JP2011136380A - Monitoring robot system in ceiling - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a robot system capable of continuing monitoring without falling of a robot when performing monitoring in the ceiling and facilitating an observation in the ceiling and acquisition of the robot. <P>SOLUTION: A self-advancing robot travelable in the ceiling includes a traveling control mechanism, a movable camera and an attitude camera. A movable auxiliary camera is installed in the vicinity of a ceiling inspection port, and a computer capable of performing radio communication between the robot and the auxiliary camera is provided. The computer receives data from the robot and the auxiliary camera, and transmits a signal to a traveling control mechanism of the robot to move the robot in prescribed aspect and direction. When an inclined angle detected by the attitude sensor reaches a first set value, a deceleration signal is transmitted from the computer to the traveling control mechanism, and when the inclined angle reaches a second set value, a stop signal is transmitted. Images photographed by the camera and images photographed by the auxiliary camera are substantially simultaneously displayed on a monitor screen of the computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for confirming the state of a place where a human cannot enter using a remotely operated mobile robot equipped with a camera, and particularly suitable for performing ceiling monitoring (state observation / environment measurement). This is related to the internal monitoring robot system.

  In general, there are electrical equipment such as various cables, water supply and drainage equipment such as various pipes, and air conditioning equipment such as dampers and filters on the ceiling of the building. These facilities are regularly inspected and repaired. Must. For such maintenance work, an inspection port is provided on the ceiling, and an operator enters and exits from the inspection port.

  In order to automate such complicated maintenance work and reduce costs, maintenance systems using self-propelled robots have been tried especially for ceilings with large spaces. It was necessary to perform maneuvering to avoid obstacles and to avoid overturning while watching the image of the robot with a camera installed outside the robot. In addition, there is a problem that the position and state of the robot cannot be recognized if the robot is placed in the ceiling. In particular, when the robot hits an obstacle and falls, it was found that it takes a lot of labor and time to pull the robot back to the inspection port.

  Attempts were made to mount a camera on a self-propelled robot, but when a self-propelled robot travels, it is difficult to move around while checking the surroundings using only the mounted camera. It rides and falls. Moreover, even if the surrounding state was confirmed with the camera, it was found that it is difficult to judge the surrounding situation because only a local image can be obtained with a small camera.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-173433 “Management method for various equipment on the ceiling”, a maintenance sheet is attached to the back surface of the lid of the inspection port in order to perform maintenance work safely and quickly.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-149309 “Traveling Inspection Robot” discloses a system for controlling a traveling inspection robot equipped with a camera using a radio and a joystick.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an in-ceiling monitoring robot system suitable for monitoring in a ceiling.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a robot system that can continue monitoring in the ceiling without the robot falling over.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a robot system capable of facilitating observation in a ceiling and capturing a robot.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the monitoring robot system in the ceiling according to the present invention has, as its basic aspects, a self-propelled robot capable of traveling in the ceiling, a traveling control mechanism mounted on the robot, and mounted on the robot. A movable camera mounted on the robot, a posture sensor that can detect the tilt angle of the robot, a movable auxiliary camera installed in the vicinity of the ceiling inspection port, and between the robot and the auxiliary camera. And a computer capable of wireless communication. Further, the computer receives data from the robot and the auxiliary camera, transmits a signal to the travel control mechanism of the robot, and moves the robot in a predetermined direction and direction. When the detected inclination angle reaches the first set value, a deceleration signal is transmitted from the computer to the travel control mechanism, and when the detected tilt angle reaches the second set value, a stop signal is transmitted from the computer to the travel control mechanism. The image taken by the camera and the image taken by the auxiliary camera are displayed almost simultaneously on the monitor screen of the computer.

  That is, the robot system according to the present invention is a system for monitoring the situation in the ceiling using a camera mounted on the mobile robot. The mobile robot preferably has a crawler type or multi-wheel type drive mechanism, The operator operates the joystick. Preferably, the camera mounted on the robot can perform three adjustment operations of pan (left and right direction), tilt (up and down direction), and zoom (far and near), and the operator can operate the camera for observing the state of the ceiling. Remote control of robot running. The zoom function can be omitted.

Based on such a configuration, in the robot system according to the present invention, the self-propelled robot is placed in the ceiling, which has been considered difficult in the past. It was decided to have a function to recognize the situation. As a result, even an operator who is not familiar with handling a robot can control the robot relatively easily.
Moreover, since the robot is equipped with the attitude sensor, the monitoring in the ceiling can be continued without the robot falling down.
In addition, an auxiliary camera is provided, making it easier to observe the ceiling and capture the robot. In addition, there is an advantage that the approximate position of the robot can be estimated from the installation position of the auxiliary camera and the pan and tilt angles.

(1) Robot overturn prevention function A robot is equipped with a sensor for detecting the posture, and the tilt angle θ in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) can be recognized in real time. The operator basically operates with the joystick, and automatically reduces the traveling speed when the robot exceeds the first set inclination angle θ1. Further, when the operation is continued as it is, the robot performs the same control step by step, and automatically stops when the robot detects the second set inclination angle θ2. It is also possible to control in a more detailed multi-stage manner. Crawler-type self-propelled robots are unlikely to fall in the horizontal direction due to the position of the center of gravity, so there is little need to detect the horizontal inclination angle, but the horizontal inclination angle is detected as necessary. A sensor can also be provided.

(2) Environment recognition function by auxiliary camera By placing the auxiliary camera in the ceiling, the position, traveling direction, posture, etc. of the mobile robot can be observed. The auxiliary camera is installed near the inspection port where the robot is installed. Attach a tripod to suit your surroundings. The auxiliary camera has a motion detection function (standard on commercial products) and automatically tracks the robot. However, if tracking fails, the robot can be captured by pan / tilt / zoom operations by remote manual operation using a joystick. It should be illuminated so that it can be used even in a dark ceiling.

  In the present invention, when the inclination angle detected by the attitude sensor reaches the first set value, a deceleration signal is transmitted from the computer to the travel control mechanism. Thus, the first stage for preventing the fall is executed, and the fall can be avoided by performing the necessary operation by the operator. Furthermore, when the inclination angle detected by the attitude sensor reaches the second set value, a stop signal is transmitted from the computer to the travel control mechanism. Thereby, the second stage for preventing the fall is executed, and the fall can be automatically prevented without the operator performing a necessary operation.

  Further, according to the present invention, the image captured by the camera and the image captured by the auxiliary camera are displayed on the computer monitor screen almost simultaneously, preferably in a state where the screen is divided into right and left parts. This can be done by a well-known polling function using a time difference, and by comparing both images, it is possible to perform delicate observation in the ceiling and accurate operation of the robot.

  Furthermore, in a preferred aspect of the present invention, an environmental sensor for detecting temperature, humidity, wind speed, illuminance, etc. in the ceiling is further mounted on the robot, and the environment in the ceiling can be detected from the room side. It becomes possible.

The schematic perspective view showing the state which has arrange | positioned the robot system by this invention in the ceiling. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a mechanism of wireless communication in a robot system according to the present invention. The perspective view for demonstrating the fall prevention function in the robot system by this invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a state in which a robot system according to the present invention is arranged in a ceiling and a living room of a building, and a self-propelled robot 20 is put into the ceiling through an inspection port 14 provided in the ceiling 10. An auxiliary camera 28 is installed in the vicinity of the inspection port 14 using a tripod. The auxiliary camera 28 is driven by the motion control mechanism 29 and can move in a pan and tilt manner. A notebook personal computer 30 capable of wireless communication (such as a LAN) is arranged in the room on the floor 12, and the operator uses the keyboard 34 and the joystick 36 while viewing the image displayed on the monitor screen 32. Then, the robot 20 and the auxiliary camera 28 are operated.

  The robot 20 shown in FIG. 1 has a crawler-type travel drive device, and controls forward, backward, left-right rotation, and the like by a travel control mechanism 22 mounted on the robot. Furthermore, a camera 24 that is driven by a motion control mechanism 25 and is capable of panning and tilting is mounted on the robot 20, and an image captured by the camera 24 is wirelessly communicated in the room. It is sent to the personal computer 30. Further, a posture sensor 26 for detecting a tilt angle in the front-rear direction is attached on the robot 20 so that the robot can be prevented from falling down.

  Furthermore, an environment measuring sensor 38 for detecting the temperature, humidity, wind speed, illuminance, etc. in the ceiling is mounted on the robot 20 so that the environment in the ceiling can be detected from the room side. Yes.

  The notebook computer 30 includes an image 41 sent from the camera 24 mounted on the robot 20, an image 42 sent from the auxiliary camera 28, tilt angle data 43 from the attitude sensor 26, and an environment measurement sensor 38. The value of measurement data 44 (for example, temperature, humidity, wind speed, illuminance, etc.) is displayed via wireless transmission (wireless LAN or the like). The operator operates the robot traveling control mechanism 22, the camera motion control mechanism 25, and the auxiliary camera motion control mechanism 29 while looking at the monitor screen 30 of the personal computer, and performs monitoring (state observation / environment measurement) in the ceiling. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining data lines (virtual) sent from the robot 20 and the auxiliary camera 28 in a state where the robot 20 faces various obstacles 51, 52, and 53. On the data line 61 between the camera and the personal computer, an image taken by the camera 24 is sent and a signal for changing the pan and tilt angles of the camera 24 is sent. On the data line 62 between the auxiliary camera and the personal computer, an image taken by the auxiliary camera 28 is sent and a signal for changing the pan and tilt angles of the auxiliary camera 28 is sent. In the data line 63 between the posture sensor and the personal computer, data of the tilt angle in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) detected by the posture sensor 26 is sent. In the data line 64 between the environmental measurement sensor and the personal computer, data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and illuminance detected by the environmental measurement sensor 26 is sent. On the data line 65 between the robot travel control mechanism and the robot, signals such as forward / reverse / deceleration / stop of the robot are sent.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the monitor screen 32 of the computer is divided into left and right parts, and an image 41 taken by the camera and an image 42 taken by the auxiliary camera are displayed almost simultaneously. This can be done by a well-known polling function using a time difference, and by comparing both images, it is possible to perform delicate observation in the ceiling and accurate operation of the robot.

  As described above, the operator looks at the monitor screen 30 of the personal computer while the robot travel control mechanism 22 (FIG. 1), the camera motion control mechanism 25 (FIG. 1), and the auxiliary camera motion control mechanism 29 (FIG. 1). Control the inside of the ceiling (observation of the state and measurement of the environment).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a fall prevention function in the robot system of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the self-propelled robot 20 moves forward toward the obstacle 51. The posture sensor 26 detects a value in which the tilt angle in the front-rear direction of the robot is approximately zero.

  FIG. 3B shows a state in which the robot moves forward and leans against the obstacle 51. When the inclination angle detected by the attitude sensor at this time reaches the first set value θ1, a deceleration signal is sent from the computer to the traveling control mechanism 22. Sent. Thus, the first stage for preventing the fall is executed, and the fall can be avoided by performing the necessary operation by the operator.

  FIG. 3C shows a state where the robot further moves forward and rides on the obstacle 51 and is greatly inclined. When the inclination angle detected by the attitude sensor at this time reaches the second set value θ2, the computer controls the travel control mechanism. A stop signal is transmitted to 22. Thereby, the second stage for preventing the fall is executed, and the fall can be automatically prevented without the operator performing a necessary operation.

As explained in detail above, according to the robot system of the present invention,
(1) Since the robot has a fall prevention function and a situation recognition function, it has become possible to place a self-propelled robot inside the ceiling, which has been considered difficult in the past.
(2) Even an operator who is not familiar with handling a robot can now operate the robot relatively easily.
(3) The loss of time due to the robot falling over has been eliminated, and the efficiency of monitoring work has been significantly improved.
(4) Since the auxiliary camera observes the inside of the ceiling and captures the robot, it is possible to obtain the advantage that the confirmation work before and after the maintenance work is very easy, and the technical value is extremely remarkable. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ceiling 14 Inspection port 20 Self-propelled robot 22 Travel control mechanism 24 Camera 25, 29 Motion control mechanism 26 Attitude sensor 28 Auxiliary camera 30 Computer 32 Monitor screen 38 Environmental sensor

Claims (2)

A self-propelled robot capable of traveling in the ceiling,
A travel control mechanism mounted on the robot;
A movable camera mounted on the robot;
An attitude sensor mounted on the robot and capable of detecting the tilt angle of the robot;
A movable auxiliary camera installed near the ceiling inspection port,
A computer capable of wireless communication between the robot and the auxiliary camera;
The computer receives data from the robot and the auxiliary camera, and transmits a signal to the traveling control mechanism of the robot to move it in a predetermined direction and direction.
When the inclination angle detected by the attitude sensor reaches a first set value, a deceleration signal is transmitted from the computer to the travel control mechanism. When the tilt angle reaches the second set value, a stop signal is sent from the computer to the travel control mechanism. To be sent,
An in-ceiling monitoring robot system, wherein an image captured by the camera and an image captured by the auxiliary camera are displayed substantially simultaneously on a monitor screen of the computer.   The robot system according to claim 1, further comprising an environment measurement sensor for detecting temperature, humidity, wind speed, illuminance, and the like in the ceiling on the robot.

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