Autonomous Transport Unit Guidance for Field Device Service Tasks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of field device portfolios and the decreasing specialization of service personnel necessitate more efficient and error-reduced methods for commissioning and maintenance of field devices in industrial plants, often requiring physical presence and posing safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A mobile transport unit equipped with navigation, communication, and AI capabilities guides and assists operators through the system, providing real-time instructions and tools necessary for commissioning and maintenance tasks, including wireless data transfer and obstacle avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If service personnel physically visit field devices for commissioning and maintenance, then tasks can be performed on field devices, but time consumption increases and safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
A mobile transport unit acts as an intermediary between the service personnel and the field device. It autonomously navigates to the field device, establishes communication connections, and performs data exchange operations, thereby mediating the service task execution and eliminating the need for personnel physical presence at the device location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical travel and manual operation with an automated mobile transport unit equipped with navigation and communication capabilities. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming physical journey and manual task execution, achieving faster and safer service operations.
2Productivity
If service personnel work alone on field devices, then independence is maintained, but response time increases and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile transport unit is designed to autonomously perform navigation, device location, communication establishment, and data exchange operations without requiring human intervention or presence. This self-service capability enables rapid response to service tasks while maintaining operational safety through automated execution of standardized procedures.
3Manufacturing precision
If operators receive detailed instructions for field device tasks, then error reduction is achieved, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile transport unit transmits task instructions and operational data digitally from a remote system to the field device through wireless communication. This copying approach delivers comprehensive guidance information without requiring physical manuals or complex instruction delivery mechanisms, maintaining execution accuracy while minimizing system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and mobile transport unit (MT) for commissioning a field device (FG) or a service job on the field device (FG) in an automation engineering installation (A), wherein the transport unit (MT) comprises an output unit (AE, AE') and a position determination unit and is configured for navigation in the installation (A); said method comprising: - transmitting a commissioning (IN) or service (SN) notification to the transport unit (MT), wherein the notification (IN, SN) contains the identification of the field device (FG) concerned and an operator action to be performed on the field device (FG); - the transport unit (MT) locating the mounting position of the field device (FG) in the installation (A) on the basis of the identification; - guiding an operator (BN) through the installation (A) to the mounting position by means of autonomous navigation by the transport unit (MT) with the aid of the position determination unit, wherein the operator (BN) follows the transport unit (MT); and - assisting the operator (BN) in executing the operator action, wherein the transport unit (MT) specifies and/or explains to the operator (BN) all the operator actions or activities to be performed for successful execution of the operator action by means of the at least one output unit (AE, AE').