Remote Control System for School Workshops
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing VeiStop control system for technical working areas in schools and educational institutes faces challenges in software updates, managing machines and keys, and providing real-time security status to teachers, leading to increased costs and limited usability due to local operation requirements and lack of remote monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A remote control system with a central processing unit managing metal working and woodworking machines, using portable user identifiers and a server for telecommunication, allowing remote activation/deactivation, software updates, and real-time monitoring and logging, along with a portable display for teachers to track machine status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control system operates locally with main and local operation portions, then security control and machine activation are achieved, but software updates and system management become troublesome and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that communicates with the control system via telecommunication connection. The server handles software updates, key management, and system configuration remotely, eliminating the need for local technical expertise while maintaining security control. The control system acts as a client that receives instructions and data from the server.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: local operation portions at each machine, a central control unit, and a remote server. This segmentation allows the complex management functions to be separated from the local control functions, enabling independent updates and maintenance of the server component without affecting local operations.
2Extent of automation
If the main operation portion is located in the teacher's room, then centralized control is achieved, but teachers cannot monitor machine status when outside the room
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback by having local operation portions and the control unit constantly report machine status, usage information, and security states to the server. Teachers can access this real-time data remotely through the telecommunication connection, receiving updates without being physically present in the teacher's room.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring capability is extended from the physical dimension (teacher's room display) to the telecommunication dimension, allowing access to machine status information from any location with network connectivity. This transforms the monitoring function from location-dependent to location-independent.
3Ease of operation
If local operation portions are used at each machine, then individual machine control is achieved, but the system complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The local operation portions are designed as standardized, universal interfaces that can control different types of machines (metal working, woodworking) through the same protocol. The server provides universal management capabilities for all machines and keys, reducing the need for machine-specific configuration and simplifying overall system architecture.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The application relates to a system (100) for controlling a technical working area (102) comprising at least one metal working and/or woodworking machine (120). The system comprising a central processing unit (110) configured to control the at least one metal working and/or woodworking machine remotely, the at least one metal working and/or woodworking machine comprising a local operation portion (126), which is configured to activate and/or deactivate the at least one metal working and/or woodworking machine after identifying a user, and at least one portable user identifier (128) configured to identify the user when it is read by the local operation portion. The system further comprising at least one server (160) configured to communicate with the central processing unit through a telecommunication connection (162) and the central processing unit further configured to arrange information to the at least one server for controlling a use of the at least one metal working and/or woodworking machine, and/or a use of the at least one user identifier.