JP7579654B2 - Method and system for publicly soliciting solutions suitable for solving a problem of interest - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for publicly soliciting solutions suitable for solving a problem of a target object.

In recent years, systems have been proposed that connect industrial machines and other objects to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to provide services such as preventive maintenance for the objects (see Non-Patent Document 1).

M. Pellino et al., Industrial IoT Software Platforms, Forrester Wave, Q4 2019, p.9 ll.1-13

It is not easy for a user of an object to create a solution for a problem related to the object by himself/herself. Furthermore, even if the user tries to find a suitable solution for the problem from solutions provided by others, there are cases in which the user does not know about the solutions provided by others. For this reason, it is not easy for the user to obtain a solution suitable for solving the problem. The purpose of the present disclosure is to enable the user to easily obtain a solution suitable for solving the problem of the object.

A method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method executed by one or more computers, and includes the following processes. A first process is to obtain object data indicating a time-series state of the object. A second process is to obtain a label to be attached to the object data. A third process is to obtain a problem for the object. A fourth process is to publish the object data, the label, and the problem on a website and to publicly solicit solutions to the problem. Note that the order of execution of each process is not limited to the above order and may be changed.

A system according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a data logger, a user computer, and a server. The data logger records object data indicating the time-series state of the object. The user computer accepts labels to be attached to the object data and challenges for the object. The server acquires the object data, labels, and challenges via a communications network. The server publishes the object data, labels, and challenges on a website and publicly solicits solutions to the challenges.

This disclosure allows users to easily obtain a solution suitable for solving the problem of the target object.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a mechanism for soliciting solutions through a public solicitation platform. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a recruitment screen of a public recruitment platform. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of object data. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a label input screen of the public recruitment platform. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an application screen of a public recruitment platform.

The embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. System 1 according to this embodiment is a system for soliciting solutions suitable for solving problems of an object. System 1 publishes problems related to the object on a website and solicits solutions. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of system 1. As shown in FIG. 1, system 1 includes a data logger 2, a user computer 3, and a server 4.

The data logger 2 is connected to the object 5. In this embodiment, the object 5 is a CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) machine tool such as a grinding machine or a machining center. The object 5 includes a main body 11, a sensor 12, and a controller 13. The main body 11 includes, for example, a drive mechanism and a tool operated by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a motor and a spindle driven by the motor.

The sensor 12 detects a number of state parameters that indicate the state of the object 5. The values of the state parameters change depending on the use of the object 5. The values of the state parameters change over time. The state parameters include, for example, a spindle load, a spindle rotation speed, and a feed rate. The controller 13 controls the operation of the main body 11. The controller 13 stores an NC (Numerical Control) program, and controls the main body 11 in accordance with the NC program.

The data logger 2 is connected to the object 5 wirelessly or by wire. The data logger 2 includes a storage device 14 and a communication module 15. The storage device 14 stores electronic data. The storage device 14 may be, for example, a magnetic recording device such as a HDD, a semiconductor recording device such as a SSD, or an optical recording device. The communication module 15 is connected to a communication network wirelessly or by wire. The communication module 15 communicates with an external computer via a communication network such as the Internet.

The data logger 2 communicates with the object 5 and receives from the object 5 an NC program and state parameters controlled by the NC program. The NC program includes a program number (O code) for program identification and a line number (N code) for making the program easier to read. The data logger 2 records the time at which the state parameter was detected, the state parameter, and the program number and line number of the NC program being executed at the time of detection as object data D. The object data D indicates the chronological state of the object 5. The object data D includes the values of multiple state parameters of the object detected at regular time intervals and the detection times. The data logger 2 may be separate from the object 5. Alternatively, the data logger 2 may be built into the object 5.

The user computer 3 is a computer used by a user of the object 5. The user computer 3 may be a general-purpose PC (Personal Computer) or a dedicated computer for the object 5. Alternatively, the user computer 3 may be a mobile computer such as a tablet or smartphone. The user computer 3 communicates with external computers and the like via a communication network such as the Internet.

The server 4 communicates with the data logger 2, the user computer 3, and the applicant computer 6 via the communication network. The server 4 is composed of one or more computers. The server 4 may be a cloud server. The server 4 realizes the public recruitment platform 7 shown in FIG. 2. The user computer 3 and the applicant computer 6 access the public recruitment platform 7 via a website published on the communication network.

A user soliciting solutions accesses the public solicitation platform 7 from a user computer 3. On the public solicitation platform 7, the user publicly discloses the object data D and label L of the object 5, and solicits solutions to the problem of the object 5. Details of the label L will be described later.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of a website of the public recruitment platform 7. Figure 3 shows a schematic example of a recruitment screen 20. The recruitment screen 20 includes a field for recruitment conditions. The user inputs the recruitment conditions to the public recruitment platform 7 from the user computer 3. The recruitment conditions include the requester's name 21, recruitment deadline 22, remuneration 23, and request details 24. The request details 24 indicate the problem of the object 5. For example, the request details 24 include seeking a solution for determining whether a machine tool is abnormal or normal from the object data D. The request details 24 may include conditions regarding the accuracy of the determination.

In addition, object data D is uploaded to the public application platform 7. The object data D is uploaded from the data logger 2 to the public application platform 7. Alternatively, the object data D may be uploaded to the server 4 via the user computer 3. The object data D may be automatically uploaded to the public application platform 7. Alternatively, the object data D may be manually uploaded to the public application platform 7 by a user operation. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of object data D. As shown in FIG. 4, the object data D includes status parameters such as the spindle load, the spindle rotation speed, and the feed rate. The object data D includes the date and time when the status parameters were acquired, the program number being executed, and the line number.

The object data D is also given a label L. The label L indicates the classification of the state of the object 5 indicated by the object data D. The classification includes normality and abnormality of the object 5. The object data D given the normal label L indicates the state parameters when the object 5 is normal. The object data D given the abnormal label L indicates the state parameters when the object 5 is abnormal. The user uses the user computer 3 to give the label L to the object data D uploaded to the public recruitment platform 7. The user gives the label L to each of the multiple objects 5 uploaded to the public recruitment platform 7.

The user assigns a normal label L to the object data D when the object 5 is normal. The user assigns an abnormal label L to the object data D when the object 5 is abnormal. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first object data D1 is assigned a normal label L. The second object data D2 is assigned an abnormal label L.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the input screen 30 for the label L. The user assigns the label L to the object data D on the input screen 30 for the label L from the user computer 3. The input screen 30 includes a graph display field 31 for the object data D. The graph display field 31 displays a graph of the object data D. In FIG. 5, the object data D and the label L of the selected “20200001.csv” are displayed in the graph display field 31. The horizontal axis of the graph indicates time. The vertical axis of the graph indicates the value of the state parameter. The input screen 30 for the label L includes a list 32 of the object data D and an input field 33 for the label L. The list 32 includes the file names of the object data. The user inputs the label L of each object data D in the input field 33 for the label L. In detail, the input field 33 includes a check field for the “normal” label, a check field for the “abnormal” label, and a check field for the “exclusion” label. The check fields are arranged next to each file name of the object data. For example, the user assigns a "normal" label L to the object data D in the file name "20200001.csv" by checking the "normal" label check box next to the file name "20200001.csv". Object data D with an exclusion label L is excluded from the recruitment screen 20. The number in parentheses next to the label indicates the number of files to which each label L has been assigned.

As shown in FIG. 2, the user can add additional information to the object data D. The additional information includes, for example, public data settings and public recipient settings. The public data settings indicate the type of machine, part, or process of the object 5. The public recipient settings indicate the conditions for recipients to whom the solicitation of solutions will be made public. The solicitation platform 7 may accept and store the registration information of applicants, and may make the solicitation public only to applicants who fit the public recipient settings based on the registration information.

The applicant checks the recruitment conditions on the website of the public recruitment platform 7. The applicant can also download the object data D and the label L from the public recruitment platform 7 to the applicant computer 6. The applicant considers a solution based on the recruitment conditions, the object data D, and the label L. FIG. 6 shows an example of an application screen 40. As shown in FIG. 6, the application screen 40 includes a solution upload field 41. The applicant uploads the solution from the applicant computer 6 to the public recruitment platform 7. The solution includes, for example, a program, source code, and explanatory documents. Alternatively, the solution may be entered into the public recruitment platform 7 as text. For example, the applicant proposes AI (Artificial Intelligence) software for determining whether a machine tool is normal or abnormal from the object data D as the solution.

The user obtains a solution from the public solicitation platform 7. The user can download the solution from the public solicitation platform 7 to the user computer 3. The user decides whether or not to adopt the submitted solution. The user may directly contact the applicant of the adopted solution. In that case, the public solicitation platform 7 may provide the user with the applicant's contact information, such as an email address. The user may also directly reward the applicant.

Alternatively, the recruitment platform 7 may accept a decision to adopt the solution from the user. The recruitment platform 7 may send a notification to the applicant of the adopted solution. The user may give a reward to the applicant via the recruitment platform 7. The reward may be money. Alternatively, the reward may be a contract for the purchase of a product from the applicant.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The issue is not limited to determining whether the object 5 is normal or abnormal, but may be another issue. For example, the issue may be improving an NC program to improve workability. Alternatively, the issue may be changing command values for the object 5, or changing tools. Alternatively, the issue may be reducing processing time, or reducing downtime.

Alternatively, the issue may be equipment maintenance. For example, solutions may be solicited for determining the timing and content of equipment maintenance. Or, solutions may be solicited for reducing the time during which the object 5 is unavailable due to a malfunction. In this case, the object data D may be time-series data of an alarm output by the object 5. The alarm includes, for example, abnormal load, abnormal vibration, overtravel, and the like. The additional information may include the date and time of inspection of the object 5 and the details of the inspection. The additional information may include the date and time of the malfunction of the object 5 and the details of the malfunction.

The object 5 is not limited to a machine tool, but may be other machinery such as a welding robot, a heat treatment device, or a construction machine. Construction machinery includes, for example, a shovel, a dump truck, a wheel loader, or a bulldozer.

The object 5 may be a cooling device for a machine. For example, the object 5 may be a device that supplies coolant to the machine. In that case, a solution may be solicited for determining the appropriate time to change the coolant. The object data D may include coolant deterioration information. The coolant deterioration information may include the pH of the coolant, the concentration of the coolant, and the odor of the coolant. The additional information may include the model number of the coolant and the date and time of the coolant change.

Alternatively, the object 5 may be a device that generates cooling air using a fan. In that case, a solution may be sought for determining the timing of maintenance of the device. The object data D may include the temperature of the machine and the current value of the fan's drive motor.

Alternatively, the object 5 may be a person. In that case, the object data D may include the position of the person. The position of the person may be acquired by a camera or a GPS receiver. The label L may be the work content of the person indicated by the object data D. Solutions may be solicited for determining the work content being performed by the person from the object data D.

Alternatively, the object 5 may be raw materials before processing and the product after processing. The object data D may be shape data of the raw materials before processing and the product after processing. If there is no shape data, a 3D model created by a 3D scanner or the like may be used as the shape data. The label L may be an identification symbol such as a product number, or a state such as "before processing" or "after processing". In that case, an NC program that changes the raw materials before processing to the state of the product after processing may be sought as a solution.

This disclosure allows users to easily obtain a solution suitable for solving the problem of the target object.

2 Data logger 3 User computer 4 Server D Object data L Label

Claims (8)

1. A method executed by a server including one or more computers accessible via a communications network, comprising :
acquiring object data indicative of a time-series state of an object, the data being uploaded via the communication network ;
Obtaining a label to be attached to the object data uploaded via the communication network ;
acquiring a challenge for the object that is uploaded via the communication network ;
the object data and the label are downloadable from the server, and the object data, the label, and the problem are published on a website, and solutions to the problem are solicited from the public via the communication network ;
Accepting software uploads for said solution ;
Equipped with
the solution software is downloadable from the server;
method. the label includes a classification of a state of the object;
The method of claim 1. The classification includes whether the object is normal or abnormal.
The method of claim 2. The object is a machine tool.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3. a data logger that records object data indicating a time-series state of the object;
a user computer that receives a label to be attached to the object data and a task for the object;
a server that acquires the object data, the label, and the problem via a communication network, and publishes the object data, the label, and the problem on a website to solicit solutions to the problem;
Equipped with
the object data and the label are downloadable from the server;
The server accepts uploads of the software of the solution ;
the solution software is downloadable from the server;
system. the label includes a classification of a state of the object;
The system of claim 5 . The classification includes whether the object is normal or abnormal.
The system of claim 6 . The object is a machine tool.
A system according to any one of claims 5 to 7 .

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