Maintenance Manual Guidance with Image-Derived Spatial Text
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manuals for maintenance work, such as replacing components in precision devices, require visual reference that is difficult to access when hands are soiled or posture needs to be maintained, leading to incomplete information due to lack of image-based positional and directional cues in text descriptions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that uses machine learning to supplement manual text data with image-derived positional and directional information, enabling understanding of manual procedures through text alone by integrating machine learning models with manual image data to generate enhanced work procedure information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual reference (images) is provided in manuals for maintenance work, then completeness of information is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates when hands are soiled or posture must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the visual information from images and converts it into text form (descriptive text representing positional and directional relationships). This allows the information to be accessed through sound without needing to physically view the original images, resolving the contradiction by providing complete information in a format that doesn't require visual engagement or manual dexterity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual system of viewing images with a text-based acoustic system. Instead of requiring the user to physically see images (visual-mechanical interaction), the system substitutes this with text descriptions that can be heard, eliminating the need for visual reference while maintaining information completeness.
2Ease of operation
If text descriptions in manuals include positional and directional information, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information worsens due to lack of image-based cues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts positional and directional information from images and creates text copies that represent this spatial information. This copying process transfers the essential spatial cues from visual format to text format, maintaining information completeness while improving ease of operation through acoustic accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces text descriptions as an intermediary that bridges the gap between images and user understanding. Instead of directly presenting images (which require visual engagement) or simple text (which lacks spatial precision), the intermediary text descriptions convey spatial relationships in an acoustic format that is both complete and easy to access.
3Measurement precision
If manual processing of image data is required to extract positional information, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming manual work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processing of images with automated image processing technology. Instead of human operators manually analyzing images to extract positional information (which is precise but slow), the system uses automated processing that maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating time-consuming manual work.
Data Source
AI summary
A manual providing apparatus includes: circuitry; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions that cause the circuitry to execute: acquiring image data in a manual; performing a first detection of detecting a position of a target component included in the image data in the manual; performing a second detection of detecting a scope of a surrounding component included in the image data in the manual; acquiring relative position information representing a relative position between the target component and the surrounding component, based on the detected position of the target component and the detected scope of the surrounding component; and outputting work procedure information in which the relative position information is added to text data in the manual.