JP7607904B2 - Work management system, work management method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a work management system, a work management method, and a program for performing safety management in a managed area.

In managed areas such as logistics processes and factories, workers and moving objects such as forklifts performing loading and unloading work are present. In managed areas, safety measures are required to prevent contact between moving objects and workers. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a predictive collision avoidance system that issues a specified warning when the distance between a forklift and a worker is within a certain range.

This predictive collision avoidance system includes a sensor mounted on the forklift that transmits a signal, a receiver that receives the signal, a controller that communicates with the receiver and calculates the distance between the sensor and the receiver, and a projection device that generates a warning such as lighting if the distance is within a predetermined range.

JP 2017-228284 A

According to the technology described in Patent Document 1, when constructing a system, certain sensors, receivers, projection devices, etc. are required, and there is a risk of increased costs due to the introduction of such equipment.

The present invention aims to provide a work management system, work management method, and program that can simplify the device configuration while improving the safety of work within a managed area.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention is a work management system comprising a transmitter that is installed on a mobile object used in a managed area and transmits a transmission signal, a terminal device that is carried by personnel staying in the managed area and receives the transmission signal and transmits communication data including the radio wave strength of the transmission signal, and a management device that acquires the communication data and calculates the distance between the terminal device and the transmitter based on the radio wave strength, wherein the management device distinguishes between the personnel an operator operating the mobile object and other workers based on the distance, and if in the distinction the distance between the mobile object and the terminal device is within a predetermined value and the state within the predetermined value continues for more than a predetermined time, it determines that the holder of the terminal device is the operator, and calculates the risk of the personnel in the managed area based on the number of times the worker and the mobile object move within a predetermined range while the operator is operating the mobile object.

According to the present invention, the distance between the transmitter and the terminal device can be calculated based on the radio wave intensity in the communication between the transmitter and the terminal device, and the worker and the operator of the mobile object can be distinguished based on the distance.

The management device of the present invention may be configured to determine that the owner of the terminal device is the operator when the distance between the moving body and the terminal device is within a predetermined value and the state where the distance is within the predetermined value continues for a predetermined period of time or more.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily distinguish between a worker and an operator of a moving object based on distance and duration.

The management device of the present invention may also be configured to calculate the risk of the operator based on the ratio of the individual number of approaches of each operator to the total number of approaches.

The present invention makes it possible to evaluate the risk to an operator within a managed area using a simple method.

The management device of the present invention may also be configured to calculate the risk of each worker based on the ratio of the individual number of approaches of each worker to the total number of approaches.

The present invention makes it possible to assess the risk to workers within a managed area using a simple method.

The managed area of the present invention may be classified into a plurality of work areas according to the work content, and the management device may be configured to calculate the risk weighted according to the work area.

According to the present invention, it is possible to ensure the fairness of risk assessment even if the work content differs in each work area within the managed area.

The management device of the present invention may also be configured to generate warning content according to the risk.

According to the present invention, by notifying each operator and worker of the warning content, it is possible to draw attention to the risks involved in the work and provide feedback for improving the work content.

One aspect of the present invention is a work management method performed by a computer, which includes transmitting a transmission signal from a transmitter provided on a mobile object used in a managed area, receiving the transmission signal by a terminal device carried by personnel staying in the managed area, and transmitting communication data including the radio wave strength of the transmission signal, acquiring the communication data, calculating a distance between the terminal device and the transmitter based on the radio wave strength, discriminating between the personnel as an operator operating the mobile object and other workers based on the distance, and if in the discrimination the distance between the mobile object and the terminal device is within a predetermined value and the state within the predetermined value continues for more than a predetermined time, determining that the holder of the terminal device is the operator , and calculating a risk to the operator in operating the mobile object based on the number of times the worker and the mobile object move within a predetermined range while the operator is operating the mobile object.

According to the present invention, it is possible to distinguish between a worker and an operator of a moving object using a simple method.

One aspect of the present invention is a work management program that causes a computer to calculate, based on the radio wave strength of a transmission signal transmitted from a transmitter installed on a mobile object used in the managed area, the distance between the transmitter and a terminal device carried by a worker present in the managed area that received the transmission signal, and based on the distance, distinguish between personnel present in the managed area as an operator operating the mobile object and other workers, and if, in the determination, the distance between the mobile object and the terminal device is within a predetermined value and the state within the predetermined value continues for more than a predetermined time, determine that the holder of the terminal device is the operator, and calculate the risk of the operator in operating the mobile object based on the number of times the worker and the mobile object move within a predetermined range while the operator is operating the mobile object.

The present invention makes it possible to distinguish between a worker and an operator of a moving object through simple processing, thereby reducing the computational load.

The present invention can simplify the device configuration while improving the safety of work within the managed area.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management target area according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a work management system. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between communication distance and received radio wave intensity. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the number of times an operator and a worker approach each other. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a calculation result of an operator's risk. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the calculation results of the risk of a worker. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed in the management device.

Below, an embodiment of a work management system, a work management method, and a program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The work management system, for example, manages the safety of a managed area.

As shown in FIG. 1, the managed area R is, for example, a place where loading and unloading work is carried out, such as a warehouse or factory where items are stored in the logistics process. The managed area R is classified into a number of work areas Rn (n: natural number) according to the work content. In each work area Rn, work such as storing, packing, delivering, and processing items is carried out. In the managed area R, for example, a mobile object M operated by an operator D and a worker W are mixed. The mobile object M may be, for example, a forklift driven by the operator D, a vehicle other than a forklift, or a work machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, the work management system 1 includes, for example, a transmitter 2 provided on a mobile object M, a terminal device 4 that communicates with the transmitter 2, and a management device 10 that performs safety management of a worker W. The mobile object M is, for example, a forklift used within the managed area R. There are multiple mobile objects M within the managed area R. There are many workers W within the managed area R.

The transmitter 2 is provided on the forklift. The transmitter 2 is, for example, a radio wave beacon (BLE beacon) that transmits a predetermined transmission signal at a predetermined timing. The transmitter 2 adds ID information to the transmission signal and transmits it. The ID information is, for example, a MAC address. ID information other than a MAC address may be used as long as individual identification is possible. The transmitter 2 communicates with a large number of terminal devices 4, for example, via Bluetooth (registered trademark). Even if there are multiple transmitters 2, the terminal devices 4 can communicate with each transmitter 2 individually based on the ID information added to the received transmission signal.

The terminal device 4 is carried by personnel staying in the managed area R. The personnel include at least an operator D of the mobile body M and a worker W other than the operator D. The terminal device 4 is a mobile communication terminal device configured, for example, by a smartphone, tablet terminal, etc. An application that performs predetermined communication based on a radio wave beacon transmitted by the transmitter 2 is installed in the terminal device 4.

The transmitter 2 and the terminal device 4 establish communication, for example, by BLE communication. The transmitter 2 scans the surroundings and receives an advertising signal transmitted by the terminal device 4 at a predetermined timing. The advertising signal includes MAC address data. When the transmitter 2 receives the advertising signal, it acquires the MAC address and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) data indicating the received radio wave strength. The RSSI becomes weaker as the distance between the terminal device 4 and the transmitter 2 increases. The transmitter 2 transmits a connection request to the terminal device 4 based on the received advertising signal. The terminal device 4 receives the connection request and switches to one-to-one connection communication (GATT (Generic attribute profile) communication) with the transmitter 2.

The transmitter 2 and the terminal device 4 may perform pairing communication via Bluetooth. Upon receiving the transmission signal transmitted by the transmitter 2, the terminal device 4 performs predetermined communication with the transmitter 2 based on the ID information to establish individual communication. In Bluetooth pairing, the terminal device 4 and the transmitter 2 generate a communication path. After pairing, the terminal device 4 and the transmitter 2 correct the radio wave strength to stabilize communication. The terminal device 4 receives the transmission signal and measures the radio wave strength of the transmission signal. The terminal device 4 acquires, for example, an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value indicating the strength of the transmission signal after pairing with the transmitter 2. The RSSI becomes weaker as the distance between the terminal device 4 and the transmitter 2 increases.

The transmitter 2 and the terminal device 4 may communicate with each other using a communication method other than Bluetooth. The transmitter 2 may communicate with multiple terminal devices 4 using, for example, ZigBee (registered trademark) or wireless LAN. Other wireless communication methods may be used for communication between the transmitter 2 and the terminal device 4 as long as multiple terminal devices 4 can communicate with the transmitter 2 simultaneously.

The terminal device 4 transmits communication data including the radio wave intensity of the received transmission signal to the management device 10 via the network N. The network N is, for example, a wireless LAN installed in the management area R, a public mobile phone network, individual communication means such as Bluetooth, or a communication means realized by a combination of these. The terminal device 4 transmits the communication data to the management device 10 periodically (for example, every 10 minutes) or at a specified timing.

The management device 10 acquires communication data transmitted by the terminal device 4 via the network N. The management device 10 is an information processing device realized by, for example, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, etc. The management device 10 includes, for example, a calculation unit 12 that performs various calculations related to safety management, a memory unit 14 that stores programs and data necessary for the calculations, and a display unit 16 that displays information related to safety management based on the calculation results.

The calculation unit 12 is realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program stored in a program memory. In addition, a part or all of the calculation unit 12 may be realized by hardware such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or may be realized by software and hardware working together.

The storage unit 14 is realized, for example, by a hard disk drive (HDD), flash memory, electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), read only memory (ROM), or random access memory (RAM), or a hybrid storage device that uses a combination of these. The storage unit 14 also stores various programs such as firmware and application programs, and processing results by various functional units. Part or all of the storage unit 14 may be realized by an external storage device that can be accessed by the management device 10 via the network N. The external storage device is, for example, a network attached storage (NAS) device.

Next, the process executed in the management device 10 will be described. The calculation unit 12 calculates the distance between the terminal device 4 and the transmitter 2 based on the RSSI data indicating the radio wave intensity included in the communication data. When multiple transmitters 2 are installed within the management target area R, the calculation unit 12 may estimate the position of the terminal device 4 based on the RSSI data received from the multiple transmitters 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, there is a correlation between the strength of the received radio wave and the communication distance such that the greater the communication distance, the lower the strength of the received radio wave. This correlation is set as a predetermined function (d=f(v), where d is distance and v is radio wave strength) based on data acquired from a previous experiment. Instead of the predetermined function, mapping data showing the correlation between the strength of the received radio wave and the communication distance may be used. The predetermined function and mapping data are stored in the memory unit 14. The calculation unit 12 uses the predetermined function and mapping data to calculate the communication distance corresponding to the acquired RSSI data.

The calculation unit 12 distinguishes between operators D who operate the moving body M and other workers W among the personnel present in the managed area R based on the calculated distance. For example, if the distance between the moving body M and the terminal device 4 is within a predetermined range (e.g., 1 m) and the state where the distance is within a predetermined value continues for a predetermined time (e.g., 1 minute) or more, the calculation unit 12 determines that the holder of the terminal device 4 is the operator D of the moving body M. The calculation unit 12 determines that the holder of a terminal device 4 other than the terminal device 4 held by the operator D is a worker W.

The calculation unit 12 judges that "approach" has occurred if the worker W and the moving body M move within a predetermined range (e.g., 1 m) every predetermined period (e.g., one week) while the operator D is operating the moving body M. When approach occurs, the calculation unit 12 counts the number of times as the number of approaches, stores it in the memory unit 14, and generates a database.

As shown in FIG. 4, the calculation unit 12 counts the number of times that the worker W and the mobile object M during operation move within a specified range for each specified period (e.g., one month) based on the database, and generates a count map Q. The number of times of approach is counted in the count map Q. The count map Q is displayed, for example, on the display unit 16. The calculation unit 12 calculates the risk of the operator D in operating the mobile object M, for example, based on the count map Q. The risk may be evaluated, for example, simply based on the number of times that the worker W and the mobile object M during operation move within a specified range. The risk is set, for example, for each of the operator D and the worker W.

As shown in FIG. 5, the calculation unit 12 calculates the ratio of each operator D's individual number of approaches to the total number of approaches as the risk for operator D. The calculation result is displayed, for example, on the display unit 16. In this case, the smaller the value of the risk, the safer the risk is evaluated. The method of calculating the risk is one example, and other evaluation methods may be used as long as they can obtain results according to the number of approaches, not just the ratio of the number of approaches. As shown in the figure, for example, the ratio of the number of approaches for operator D (3) is higher than the ratio of the number of approaches for other operators D. In this case, operator D (3) is determined to have a relatively high risk of contact with worker W when operating the moving body M.

As shown in FIG. 6, the calculation unit 12 calculates the risk of each worker W as the ratio of the individual number of approaches to the total number of approaches, similar to the calculation of the risk of operator D. The calculation result is displayed, for example, on the display unit 16. As shown in the figure, for example, the ratio of the number of approaches of worker W (11) is large compared to the ratios of the number of approaches of the other workers W. In this case, worker W (11) is determined to have a relatively high risk of contact with a moving body M while working within the managed area R.

The calculation unit 12 generates warning content according to the degree of risk based on the calculation result. The warning content may be a step-by-step ranking preset according to the degree of risk, or a message showing the warning content according to the degree of risk. The calculation unit 12 causes transmission data including the warning content to be sent to the terminal device 4 held by the operator D and worker W who are determined to be at a relatively high risk. The operator D and worker W can reconfirm the work content based on the warning content displayed on the terminal device 4 and provide feedback to reduce the risk in the work.

As described above, the managed area R is classified into a number of work areas Rn depending on the type of work. For example, a work area Rn with a high density of workers W has a different risk from a work area Rn with a low density of workers W. Also, a work area Rn with a relatively low average speed of moving objects M has a different risk compared to a work area Rn with a relatively high average speed of moving objects M.

The calculation unit 12 may calculate the risk for each work area Rn. When the calculation unit 12 centrally manages the risks of the operator D and the worker W in the entire managed area R, the calculation unit 12 may weight the risks according to the work area Rn and calculate the risks of the operator D and the worker W. In addition, when the calculation unit 12 determines that an approach has occurred in real time, the calculation unit 12 may cause the terminal device 4 to transmit a warning of the approach. In this case, the calculation unit 12 may cause the terminal device 4 to transmit a warning of the approach when the approach reaches a predetermined range. The calculation unit 12 may generate a display showing the relationship between the number of approaches and the location of occurrence in a floor plan for each work area Rn, and display the display on the display unit 16.

Next, we will explain the process flow of the work management method executed in the work management system 1.

Figure 7 shows a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the management device 10. A transmitter 2 is provided on a mobile object M used in the managed area R. The transmitter 2 transmits a transmission signal at a predetermined timing (step S100). Personnel staying in the managed area R carry a terminal device 4. The terminal device 4 receives the transmission signal (step S102). The terminal device 4 transmits communication data including the radio wave intensity of the transmission signal (step S104). The management device 10 acquires the communication data (step S106).

The management device 10 calculates the distance between the terminal device 4 and the transmitter 2 based on the radio wave intensity data included in the communication data. Based on the distance, the management device 10 distinguishes between the operator operating the mobile object and other workers (step S108). The management device 10 calculates the risk of the operator operating the mobile object based on the number of times the worker and the mobile object move within a specified range while the operator is operating the mobile object (step S110).

In the above process, in the management device 10, the work management program causes the computer to execute the following process. Based on the radio wave intensity of a transmission signal transmitted from a transmitter 2 provided on a mobile body M used in the managed area R, the work management program calculates the distance between the terminal device 4 carried by a worker W staying in the managed area R that received the transmission signal and the transmitter 2. Based on the distance, the work management program distinguishes between an operator D operating the mobile body M and other workers W among the personnel staying in the managed area R. Based on the number of times that the worker W and the mobile body M moved within a specified range while the operator D was operating the mobile body M, the work management program calculates the risk of the operator D in operating the mobile body M.

As described above, the work management system 1 is configured with a transmitter 2 such as a BLE beacon and a terminal device 4 such as a smartphone, and can greatly simplify the device configuration. The work management system 1 can easily distinguish between a worker W and an operator D of a mobile body M based on radio wave strength. The work management system 1 can calculate the risk that occurs within the managed area R using a simple algorithm based on the number of approaches, and can increase the processing speed.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the work management system may be applied to equipping personnel with transmitters to determine the number of times personnel approach, and to assess the risk of infectious diseases.

Reference Signs List 1 Work management system 2 Transmitter 4 Terminal device 10 Management device 12 Calculation unit 14 Memory unit 16 Display unit D Operator LAN Wireless M Mobile body N Network Q Aggregation map R Management target area Rn Work area W Worker

Claims (7)

A transmitter provided in a mobile object used in a management area and configured to transmit a transmission signal;
a terminal device carried by a person staying in the management area, for receiving the transmission signal and for transmitting communication data including the radio wave intensity of the transmission signal;
a management device that acquires the communication data and calculates a distance between the terminal device and the transmitter based on the radio wave intensity,
The management device distinguishes between the personnel who are operators operating the mobile object and other workers based on the distance, and if the distance between the mobile object and the terminal device is within a predetermined value and the state within the predetermined value continues for more than a predetermined time, it determines that the owner of the terminal device is the operator, and calculates the risk of the personnel in the managed area based on the number of times the worker and the mobile object move within a predetermined range while the operator is operating the mobile object. the management device calculates the risk of the operator based on a ratio of the individual number of approaches of each of the operators to the total number of approaches.
The work management system according to claim 1 . the management device calculates the risk of the worker based on a ratio of the individual number of approaches of each worker to the total number of approaches.
The work management system according to claim 1 or 2 . The management area is classified into a plurality of work areas according to the work contents,
The work management system according to claim 1 , wherein the management device calculates the risk weighted according to the work area. The work management system according to claim 1 , wherein the management device generates a warning content according to the risk. Transmitting a transmission signal from a transmitter provided in a mobile object used in a management area;
receiving the transmission signal by a terminal device carried by a person staying in the management area and transmitting communication data including the radio wave intensity of the transmission signal;
acquiring the communication data, and calculating a distance between the terminal device and the transmitter based on the radio wave intensity;
Based on the distance, distinguish between operators who operate the moving object and other workers among the personnel;
If the determination indicates that the distance between the moving object and the terminal device is within a predetermined value and the state where the distance is within the predetermined value continues for a predetermined period of time or more, it is determined that the holder of the terminal device is the operator;
A work management method performed by a computer , which calculates a risk involved in the operation of the moving object by the operator based on the number of times the worker and the moving object move within a predetermined range while the operator is operating the moving object. On the computer,
calculating a distance between a terminal device carried by an operator staying in the management area that receives a transmission signal from a transmitter provided in a mobile object used in the management area, based on a radio wave intensity of the transmission signal; and
Based on the distance, distinguish between operators who operate the moving object and other workers among the personnel staying in the management area;
When the determination indicates that the distance between the moving object and the terminal device is within a predetermined value and the state where the distance is within the predetermined value continues for a predetermined time or more, the holder of the terminal device is determined to be the operator;
A work management program that calculates a risk involved in the operation of the moving object by the operator based on the number of times the worker and the moving object move within a predetermined range while the operator is operating the moving object.

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