Range Camera Motion Recognition for Safe Automation Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional industrial automation systems are limited in safely controlling devices, particularly in ensuring safe human-machine interaction and preventing hazards within industrial environments.
Innovation Solution
A range camera system is integrated into the industrial automation system to detect positions and motions of persons and objects, using various sensors and imaging technologies to compute confidence values and send control signals to devices, thereby controlling industrial automation devices based on detected positions and motions to prevent hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional automation control systems are used to manage device operations, then basic automation functionality is achieved, but safety in human-machine interaction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments safety monitoring into multiple independent camera units, each covering specific zones. This allows distributed safety monitoring without requiring a single complex centralized system, thereby improving reliability through redundancy while managing complexity through modular deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary safety assessment by continuously monitoring and detecting human presence and motion patterns before hazardous situations occur. By preemptively identifying potential dangers and adjusting device operations in advance, the system enhances safety without requiring complex real-time emergency response mechanisms
2Reliability
If range camera systems are integrated to detect positions and motions for safety control, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The range camera system serves multiple functions: human presence detection, motion tracking, zone monitoring, and collision prevention. By consolidating these safety functions into a single multi-functional system rather than separate dedicated systems for each function, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The range camera system acts as an intermediary between human operators and automated devices. It translates complex safety monitoring requirements into simplified control signals that automatically adjust device operations, thereby improving safety without requiring complex direct control mechanisms between multiple safety systems
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and imaging technologies are used to detect positions and motions accurately, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple sensing modalities (range imaging, motion detection, position tracking) into a single integrated range camera system. This consolidation achieves high measurement precision through multi-modal data fusion while reducing complexity compared to using separate dedicated systems for each sensing function
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a method for performing industrial automation control may include detecting, via a sensor system, positions and/or motions of a human in an industrial automation system, determining at least one derivative value from the detected positions and/or motions, and determining a possible automation command and an undesirable condition based upon the detected positions and/or motions and the at least one derivative value. The method may then include implementing a control and/or notification action based upon the determined possible automation command and the undesired condition.