Remote Inspection of Unmanned Moving Objects With Fault Source Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inspection systems for moving objects, especially those using unmanned driving, struggle to accurately identify the cause of abnormalities detected during remote control inspections, as these can be attributed to the vehicle, inspection device, or server, without clear specification.

Innovation Solution

An inspection method that includes instructing a moving object to maintain a predetermined speed, measuring this speed using an inspection device, acquiring maintenance information for the server and inspection device, and using this information to specify which component is causing the abnormality, potentially employing machine learning models for improved accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inspection is performed using a server for remote control and an inspection device, then inspection capability is improved, but it becomes difficult to specify which component (vehicle, inspection device, or server) is causing the abnormality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection capabilityVSAvoidabnormality cause specification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the abnormality diagnosis by checking each component (server, inspection device, vehicle) separately using maintenance information, allowing identification of which specific component is causing the abnormality rather than treating them as a unified system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary maintenance on the server and inspection device before conducting the inspection, and uses maintenance information to pre-assess the likelihood of each component being normal, thereby preparing diagnostic information in advance that helps specify the abnormality cause

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If conventional inspection methods are used, then inspection process is simple, but the accuracy of specifying abnormality cause is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection processVSAvoidabnormality cause specification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces maintenance information as an intermediary element that mediates between the inspection process and abnormality cause specification, providing additional diagnostic data without significantly complicating the inspection流程

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual trial-and-error diagnostic methods with an automated abnormality specifying unit that uses maintenance information and predetermined periods to automatically determine the cause, substituting mechanical diagnostic processes with information-based automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4467988A1Inspection method for moving object
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4467988A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4467988A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4467988A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An inspection method for a moving object that can move by unmanned driving includes: a first step of giving an instruction to perform driving from a server to a moving object of an inspection target such that an output value related to movement of the moving object is a predetermined target value; a second step of measuring the output value using an inspection device that inspects the moving object, and acquiring a measurement value; a maintenance information acquiring step of acquiring maintenance information related to a history of maintenance executed with respect to at least one target device of the server and the inspection device; and an abnormality specifying step of, when a difference between the target value and the measurement value is not within a predetermined reference range, specifying which one of the server, the inspection device, and the moving object of the inspection target has an abnormality using the maintenance information.