Automated Piping Route Generation with Coordinate Boundaries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current piping route generation methods in plant design require manual input of attributes and coordinates for piping lines, lacking an efficient mechanism to automatically assign identification information and route pipes through designated coordinates, especially in complex virtual spaces with multiple instruments.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a terminal apparatus and a server that allows users to input designated coordinates for piping lines, automatically routing pipes and assigning identification information using these coordinates as boundaries, enabling both automatic and manual routing while managing different attribute information for piping lines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual input of attributes and coordinates is used for piping lines, then flexibility in design is maintained, but productivity and time efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidpiping route generation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining attribute information for different piping materials and pre-setting coordinate boundaries in the virtual space. This allows the automatic routing function to efficiently generate piping routes without requiring manual input during the design phase, thus improving productivity while maintaining design flexibility through configurable parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The piping route generation system performs self-service by automatically assigning attribute information to piping lines based on predefined criteria and material boundaries. The system autonomously generates routes connecting instruments while adhering to specified coordinate constraints, eliminating the need for manual attribute assignment and coordinate input, thereby significantly improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automatic routing is implemented without coordinate designation, then productivity improves, but manufacturing precision and routing accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting generation speedVSAvoidpiping route accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by designating specific coordinate points along the piping route that must be passed through. These local coordinate constraints ensure that the automatically generated routing maintains high precision by adhering to critical path points, while the overall routing process remains automated for productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The coordinate boundary acts as an intermediary between automatic routing generation and precision requirements. By setting coordinate boundaries that the routing must pass through, the system mediates between the speed of automatic generation and the accuracy requirements, ensuring both productivity and precision are achieved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If multiple attributes are assigned to piping lines using specific materials as boundaries, then information accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattribute information accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the piping route into multiple sections based on material boundaries, with each segment assigned specific attribute information. This segmentation approach maintains high information accuracy by allowing different attributes for different material sections, while the automated segmentation process prevents excessive system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by dynamically changing parameters such as material type, attribute assignments, and boundary coordinates based on the routing requirements. This parameter-driven approach allows flexible attribute assignment without hardcoding complex rules, maintaining information accuracy while keeping the system manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If coordinates are designated for piping to pass through, then routing precision improves, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoordinate routing accuracyVSAvoidcoordinate input complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses copying by referencing pre-defined coordinate boundaries and path points that can be reused across different routing scenarios. This eliminates the need for manual coordinate input for each new routing, maintaining high precision while significantly improving ease of operation through template-based coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20230418991A1Apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2023.12.28 PLANTSTREAM INC

AI summary

An apparatus for automatically and manually route piping, the apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to receive an input of designated coordinates for a piping line routed so as to connect a plurality of instruments constituting a plant to each other in a virtual space for designing a plant, and assign a plurality of pieces of identification information to the piping line using the input designated coordinates as a boundary.