Voice-Activated Plant Control System for Bulk Loading Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large loading terminal operations with multiple stations, effectively monitoring and controlling the loading of bulk materials is challenging due to the complexity of managing multiple processes and ensuring safety and record-keeping accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A voice recognition and authenticated voice-activated control (VR/VAC) system is implemented, where a control computer stores voice data for authorized operators and uses voice recognition algorithms to authenticate and execute commands for controlling processing or material handling equipment, allowing operators to manage operations through voice inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional manual monitoring and control methods are used in large loading terminals, then operators can perform safety checks and record keeping, but it becomes difficult to effectively monitor and control operations across multiple loading stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring and control methods with an automated voice recognition and voice-activated control system. The system uses voice-derived inputs to authenticate operators and execute commands for controlling processing and material handling equipment, eliminating the need for manual monitoring at multiple loading stations while maintaining security and control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control computer as an intermediary between operators and processing equipment. This intermediary system receives voice-derived inputs, authenticates operators by comparing voice data against stored profiles, and translates voice commands into control signals for equipment operation, thereby enabling efficient remote monitoring and control across multiple stations
2Ease of operation
If voice recognition technology is implemented for operator authentication and control, then operators can control equipment through voice commands improving monitoring capabilities, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voice recognition system performs self-service by automatically authenticating operators through voice pattern recognition and extracting control commands from voice inputs without requiring manual intervention for authentication or command interpretation. The control computer autonomously compares voice data against stored profiles and executes appropriate control actions
Solution Approach 2:
The control computer serves multiple functions: it stores voice data for authentication, processes voice-derived inputs for command extraction, authenticates operators, and controls processing and material handling equipment. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated platform
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for controlling processing equipment. The system includes a control computer communicatively coupled to a terminal computer. Voice data for each of several authorized operators at a plant is stored. The control computer is programmed to implement a voice recognition and authenticated voice-activated control program. The control computer, responsive to receiving a voice-derived input, analyzes the voice-derived input to determine if the voice-derived input matches the voice data for any of the authorized operators. Provided the voice-derived input matches the voice data, the control computer determines at least one command from the voice-derived input for controlling the processing equipment to modify an operation at the plant. The control computer executes the command to control the processing equipment.