3D Spare Part Visualization on Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance technicians face challenges in accurately identifying and selecting suitable spare parts for complex machines, often due to visual similarities between components with different functions or properties, leading to potential incorrect ordering and increased repair time.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device-based procedure that utilizes 3D data to visually represent spare parts, allowing maintenance technicians to select and compare spare parts from different perspectives, thereby ensuring accurate identification and ordering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional component lists or catalogs with 2D images are used for spare part identification, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of component identification deteriorates due to visual similarities between different components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D images to 3D models of spare parts, enabling maintenance technicians to view components from multiple angles and perspectives. This dimensional enhancement allows for better differentiation of visually similar parts while maintaining manageable system complexity through mobile device integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual 3D copies of physical spare parts that can be viewed and manipulated on mobile devices. These digital replicas provide comprehensive visual information without requiring physical handling or complex measurement tools, resolving the identification accuracy issue while keeping the system simple.
2Adaptability or versatility
If maintenance technicians service multiple differently designed passenger transport systems, then the adaptability of the maintenance process improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring component characteristics worsens due to diverse component designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal spare part identification system that works across multiple passenger transport system types through mobile devices. The system can handle diverse component designs by providing 3D visualizations and comparison tools that work for any component type, making the maintenance process adaptable without increasing identification difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile device-based visualization system as an intermediary between the maintenance technician and the diverse components. This mediator provides standardized 3D views and comparison tools that simplify the identification process across different component designs, reducing the difficulty of detection and measurement.
3Loss of time
If incorrect spare parts are ordered due to component misidentification, then the loss of time for repair increases, but the ease of operation of the ordering process remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that allow maintenance technicians to compare 3D models of candidate spare parts with actual components, receive confirmation or correction on part identification, and adjust selections accordingly. This feedback loop reduces incorrect ordering and repair delays while maintaining ease of operation through the mobile interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary verification of spare part compatibility through 3D visualizations and comparisons before the ordering process is finalized. By checking part identification accuracy in advance using the mobile device system, technicians prevent incorrect orders and time losses while keeping the ordering process simple and quick.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for visualising replacement parts (7), in particular for visualising replacement parts (7) for a passenger transport system, and to a mobile device (1) configured to carry out this method. The method has at least the following steps: - displaying a list (5) of possible replacement parts (7) on a screen (3) of a processor-controlled mobile device (1) and prompting for selection of a specific replacement part (15) from the displayed list (5); - downloading 3D data (33) of the specifically selected replacement part (15) from an external server (19) via a network, the 3D data (33) containing physical information regarding visually discernible properties of the specifically selected replacement part (15); - displaying a perspective view of the specifically selected replacement part (15) with its visually discernible properties on the screen (3) of the processor-controlled mobile device (1) from an initial viewing angle; - detecting a change in an orientation of the processor-controlled mobile device (1) in an altered orientation; and - displaying a perspective view of the specifically selected replacement part (15) with its visually discernible properties on the screen (3) of the processor-controlled mobile device (1) from an altered viewing angle corresponding to the altered orientation. The use of the method allows it to be made possible for a maintenance engineer to easily and intuitively inspect and thus reliably choose a replacement part (7) for a faulty component (13) in advance on the basis of the visually discernible properties of the replacement part. (Fig. 1)