Sliding Nozzle Mark Blocks for Robot Position Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance robots struggle to accurately and reliably recognize the position of sliding nozzle devices in molten steel vessels due to their large size and varying positions during maintenance, which complicates maintenance operations.
Innovation Solution
A mounting device equipped with a robot arm, a camera, and a laser irradiator is used to identify and accurately position a hydraulic cylinder at the sliding nozzle device, utilizing mark blocks and a pressing mechanism to ensure precise alignment and mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a maintenance robot is used to service the sliding nozzle device, then automation and productivity are improved, but the robot cannot reliably or accurately recognize the position of the sliding nozzle device due to its large size and varying positions in the maintenance site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mark blocks as intermediary objects that are attached to the sliding nozzle device. These mark blocks serve as mediators between the maintenance robot's camera system and the actual position of the sliding nozzle device, enabling the robot to accurately locate and recognize the device's position through image recognition of the mark blocks rather than directly recognizing the complex sliding nozzle structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The mark blocks are designed with specific visual characteristics (color, shape, or pattern) that make them easily distinguishable and recognizable by the maintenance robot's camera system. This visual differentiation allows the robot to reliably detect and locate the mark blocks, thereby accurately determining the position of the sliding nozzle device regardless of its size or orientation in the maintenance site.
2Volume of moving object
If the sliding nozzle device is made large in size, then it can handle molten steel vessels, but the position varies widely in every maintenance making recognition difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mark blocks act as standardized intermediary reference objects that remain consistently positioned on or near the sliding nozzle device. This allows the maintenance robot to reliably recognize a consistent visual target (the mark block) regardless of the sliding nozzle device's large size or varying position in the maintenance site, thereby improving recognition reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If no specific position is defined for the imaging reference part, then the design is flexible, but the maintenance robot cannot accurately recognize the position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by defining specific, standardized positions for attaching mark blocks on the sliding nozzle device (such as on the holder or fixed metal frame). This localized standardization of reference point positions enables the maintenance robot to accurately recognize positions while maintaining design flexibility in other aspects of the device.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and accurate recognition and mounting of the hydraulic cylinder to the sliding nozzle device, facilitating efficient maintenance operations by maintaining positional accuracy and reducing manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a laser irradiator to irradiate mark blocks on the sliding nozzle device with laser light
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
A technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a sliding nozzle device capable of allowing a maintenance robot to reliably and accurately recognize the position thereof. The present invention provides a sliding nozzle device 3 comprising: a fixed metal frame 32; and a sliding metal frame 33 slidably provided to the fixed metal frame 32, wherein the fixed metal frame 32 is provided with a mark block 38a for allowing a maintenance robot to recognize the position thereof. More specifically, the mark block 38a is provided to protrude from a side surface or bottom surface of the fixed metal frame 32 toward the sliding metal frame 33, at a position free from interference with the sliding metal frame 33 during sliding.