up the industrial machine 4, etc. Specific operations also include noteworthy events that have occurred as a result of the operation of the industrial machine 4. For example, the machining error of the machined workpiece is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold err [mm], the occurrence of a predetermined machining defect, the machining cycle exceeding a predetermined threshold time, etc. cycleThe specific motion information acquisition unit 100 may acquire the specific motion information from a user input via the input device 71 or a control panel (not shown) of the industrial machine 4. The specific motion information acquisition unit 100 may acquire the specific motion information from a user input via the input device 71 or a control panel (not shown) of the industrial machine 4. The specific motion information acquisition unit 100 may also acquire the specific motion information from a combination of these. For example, when a specific machining defect occurs, the specific motion information acquisition unit 100 acquires information from a user, including the details of the machining defect and information that uniquely identifies the workpiece on which the machining defect occurred. Then, based on the acquired information that uniquely identifies the workpiece, the specific motion information acquisition unit 100 may acquire image data of the machined workpiece captured by an imaging device (not shown) attached to the industrial machine 4 from the industrial machine 4, and treat this information as information related to the specific motion. The specific motion information acquisition unit 100 outputs the acquired information related to the specific motion of the industrial machine 4 to the prompt generation unit 130.

[0021] The machine information acquisition unit 110 acquires machine information related to the industrial machine 4 when the specific operation acquired by the specific operation information acquisition unit 100 occurred. The machine information may include, for example, the model of the industrial machine 4, the version number of the software installed on the industrial machine 4, the mechanical configuration of the industrial machine 4 (number of axes, motor drawing number used, machine name, drawing number, manufacturer), parameters of the control device that controls the industrial machine 4, alarm information occurring on the industrial machine 4, various sensor values ​​(temperature, vibration, etc.) attached to the industrial machine 4, the machining program that was running on the industrial machine 4, the ladder program, information on I / O devices connected to the industrial machine 4 (allocation, drawing number, manufacturer), the type of coolant being used on the industrial machine 4, tool information, the username of the user using the industrial machine 4, data (still image data, video image data, etc.) captured by an attached camera attached to the industrial machine 4, and the machining history of the industrial machine 4 (operation information, number of machining operations). The machine information acquisition unit 110 may acquire machine information recorded at the time the specific operation occurred on the industrial machine 4. Alternatively, it may acquire machine information recorded within a predetermined range before and after the time the specific operation occurred. The machine information acquisition unit 110 outputs the acquired machine information to the prompt generation unit 130 .

[0022] The verification purpose acquisition unit 120 acquires from the user the purpose of the verification of the specific operation acquired by the specific operation information acquisition unit 100. The verification purpose is the purpose (target) of the verification work to be carried out from now on for the specific operation that has occurred. For example, for a specific operation that has generated an alarm in the industrial machine 4, the verification purpose can be to resolve the alarm. Also, for a specific operation that has generated a machining error in the workpiece after machining that is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value err [mm], the verification purpose can be to suppress the machining error to less than err [mm]. Furthermore, if the machining cycle is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold time, cycle For a specific operation that is more than [sec], the machining cycle is time cycleThe verification objective is to keep the time to less than [sec]. The verification objective may be data represented by a character string, a numerical value, a voice, or the like. The verification objective acquisition unit 120 may acquire the verification objective from a user's input from the input device 71 or an operation panel (not shown) of the industrial machine 4. The verification objective acquisition unit 120 outputs the acquired verification objective to the prompt generation unit 130.

[0023] The prompt generation unit 130 generates a prompt that can be input to the interactive response system 2, based on the information related to the specific action acquired by the specific action information acquisition unit 100, the machine information acquired by the machine information acquisition unit 110, and the verification purpose acquired by the verification purpose acquisition unit 120. The prompt generation unit 130 may assign prompt identification information that allows the generated prompt to be uniquely identified. The prompt generation unit 130 may create a prompt by applying the information related to the specific action, the machine information, and the verification purpose to a prompt template corresponding to, for example, inquiry information.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of multiple templates stored in the template storage unit 200. In the example of FIG. 3, the template storage unit 200 stores multiple templates 1, 2, .... Each template is associated with multiple keywords related to specific actions. The prompt generation unit 130 searches for templates stored in the template storage unit 200 using words included in the information related to the specific action acquired by the specific action information acquisition unit 100 as keywords. Then, the prompt generation unit 130 reads out the template with the highest keyword match as the template to be used to create a prompt. The read-out template is then used to generate a prompt. The generated prompt is then transmitted to the transmission unit 140.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a template. In the example of FIG. 4, the template includes information keys for embedding predetermined information at predetermined positions in the prompt sentence. The prompt generation unit 130 generates a prompt by embedding corresponding information at each information key position. In the example of FIG. 4, information related to a specific operation is embedded at the position of the information key "SPEC_ACT." Furthermore, a verification purpose is embedded at the position of "VER_PURP." The model number of the industrial machine 4 is embedded at the position of "MODEL_NUM," the number of axes of the industrial machine 4 is embedded at the position of "NUM_OF_AXES," the model number of a tool used in the industrial machine 4 is embedded at the position of "TOOL_NUM," and the machining parameters of the industrial machine 4 are embedded at the positions of "PARAM1" and "PARAM2." The template may be provided with information keys corresponding to information calculated by performing a predetermined calculation based on predetermined machine information.

[0026] Such templates are created in advance to match the format of inquiries to the interactive response apparatus 2. For example, if the interactive response apparatus 2 responds to inquiries in the form of a list of items, it is desirable that the templates be for generating prompts that list information related to the specific operation, machine information, and verification purpose, as exemplified in Fig. 4. Furthermore, if the interactive response apparatus 2 responds to inquiries in the form of natural language, it is desirable that the templates be for generating prompts in the form of natural sentences. It is desirable that each template be created so as to include machine information and information calculated from the machine information that will be useful when creating a response to an inquiry about the verification purpose of an expected specific operation.

[0027] The transmission unit 140 transmits the prompt generated by the prompt generation unit 130 to the interactive response device 2. Upon receiving the prompt from the transmission unit 140, the interactive response device 2 generates a response to the prompt and transmits the generated response to the verification support device 1.

[0028] The receiving unit 150 receives the response transmitted from the interactive response apparatus 2. Then, the receiving unit 150 outputs the received response to the selecting unit 160.

[0029] The selection unit 160 extracts at least one piece of change information of the machine information included in the response from the interactive response device 2 received by the receiving unit 150. The change information of the machine information is created by the interactive response device 2 based on information related to the specific operation, the machine information, and the verification purpose. The change information may instruct a change of at least one piece of machine information that is estimated to be necessary to achieve the verification purpose of the industrial machine 4. For example, an instruction to change the values ​​of one or more machining parameters may be change information. An instruction to change a tool may also be change information. The change information may be extracted using, for example, well-known pattern matching or natural language analysis techniques.

[0030] The selection unit 160 determines the verification priority of the extracted change information based on the verification purpose and the machine information. For example, a priority order for prioritizing changes to the machine information may be set for each verification purpose. The selection unit 160 may then assign a verification priority to each change information based on the item of machine information to be changed in each change information. At this time, the selection unit 160 may further determine the priority for prioritizing changes to each machine information based on the value of specified machine information. For example, assume that the value of a diagnostic parameter, which is one piece of machine information, indicates which machining parameter has a problem. In this case, the verification priority of change information that changes a machining parameter that is likely to be the cause may be set high depending on the value of the diagnostic parameter. Rules for determining such verification priorities may be stored in advance as priority rules in the priority rule storage unit 210. The priority rules may be created in advance based on past verification results of the industrial machine 4 and stored in the priority rule storage unit 210. Furthermore, in past verification work related to a specific operation, the type of changes made to the industrial machine 4 that resolved the specific operation may be recorded as a verification work history, and the verification priority may be determined so that change information including changes that frequently achieve a predetermined verification objective is given a higher priority. Furthermore, if the change information instructs a change to a parameter value, a probability distribution of parameter values ​​when the verification objective was achieved in the past may be calculated, and the verification priority may be determined so that a parameter value with a higher probability is given a higher verification priority. As past verification results, past verification results of industrial machines other than the industrial machine 4 may be used. Furthermore, past verification results of multiple industrial machines may be used. The results of verification work related to a specific operation of other industrial machines can also be fully utilized in evaluating the verification work of the industrial machine 4. The selection unit 160 refers to the priority rules stored in the priority rule storage unit 210 and determines the verification priority of each piece of change information based on the rules. The selection unit 160 outputs each piece of change information and the verification priority determined for the change information to the output unit 170.

[0031] The output unit 170 outputs each piece of change information for which the selection unit 160 has determined a verification priority to the user, together with the verification priority. The output unit 170 may be configured to display and output to the display device 70. When outputting the change information to the display device 70 or the display device of the industrial machine 4, the output unit 170 may arrange the change information in descending order of the verification priority determined by the selection unit 160. Furthermore, the output unit 170 may be configured to display and output to a display device (not shown) of the industrial machine 4 via the network 5. Furthermore, the output unit 170 may be configured to transmit and output to another computer, such as the fog computer 6 or the cloud server 7, via the network 5.

[0032] Thereafter, the worker changes, for example, parameters or equipment related to the industrial machine 4 based on the output change information with a high verification priority, and verifies the operation of the industrial machine 4. The change information is automatically presented by the interactive response device 2. The interactive response device 2 has studied various documents, for example, including manuals for the industrial machine 4 and reports recording problems that have occurred in the industrial machine 4 in the past, the causes of those problems, and solutions to those problems. Therefore, by using the change information proposed by the interactive response device 2, it is possible to proceed with verification work with a high probability of achieving the verification goal. Furthermore, because the verification priority of the change information determined by the selection unit 160 is determined based on past verification results, proceeding with the verification work in accordance with this is expected to efficiently achieve the verification goal for the operation of the industrial machine 4.

[0033] On the other hand, a single verification operation based on the interactive response system 2 may not be able to solve a problem that has occurred in the industrial machine 4. For example, when the interactive response system 2 proposes multiple pieces of change information, the verification objective may not be achieved even if verification is performed based on all of the change information. In such a case, the selection unit 160 instructs the prompt generation unit 130 to create a prompt again and make an inquiry to the interactive response system 2. At this time, by indicating in the prompt any change information that has already been used in the verification operation and that did not achieve the verification objective, it is possible to prevent the interactive response system 2 from proposing the same change information again. For example, a prompt for a re-inquiry can be created by using the template illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0034] Furthermore, when verification work is performed based on the change information proposed by the interactive response device 2, the original verification purpose may not be achieved, and a new problematic specific action different from the originally set specific action may occur. Even in such a case, the verification support device 1 again queries the interactive response device 2. The specific action in the prompt used in this query may be changed to the new problematic specific action, and a new prompt may be created to query. When the specific action is changed, the verification priority for the response from the interactive response device 2 may be determined using past verification results related to the newly set specific action.

[0035] The verification support device 1 according to this embodiment, which has the above configuration, can perform verification at a predetermined level without relying on the user's experience or knowledge when verifying a specific operation that actually occurred in an industrial machine. This predetermined level is based on a report related to past operational verification of the industrial machine 4 used for learning the interactive response system 2. Furthermore, the verification support device 1 can reduce the effort required to consider verification conditions and shorten the verification time.

[0036] As a modified example of the verification support device 1 according to this embodiment, the verification support device 1 may be configured to support verification work related to specific operations that occur not only in the actual industrial machine 4 but also in a virtual industrial machine constructed on a computer. By configuring it in this manner, when a problematic specific operation occurs on the virtual industrial machine during simulation of the industrial machine on a control device or a computer, the verification support device 1 of this modified example can support the verification of that operation.

[0037] As another modification of the verification support device 1 according to this embodiment, the verification support device 1 may include a priority rule acquisition unit 190 as a function for acquiring priority rules to be stored in the priority rule storage unit 210, as illustrated in FIG. 5 . The priority rule acquisition unit 190 provides an interface for inputting priority rules to the display device 70 and acquires the priority rules input via the interface. The priority rule acquisition unit 190 may also provide an interface for changing or deleting priority rules already stored in the priority rule storage unit 210. The acquired priority rules are then stored in the priority rule storage unit 210. Such a configuration allows the user to register, modify, or delete priority rules as needed depending on the situation at the site and the characteristics of the industrial machine 4.

[0038] Second Embodiment A verification support apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. The verification support apparatus 1 according to this embodiment has the same hardware configuration as the verification support apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0039] 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating functions of the verification support apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. Each function of the verification support apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is realized by the CPU 11 of the verification support apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 executing a system program and controlling the operation of each unit of the verification support apparatus 1.

[0040] The verification support device 1 of this embodiment includes a specific action information acquisition unit 100, a machine information acquisition unit 110, a verification objective acquisition unit 120, a prompt generation unit 130, a transmission unit 140, a reception unit 150, a selection unit 160, and an output unit 170, as well as a simulation unit 180. The RAM 13 to the nonvolatile memory 14 of the verification support device 1 also include a template storage unit 200, which is an area for pre-storing templates related to prompts, and a priority rule storage unit 210, which is an area for storing priority rules, which are rules for assigning priorities.

[0041] The specific action information acquisition unit 100, machine information acquisition unit 110, verification objective acquisition unit 120, prompt generation unit 130, transmission unit 140, and reception unit 150 provided in the verification support device 1 of this embodiment have the same functions as those of the first embodiment.

[0042] Similar to the selection unit 160 according to the first embodiment, the selection unit 160 according to the present embodiment extracts at least one piece of change information from the machine information included in the response received by the receiving unit 150 from the interactive response system 2. The selection unit 160 according to the present embodiment also determines a verification priority for the extracted change information based on the verification purpose and the machine information. The selection unit 160 according to the present embodiment then outputs the change information to the simulation unit 180 in descending order of the determined verification priority, and instructs the simulation unit 180 to perform a simulation of the industrial machine 4 based on the machine information to which the change information has been applied.

[0043] The simulation unit 180 executes a simulation process related to the industrial machine 4 based on a command from the selection unit 160. When executing a simulation of the industrial machine 4, the simulation unit 180 acquires machine information of the industrial machine 4 from the machine information acquisition unit 110. Furthermore, based on the change information input from the selection unit 160, the simulation unit 180 changes the acquired machine information of the industrial machine 4. Then, the simulation unit 180 configures a virtual industrial machine based on the changed machine information. Thereafter, the simulation unit 180 executes a simulation using the virtual industrial machine and outputs the result to the selection unit 160.

[0044] The selection unit 160 determines whether the verification purpose has been achieved based on the results of the simulation process by the simulation unit 180. If the verification purpose has been achieved, the selection unit 160 outputs a message to that effect to the output unit 170. On the other hand, if the verification purpose has not been achieved, the selection unit 160 outputs change information with the next highest verification priority to the simulation unit 180 and instructs the simulation unit 180 to simulate the industrial machine 4 based on the machine information to which the change information has been applied. In this manner, the selection unit 160 repeats this process until the verification purpose is achieved or until simulations have been performed for all change information. Similar to the first embodiment, if the verification purpose has not been achieved or if a specific operation that becomes a new verification purpose has occurred, the selection unit 160 instructs the prompt generation unit 130 to regenerate a prompt and query the interactive response system 2 for the operation. Note that if the verification purpose has not been achieved even after querying the interactive response system 2 a predetermined number of times, or if no new change information has been output from the interactive response system 2, the selection unit 160 outputs a message to the output unit 170 that the verification purpose has not been achieved for all change information.

[0045] The output unit 170 according to this embodiment then outputs the simulation results sent from the selection unit 160 to the user together with the change information.

[0046] The verification support device 1 according to the present embodiment, which has the above-described configuration, can verify specific operations that actually occur in industrial machinery at a predetermined level without relying on the user's experience or knowledge. Furthermore, since changes to machine information that resolve specific operations are automatically verified using simulation, the effort required to consider verification conditions can be reduced, thereby reducing verification time.

[0047] [Other embodiments] In the above-described embodiments, the information relating to the specific operation acquired by the specific operation information acquisition unit 100, the machine information acquired by the machine information acquisition unit 110, the verification purpose acquired by the verification purpose acquisition unit 120, the manual for the industrial machine 4, and information relating to past verification results may be acquired from a user, the industrial machine 4, an external device 72 of the verification support device 1, etc. Alternatively, for example, a storage device may be provided in an external computer such as a fog computer 6 or a cloud server 7 connected via the network 5, and the above information may be acquired from there.

[0048] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Various additions, substitutions, modifications, partial deletions, etc. are possible in these embodiments without departing from the gist of the invention or the idea and intent of the present disclosure derived from the content described in the claims and their equivalents. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the order of each operation and the order of each process are shown as examples and are not limited to these. The same applies when numerical values ​​or mathematical expressions are used in the description of the above-described embodiments.

[0049] The following are supplementary notes related to embodiments of the present disclosure. (Supplementary Note 1) A verification support device (1) according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a transmitting unit (140) that transmits, to an interactive response device (2), information related to a specific operation that has occurred in an industrial machine (4), machine information related to the industrial machine (4) at the time the specific operation occurred, and a verification purpose related to the specific operation; a receiving unit (150) that receives, from the interactive response device (2), change information that has been created by the interactive response device (2) based on the information related to the specific operation, the machine information, and the verification purpose, the change information related to a change to the machine information that is necessary to achieve the verification purpose; a selecting unit (160) that determines a verification priority for the change information based on the change information received by the receiving unit (150), the verification purpose, and the machine information; and an output unit (170) that outputs the change information and the verification priority.

[0050] (Supplementary Note 2) A verification support device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure further includes a simulation unit (180) that performs a simulation of the industrial machine (4) configured based on the change information and notifies the selection unit (160) of the simulation results, the selection unit (160) instructs the simulation unit (180) to perform simulations in descending order of the verification priority determined by the selection unit (160), and the output unit (170) outputs the verification objective and at least one piece of change information that achieves the verification objective.

[0051] (Supplementary Note 3) The selection unit (160) included in the verification support device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure determines the verification priority based on past verification results related to at least one of the industrial machine (4) and other industrial machines (4). (Supplementary Note 4) The verification support device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure references past verification results related to at least one of the industrial machine (4) and other industrial machines (4) stored in an external device (72) or an external computer. (Supplementary Note 5) The verification support device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure further includes a priority rule acquisition unit (190) that receives priority rules used in determining the verification priority by the selection unit (160).

[0052] (Supplementary Note 6) When the verification task based on the change information results in the verification goal not being achieved, the verification support device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure makes a further inquiry to the interactive response device (2). (Supplementary Note 7) When the verification task based on the change information results in the verification goal not being achieved and another specific action different from the specific action occurs, the verification support device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure makes a further inquiry to the interactive response device (2) based on information related to the other specific action, the machine information, and the verification goal related to the other specific action.

[0053] (Supplementary Note 8) A verification support device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure further includes a verification purpose acquisition unit (120) that accepts the verification purpose by input of any one of voice, text, and screen operation. (Supplementary Note 9) In the verification support device (1) according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the industrial machine (4) is a virtual industrial machine on a machine operation simulation.

[0054] (Supplementary Note 9) A computer-readable recording medium according to one aspect of the present disclosure records a program that causes a computer to operate as: a transmitting unit (140) that transmits, to an interactive response device (2), information related to a specific operation that occurred in an industrial machine (4), machine information related to the industrial machine (4) at the time the specific operation occurred, and a verification purpose related to the specific operation; a receiving unit (150) that receives, from the interactive response device (2), change information that is created by the interactive response device (2) based on the information related to the specific operation, the machine information, and the verification purpose, and that is related to a change to the machine information that is necessary to achieve the verification purpose; a selecting unit (160) that determines a verification priority for the change information based on the change information received by the receiving unit (150), the verification purpose, and the machine information; and an output unit (170) that outputs the change information and the verification priority.

[0055] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Verification support device 2 Interactive response device 4 Industrial machine 5 Network 6 Fog computer 7 Cloud server 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Non-volatile memory 15, 17, 18, 20 Interface 22 Bus 70 Display device 71 Input device 72 External device 100 Specific action information acquisition unit 110 Machine information acquisition unit 120 Verification objective acquisition unit 130 Prompt generation unit 140 Transmission unit 150 Reception unit 160 Selection unit 170 Output unit 180 Simulation unit 190 Priority rule acquisition unit 200 Template storage unit 210 Priority rule storage unit

Claims

1. A verification support device, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits, to an interactive response device, information related to a specific operation that has occurred in an industrial machine, machine information related to the industrial machine when the specific operation has occurred, and a verification purpose related to the specific operation; a reception unit that receives, from the interactive response device, change information created by the interactive response device based on the information related to the specific operation, the machine information, and the verification purpose, the change information being related to a change in the machine information necessary for achieving the verification purpose; a selection unit that determines a verification priority for the change information based on the change information received by the reception unit, the verification purpose, and the machine information; and an output unit that outputs the change information and the verification priority.

2. The verification support device according to claim 1, further comprising a simulation unit that performs a simulation of the industrial machine set based on the change information and notifies a simulation result to the selection unit, wherein the selection unit instructs the simulation unit to perform a simulation in descending order of the verification priority determined by the selection unit, and the output unit outputs the verification purpose and at least one piece of the change information that has achieved the verification purpose.

3. The verification support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the selection unit determines the verification priority based on past verification results related to at least one of the industrial machine and other industrial machines.

4. The verification support device according to claim 3, which refers to past verification results related to at least one of the industrial machine and other industrial machines stored in an external device or an external computer.

5. The verification support device according to claim 1, further comprising a priority rule acquisition unit that receives a priority rule used for determining the verification priority in the selection unit.

6. The verification support device according to claim 1, which makes a further inquiry to the interactive response device when the verification purpose cannot be achieved as a result of a verification operation based on the change information.

7. The verification support device according to claim 1, which makes a further inquiry to the interactive response device based on information related to another specific operation, the machine information, and a verification purpose related to the another specific operation when the verification purpose is not achieved and another specific operation different from the specific operation has occurred as a result of a verification operation based on the change information.

8. The verification support device according to claim 1, further comprising a verification purpose acquisition unit that accepts the verification purpose by any one of voice, text, and screen operations.

9. The verification support device according to claim 1, wherein the industrial machine is a virtual industrial machine in a machine operation simulation.

10. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for operating a computer as a transmission unit that transmits information related to a specific operation that has occurred in an industrial machine, machine information related to the industrial machine when the specific operation has occurred, and a verification purpose related to the specific operation to an interactive response device; a reception unit that receives, from the interactive response device, change information created by the interactive response device based on the information related to the specific operation, the machine information, and the verification purpose, the change information being related to a change in the machine information necessary for achieving the verification purpose; a selection unit that determines a verification priority for the change information based on the change information received by the reception unit, the verification purpose, and the machine information; and an output unit that outputs the change information and the verification priority.

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