JP7652100B2 - Vehicle, information processing device, system, and method - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, an information processing device, a system, and a method.

Conventionally, technology related to a system that allows users (customers or general users) to go sightseeing in a vehicle is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses technology related to a tourist bus operation system that compiles the user's desired tourist spots from tourist spots in each specific area by desired date, and sets the sightseeing course for each desired date so that the desired tourist spots are covered.

JP 2002-279031 A

When touring general tourist spots on a tourist bus or the like, the user can enjoy themselves simply by looking at the objects from inside the vehicle. However, when touring facilities such as factories, if the user does not have sufficient knowledge about the objects, the user may not know what they are looking at or what they should focus on just by looking at the objects from inside the vehicle. Also, when touring from inside the vehicle (remotely), the user cannot see the objects or work processes in detail, which causes a problem of not being able to feel a sense of realism or satisfaction. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the technology related to systems for touring facilities such as factories by vehicle.

The purpose of this disclosure, made in light of these circumstances, is to improve technology related to systems that allow visitors to tour facilities such as factories by vehicle.

A vehicle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle for allowing a user inside the vehicle to tour a facility, and is equipped with a control unit that identifies parts on a production line using part number information and outputs explanatory information for the identified parts from an output unit inside the vehicle.

A system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a vehicle for allowing a user inside the vehicle to tour the facility, and an information processing device that transmits explanatory information about the part being toured to the vehicle.

An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an information processing device that manages tours of a facility by vehicles, and includes a control unit that transmits explanatory information about a part on a production line to the vehicle based on identification information of the part received from the vehicle.

A method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for allowing a user in a vehicle to tour a facility, and includes the steps of acquiring part number information of parts on a production line, identifying the parts based on the part number information, and outputting explanatory information of the identified parts from an output unit in the vehicle.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, technology related to a system for conducting tours of facilities such as factories by vehicle is improved.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing device; FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a factory tour using a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present disclosure. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(Overview of the embodiment)
1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 1 includes a vehicle 10 and an information processing device 20. The vehicle 10 and the information processing device 20 are communicatively connected to a network 30 including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network.

For ease of explanation, FIG. 1 illustrates one vehicle 10 and one information processing device 20 each in the system 1, but the number is not limited to this. The system 1 may include two or more information processing devices 20. The number of vehicles 10 in the system 1 may be two or more and may be determined arbitrarily.

The vehicle 10 is, for example, an automobile, but is not limited to this and may be any vehicle. The automobile may be, for example, a gasoline-powered automobile, an electric vehicle (BEV; Battery Electric Vehicle), a hybrid automobile (HEV; Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a plug-in hybrid automobile (PHEV; Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV; Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), but is not limited to these. In addition, in this embodiment, the vehicle 10 is described assuming that it is any autonomous vehicle that runs without a driver, but it may also be a manned vehicle.

In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 travels with users (customers or general users) on board within a facility such as a factory, allowing the users to observe, from inside the vehicle, the process of a product being made on a production line, for example.

The information processing device 20 is, for example, a computer such as a server device. For example, the information processing device 20 is a server belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system. Note that the information processing device 20 is not limited to these, and may be any general-purpose electronic device such as a PC (Personal Computer), or may be another electronic device dedicated to the system 1. The information processing device 20 is capable of communicating with the vehicle 10 via the network 30. In this embodiment, the information processing device 20 manages tours of the facility by the vehicle 10 of the system 1.

First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. The vehicle 10 carries the user and travels within the facility so that the user can visit the production line, etc. Note that the inside of the facility is not limited to indoors and may include outdoors. The vehicle 10 identifies parts on the production line by product number information, and outputs explanatory information for the identified part (the part being visited) from an output unit within the vehicle. Note that the information processing device 20 can transmit explanatory information for the part being visited by the user to the vehicle 10. Here, a part refers to an intermediate product in the manufacturing process that does not result in a finished product on the production line, and includes various forms such as a single part, a unit part formed by assembling multiple single parts, or a semi-finished product.

Thus, according to this embodiment, the vehicle 10 carrying the user identifies parts on the production line and provides the user in the vehicle with explanatory information about the parts being toured. Therefore, even if the user lacks knowledge about the object being toured, for example, the explanatory information allows the user to gain knowledge about the parts on the production line and enjoy touring the production line. This improves the technology related to systems for touring facilities such as factories by vehicle, in that user satisfaction during the tour is increased.

Next, each component of System 1 will be described in detail.

(Vehicle configuration)
As shown in FIG. 2 , the vehicle 10 includes a control unit 11 , a storage unit 12 , a communication unit 13 , a positioning unit 14 , an input unit 15 , and an output unit 16 .

The control unit 11 includes at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination of these. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (central processing unit) or a GPU (graphics processing unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). The control unit 11 executes processes related to the operation of the vehicle 10 while controlling each part of the vehicle 10.

The storage unit 12 includes one or more memories. The memories are, for example, semiconductor memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, etc., but are not limited to these. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM). The RAM is, for example, a static random access memory (SRAM) or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The ROM is, for example, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). Each memory included in the storage unit 12 may function, for example, as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores any information used in the operation of the vehicle 10. For example, the storage unit 12 may store a system program, an application program, embedded software, etc. The information stored in the storage unit 12 may be updatable with information obtained from the network 30 via the communication unit 13, for example. In this embodiment, the storage unit 12 can store any information necessary for traveling within the facility and touring the production line.

The communication unit 13 includes at least one external communication interface that connects to the network 30. The communication interface is, for example, an interface compatible with mobile communication standards such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation), or an interface compatible with short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), but is not limited to these. The communication unit 13 receives data used in the operation of the vehicle 10, and transmits data obtained by the operation of the vehicle 10 to the outside (for example, the information processing device 20). In this embodiment, the communication unit 13 can electronically read part number information (RFID) from an RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) tag in which part number information of each part is embedded, by short-range wireless communication using an electromagnetic field or radio waves.

The positioning unit 14 includes one or more devices that acquire position information of the vehicle 10. Specifically, the positioning unit 14 includes a receiver compatible with, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS), but is not limited to this, and may include a receiver compatible with any positioning system. The positioning unit 14 may acquire the position information of the vehicle 10 continuously, or periodically or non-periodically.

The input unit 15 includes a means for inputting information to the vehicle 10. For example, the input unit 15 includes any imaging module capable of capturing images of the surroundings of the vehicle 10. The imaging module includes one or more cameras, and each camera is disposed at an appropriate position on the vehicle 10 so as to capture images of the surroundings of the vehicle 10. In this embodiment, the input unit 15 may be configured to capture images of parts on a production line, read part number information written on the parts, and perform character recognition. The input unit 15 may also include a voice recognition function along with a means for inputting voice information. Without being limited thereto, the input unit 15 may include any means for acquiring information about the surroundings of the vehicle 10.

The output unit 16 includes at least one output interface. The output interface is, for example, a display device that outputs information as a video, or a speaker that outputs information as audio. The display device is, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display) or an organic EL (electro luminescence) display, but may also be a goggle-type display device that displays VR (virtual reality) images. The output unit 16 outputs data received from the information processing device 20, or data obtained by the operation of the vehicle 10, etc.

(Configuration of information processing device)
As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing device 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23.

The control unit 21 includes at least one processor, at least one dedicated circuit, or a combination of these. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU or GPU, or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA or ASIC. The control unit 21 executes processes related to the operation of the information processing device 20 while controlling each part of the information processing device 20.

The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. The memories are, for example, semiconductor memory, magnetic memory, or optical memory, but are not limited thereto. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM or a ROM. The RAM is, for example, an SRAM or a DRAM. The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 functions, for example, as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store a system program, an application program, a database, and the like. The information stored in the storage unit 22 may be updatable, for example, with information acquired from the network 30 via the communication unit 23. In this embodiment, the storage unit 22 can store any information necessary for a tour of the production line, such as a tour schedule for the vehicle 10 and explanatory information for each part.

The communication unit 23 includes one or more external communication interfaces connected to the network 30. The communication interface may be either a wired or wireless communication interface. In the case of wired communication, the communication interface is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface or a USB (Universal Serial Bus). In the case of wireless communication, the communication interface is, for example, an interface compatible with a mobile communication standard such as LTE, 4G, or 5G, or an interface compatible with short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The communication unit 23 receives data used in the operation of the information processing device 20, and transmits data obtained by the operation of the information processing device 20 to the outside. In this embodiment, the information processing device 20 communicates with the vehicle 10 via the communication unit 23 and the network 30. The information processing device 20 may communicate with various devices on the production line via the communication unit 23 and the network 30.

In addition, although the information processing device 20 in FIG. 3 of this embodiment does not include an input unit and an output unit, the information processing device 20 may further include an input unit and an output unit. That is, in addition to receiving (input) and transmitting (output) information via the communication unit 23, the information processing device 20 may input and output information using the input unit and output unit.

The functions of the information processing device 20 are realized by executing a program relating to the information processing method of this embodiment in a processor corresponding to the control unit 21. That is, the functions of the information processing device 20 are realized by software. The program causes a computer to execute the operations of the information processing device 20, thereby causing the computer to function as the information processing device 20. That is, the computer functions as the information processing device 20 by executing the operations of the information processing device 20 in accordance with the program.

In this embodiment, the program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes non-transitory computer-readable media, such as a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. The program is distributed, for example, by selling, transferring, or lending a portable recording medium, such as a DVD (digital versatile disc) or a CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory), on which the program is recorded. The program may also be distributed by storing the program in the storage of an external server and transmitting the program from the external server to another computer. The program may also be provided as a program product.

(Example of production line tour)
Fig. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a factory tour using a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment in which a user gets on a vehicle 10 and tours the process of a product being completed on a production line from inside the vehicle using the system 1 of Fig. 1. Below, a basic procedure for providing explanatory information on parts and the like to a user in the vehicle 10 during a tour of a production line will be described.

The vehicle 10 carries the user and travels through a facility such as a factory according to instructions from the information processing device 20 (or a tour schedule stored in the memory unit 12 of the vehicle 10), and moves to a location where the production line can be toured (hereinafter referred to as a "tour spot"). The tour spot is provided, for example, as location information from the information processing device 20, and the vehicle 10 can move to the tour spot instructed by autonomous driving (automatic driving). In FIG. 4, the tour spot is a place where processing or assembly work of parts 52 is being performed by a robot arm 60 on a conveyor belt 50.

In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 identifies the part 52 on the production line using part number information, and transmits identification information that specifies the part 52 to the information processing device 20. The information processing device 20 reads explanatory information about the part 52, for example from the storage unit 22, based on the identification information of the part 52 on the production line, and transmits the explanatory information to the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 outputs the received explanatory information about the part 52 from an output unit (e.g., a display) 16 within the vehicle 10.

Figure 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining one embodiment of a tour of a facility performed by the system 1 of Figure 1. The sequence diagram shown in Figure 5 shows an example of a basic processing flow performed by the vehicle 10 and information processing device 20 of the system 1.

Step S101: The control unit 21 of the information processing device 20 uses the communication unit 23 to transmit position information of the sightseeing spot to the vehicle 10. The sightseeing spot is based on, for example, the planned sightseeing course and sightseeing schedule.

Step S102: The vehicle 10 receives location information of the sightseeing spot from the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 13. The vehicle 10 (control unit 11) moves to the sightseeing spot, for example by autonomous driving, based on the location information of the sightseeing spot and the stored information of the driving route (route map) within the facility.

Step S103: At the viewing spot, the vehicle 10 acquires part number information of the part 52 on the production line (e.g., a conveyor belt) 50. Each part (e.g., individual part) is assigned unique part number information, and by acquiring the part number information of the part 52, the part 52 can be identified (specified). Note that a production line may produce different products depending on the date and time, and in order to provide accurate explanatory information to the user, it is necessary to identify the part 52 being produced at that time at each viewing spot.

If the part number information is printed on the part 52 as letters or a code, the vehicle 10 (control unit 11) can read the letters or code using the camera, which is the input unit 15, to obtain the part number information. Also, if the part number information is recorded on the part 52 as an RFID, the vehicle 10 (control unit 11) can obtain the part number information from the RFID tag of the part 52 by using the communication unit 13 to electronically read the RFID by short-range wireless communication using an electromagnetic field or radio waves, etc.

For parts 52 that have progressed to a certain degree in the manufacturing and assembly process, it is desirable to obtain part number information by RFID. Parts 52 are generally made up of multiple individual parts, and vehicle 10 (control unit 11) can obtain the RFIDs of all of the individual parts that make up part 52 at once by short-range wireless communication.

Step S104: The control unit 11 of the vehicle 10 identifies the part 52 being inspected from the acquired part number information. If the part 52 is a single part, the control unit 11 can immediately identify the part 52 from the acquired part number information. For a part 52 that has progressed to a certain extent in the manufacturing and assembly process, the control unit 11 identifies the part 52 from the part number information of the multiple single parts that make up the part 52. The control unit 11 can determine which single parts the part 52 is made up of, from the part number information of the multiple single parts, and identify the part 52. Alternatively, if the RFID of the part 52 is rewritten each time a process is completed, the control unit 11 can determine which manufacturing process the part 52 is a part of, from the information rewritten in the latest process among the RFID part number information, and identify the part 52.

When identifying a part 52 that has progressed to a certain degree in the manufacturing and assembly processes by reading characters or codes using a camera, it may not be possible to obtain part number information for all of the individual parts that make up part 52, for example because it is not possible to photograph individual parts that have become inside during assembly. Even in this case, since it is usually possible to obtain part number information for parts that are attached later on the outside, it is possible to determine which manufacturing process part 52 has completed based on the part number information of the individual part attached in the latest process, and identify part 52. Alternatively, vehicle 10 (control unit 11) may obtain the external shape of part 52 with a camera, and identify part 52 using information on the shape of part 52 in addition to the obtained part number information. Part 52 can be identified by shape using known technology such as image recognition technology, and this can be combined with the obtained part number information to enable accurate part identification.

Step S105: After identifying the part 52, the vehicle 10 transmits identification information that identifies the identified part 52 to the information processing device 20. The identification information of the part 52 may be any information that can identify the part 52 being viewed, such as information that identifies the combination of individual parts that make up the part 52, or information that identifies the current work process in which the part 52 is being processed. Alternatively, the vehicle 10 may transmit the acquired part number information of the part 52 directly to the information processing device 20.

Step S106: The control unit 21 of the information processing device 20 receives the identification information that identifies the part 52, reads the description information of the part 52 that corresponds to the identification information from the memory unit 22, and transmits it to the vehicle 10 using the communication unit 23.

Step S107: The vehicle 10 (control unit 11) receives the explanatory information of the part 52 from the information processing device 20 and outputs the received explanatory information using the output unit 16 in the vehicle. In this embodiment, it is described that the explanatory information of the part 52 is received and acquired from the information processing device 20. However, if the necessary explanatory information is available in the storage unit 12 of the vehicle 10, the control unit 11 may read and output the explanatory information from the storage unit 12. The explanatory information of the part 52 is, for example, the position of the part 52 in the finished product. Alternatively, the explanatory information of the part 52 is the position of the current work process (manufacturing process) of the part 52 in the production line (as a whole). Alternatively, the explanatory information of the part 52 is a detailed image of the part 52 (an enlarged image, a three-dimensional image, a VR (Virtual Reality) image, or the like of the part 52). The explanatory information of the part 52 may also be a combination of these.

By displaying information on the position of the part 52 in the finished product on the display device (display), which is the output unit 16 in the vehicle 10, the user can understand in which part of the finished product the part 52 they are viewing will be installed, and can enjoy the tour with interest. The display device in the vehicle 10 may be a large-screen display that can be viewed by multiple users, or a personal display installed in front of each user's seat and that each user can freely operate. Alternatively, the display device may be a head-up display installed in the user's viewing window.

In addition, by displaying information on the position of the work process of part 52 in the entire production line on the display device, which is the output unit 16 inside the vehicle 10, the user can understand the overall picture of the production line and what stage in the entire production line the current work process of part 52 that the user is visiting is at, allowing the user to enjoy the tour with interest.

In addition, by displaying detailed image information (enlarged image, 3D image, VR image, etc.) of the part 52 being viewed on the display device, which is the output unit 16 inside the vehicle 10, the user can learn the detailed structure of the part 52 that cannot be seen when viewing from inside the vehicle (remotely), deepening their understanding of the product (part) and allowing them to view with interest. It is preferable that the magnification and direction of the enlarged image or 3D image on the display device (display) can be freely changed by user operation. Also, the VR image may be displayed on a head-mounted display worn by each user. Furthermore, the image may be a stereoscopic image projected into space.

The control unit 11 may also provide explanatory information about the parts 52 by automated voice from the audio output device (speaker) that is the output unit 16 in the vehicle 10. Furthermore, an explanation about the viewing spot (part or work process) during the tour may be provided by automated voice. By identifying the parts 52 on the production line by product number information, it is possible to provide an appropriate explanation corresponding to the viewing spot (part).

In addition, samples (actual items) of parts related to the object being viewed may be prepared inside the vehicle 10, and samples related to the part being viewed at that time may be displayed inside the vehicle so that the user can actually touch them.

Step S108: In addition to the explanatory information for part 52, system 1 can provide additional information to the user. The additional information is information related to the work process being toured, such as real-time video of the work process, information that cannot be seen during the normal work process, or answers to questions about the work process or explanatory information (sometimes referred to as answer information). Vehicle 10 transmits a request for the additional information to information processing device 20. Note that the request for additional information may be made by a user inside the vehicle using an operating device at hand, or the control unit 11 may determine the work process for part 52 and request additional information corresponding to the part (or tour spot).

Step S109: The control unit 21 of the information processing device 20 receives the request for additional information, prepares additional information corresponding to the request (obtaining video from equipment on the production line, reading additional information from the memory unit 22, etc.), and transmits the information to the vehicle 10 using the communication unit 23.

Step S110: The vehicle 10 (control unit 11) receives the additional information from the information processing device 20 and outputs the received additional information using the output unit 16 inside the vehicle. Note that in this embodiment, the additional information is received and acquired from the information processing device 20, but if the necessary additional information is in the memory unit 12 of the vehicle 10, the control unit 11 may read the additional information from the memory unit 12 and output it.

An example of additional information will be described. For example, in a production line, a worker may process a part 52 (for example, welding by the worker, etc.). At this time, the vehicle 10 (control unit 11) requests an image from a camera at the worker's line of sight from the information processing device 20, and the image sent via the information processing device 20 can be displayed on the output unit (display device) 16 in the vehicle 10. By displaying an image from the actual worker's line of sight in real time on a display in the vehicle 10, the user can feel the realism of the work process and can observe with interest. Note that the display device 16 may display an image from a camera attached to the robot arm 60, similar to the image from the camera at the worker's line of sight.

In addition, as additional information, information that cannot be seen during normal work processes may be provided to the user. For example, a video showing how to deal with an emergency problem that occurs on the production line being visited may be shown on the display device 16 inside the vehicle 10. By introducing in the video the method of detecting an abnormality by machines on an unmanned line, the actions of workers when an abnormality is detected on an assembly line, an electronic display panel that shows the operating status and abnormalities of the equipment at a glance, and specific steps to take when an abnormality occurs, the brand image can be improved by conveying to the user that problems are reliably dealt with.

The additional information may also be a response (response information) to a question from the user regarding the work process or explanatory information. The user can send the question in the form of a message from an operating terminal at hand, or can ask a question using an input unit 15 such as a microphone installed in the vehicle. The question is sent to a remote center via the information processing device 20, and an operator answers as necessary. Note that the information processing device 20 may respond to relatively simple questions using AI (artificial intelligence).

Step S111: The control unit 21 of the information processing device 20 then transmits the location information of the next tour spot to the vehicle 10, for example, based on the tour schedule.

Then, by repeating steps S101 and onwards, the system 1 can sequentially tour the production line at each tour spot.

Next, the driving of the vehicle 10 will be described. The information processing device 20 manages the tour of the facility by the vehicle 10. The information processing device 20 grasps the position information of each vehicle 10 taking part in the tour, and manages the driving of each vehicle 10. The driving management of the vehicle 10 can be performed in various ways.

A common method is to manage driving based on a predetermined tour schedule. The information processing device 20 transmits position information of tour spots to the vehicle 10 in sequence at a predetermined timing according to the tour schedule. When the vehicle 10 (control unit 11) receives the position information of the next tour spot from the information processing device 20, it performs autonomous driving to the next tour spot based on the position information of the tour spot, information on the driving route (route map) within the facility, and the position information of the vehicle 10 measured by the positioning unit 14. Alternatively, the information processing device 20 may transmit a tour schedule to the vehicle 10 in advance, and the vehicle 10 may read the tour schedule stored in the memory unit 12 as appropriate and perform autonomous driving to the next tour spot. With this method, a factory tour can be performed according to the schedule.

Another method is to manage the running of the vehicle 10 in accordance with the speed of the production line. The information processing device 20 has information on the route of the production line and the running speed of the line at each location, calculates the current position of a specific part 52 at the viewing spot that the vehicle 10 first visited, and transmits the position information to the vehicle 10 constantly or periodically. The vehicle 10 (control unit 11) receives the position information of the specific part 52 and performs autonomous driving so as to correspond the movement (position information) of the part 52 on the production line to the position information of the vehicle 10 (i.e., to always observe the part 52). Alternatively, the control unit 11 of the vehicle 10 observes the specific part 52 with the camera of the input unit 15 and acquires the movement (movement speed, etc.) of the part 52 on the production line. The control unit 11 may then perform autonomous driving so as to correspond the movement of the part 52 on the production line to the position information of the vehicle 10. According to this method, the vehicle 10 can automatically follow one part 52 on the production line by focusing on the part 52. Users can observe the process of how each part is put together and how quickly it comes together.

(Vehicle operation flow)
An operation of providing information to a user of the vehicle 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Step S201: The control unit 11 of the vehicle 10 acquires product number information of the part 52 on the production line at the viewing spot.

Any method can be used to obtain the part number information of part 52. As described above, for example, control unit 11 can use communication unit 13 to electronically read the RFID from the RFID tag of part 52 by short-range wireless communication and obtain the part number information. Alternatively, control unit 11 can use the camera, which is input unit 15, to read characters or codes printed on part 52 and obtain the part number information.

Step S202: The control unit 11 identifies the part 52 based on the part number information acquired in step S201. For parts 52 that have progressed to a certain degree in the manufacturing/assembly process, the control unit 11 can determine which individual parts the part 52 is made up of, based on the part number information of the multiple individual parts that make up the part 52, and identify the part 52. Alternatively, the control unit 11 can determine which manufacturing process the part 52 has completed, based on the part number information of the RFID that was rewritten in the latest process or the part number information of the individual part that was attached in the latest process, and identify the part 52.

Step S203: The control unit 11 determines whether or not the explanatory information of the part 52 identified in step S202 is recorded in the memory unit 12 of the vehicle 10. If it is determined that the explanatory information is in the memory unit 12 (step S203-Yes), the process proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, if it is determined that the explanatory information is not in the memory unit 12 (step S203-No), the process proceeds to step S205.

Step S204: If it is determined in step S203 that the description information of part 52 is stored in memory unit 12 (step S203-Yes), control unit 11 reads out the description information of part 52 from memory unit 12. The process then proceeds to step S207.

Step S205: If it is determined in step S203 that the description information for part 52 is not stored in the memory unit 12 (step S203-No), the control unit 11 transmits identification information for identifying part 52 to the information processing device 20, and requests the description information for part 52. After that, the information processing device 20 transmits the description information for part 52.

Step S206: The control unit 11 receives the explanatory information of the part 52 sent by the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 13. The explanatory information of the part 52 is the position of the part 52 in the finished product, the position of the part 52 in the current work process in the entire production line, or a detailed image of the part 52 (enlarged image, 3D image, VR image, etc.). The explanatory information of the part 52 may be a combination of these. The process then proceeds to step S207.

Step S207: The control unit 11 outputs explanatory information about the part 52 (information read from the storage unit 12 or information received from the information processing device 20) to the output unit 16 in the vehicle. The output unit 16 is, for example, a display device, and displays the position of the part 52 in the finished product or a three-dimensional image of the part 52 on a display. Alternatively, the output unit 16 is, for example, an audio output device, and provides the explanatory information by automatic audio. The process then proceeds to step S208.

Step S208: The control unit 11 determines whether or not additional information is required for the tour of the tour spot. If it is determined that additional information is required (step S208-Yes), the process proceeds to step S209. On the other hand, if it is determined that additional information is not required (step S208-No), the process ends.

Additional information is, for example, information corresponding to the work process being toured, information that cannot be seen during the normal work process, or information providing answers to questions about the work process or explanatory information. When a user inside the vehicle requests additional information using an operating device at hand, it is determined that additional information is needed. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may determine the work process, and if there is useful additional information corresponding to the tour spot, the control unit 11 may determine that additional information is needed.

Step S209: The control unit 11 determines whether or not the additional information required in step S208 is recorded in the memory unit 12 of the vehicle 10. If it is determined that the additional information is in the memory unit 12 (step S209-Yes), the process proceeds to step S210. On the other hand, if it is determined that the additional information is not in the memory unit 12 (step S209-No), the process proceeds to step S211.

Step S210: If it is determined in step S209 that the additional information is in the memory unit 12 (step S209-Yes), the control unit 11 reads the required additional information from the memory unit 12. The process then proceeds to step S213.

Step S211: If it is determined in step S209 that the additional information is not stored in the storage unit 12 (step S209-No), the control unit 11 requests the required additional information from the information processing device 20. The information processing device 20 then transmits the additional information.

Step S212: The control unit 11 receives the additional information sent by the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 13. The additional information is, for example, footage from the worker's eye-level camera, footage of how to deal with an emergency problem that occurs on the production line being visited, or answer information to a question from the user.

Step S213: The control unit 11 outputs the additional information (information read from the storage unit 12 or information received from the information processing device 20) to the output unit 16 in the vehicle. The output unit 16 is, for example, a display device, and displays on a display an image from the worker's eye level camera, an image of how to deal with an emergency problem, etc. Alternatively, the output unit 16 may be, for example, an audio output device, and may respond to questions from the user by audio. The process then ends.

In this way, explanatory information about the parts on the production line being visited is provided to the user inside the vehicle 10. This allows the user to gain knowledge about the object being visited, and allows the user to enjoy the tour with interest. In addition, additional information about the work process being visited is provided to the user inside the vehicle 10. This allows the user to see images and the like that cannot be seen when visiting from inside the vehicle, providing a sense of realism.

As described above, the vehicle 10 according to this embodiment identifies parts on the production line and provides explanatory information about the parts being toured to the user in the vehicle. The information processing device 20 according to this embodiment also manages the tour of the facility by the vehicle, and transmits explanatory information about the parts to the vehicle based on the identification information of the parts on the production line received from the vehicle.

With this configuration, even if the user lacks knowledge about the object being toured, the user can obtain knowledge about the parts on the production line through the part description information, and can enjoy touring the production line. This improves the technology related to systems for touring facilities such as factories by vehicle, in that user satisfaction during the tour is improved.

Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that a person skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged so as not to cause logical inconsistencies, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration and operation of the information processing device 20 may be distributed among multiple computers that can communicate with each other. Also, for example, an embodiment in which some or all of the components of the information processing device 20 are provided in the vehicle 10 may be possible.

In addition, an embodiment is also possible in which, for example, a general-purpose computer functions as the information processing device 20 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing contents for realizing each function of the information processing device 20 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Thus, the present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor, or a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores the program.

Reference Signs List 1 System 10 Vehicle 11 Control unit 12 Memory unit 13 Communication unit 14 Positioning unit 15 Input unit 16 Output unit 20 Information processing device 21 Control unit 22 Memory unit 23 Communication unit 30 Network 50 Belt conveyor 52 Part 60 Robot arm

Claims (16)

A vehicle for allowing a user to tour a facility,
Identify parts on the production line by part number information,
a control unit that outputs explanatory information of the identified part from an output unit in the vehicle ;
The control unit acquires product number information from characters or codes printed on the parts.
vehicle. A vehicle for allowing a user to tour a facility,
Identify parts on the production line by part number information,
a control unit that outputs explanatory information of the identified part from an output unit in the vehicle;
The control unit performs autonomous driving so as to correspond the movement of the parts on the production line with the position information of the vehicle.
Vehicle. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The vehicle, wherein the explanatory information is at least one of a position of the part in a finished product, a position of the work process of the part on a production line, and a detailed image of the part. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The control unit further outputs additional information regarding the work process being toured from an output unit within the vehicle. A vehicle according to claim 4 ,
The additional information is at least one of an image taken by a camera at the line of sight of a production line worker, an image of a trouble being dealt with on the production line, and an answer to a question from a user. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The control unit provides an automated voice explanation of the part or work process being toured. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , for allowing a user riding in the vehicle to tour a facility;
An information processing device that transmits explanatory information regarding the part being visited to the vehicle;
A system comprising: 8. The system of claim 7 ,
The vehicle further requests additional information regarding the work process being visited from the information processing device,
The information processing device transmits the additional information to the vehicle. An information processing device for managing a tour of a facility by vehicle,
a control unit that transmits, to the vehicle, explanatory information of the part on the production line based on identification information of the part received from the vehicle ;
The control unit causes the vehicle to autonomously drive so as to correspond the movement of the parts on the production line with position information of the vehicle.
Information processing device. The information processing device according to claim 9 ,
An information processing device, wherein the explanatory information is at least one of a position of the part in a finished product, a position of a work process of the part in a production line, and a detailed image of the part. 11. The information processing device according to claim 9 ,
The control unit is an information processing device that transmits additional information regarding the work process being visited to the vehicle based on a request from the vehicle. The information processing device according to claim 11 ,
The additional information is at least one of an image captured by a camera at the line of sight of a production line worker, an image of a production line troubleshooting, and an answer to a question from a user. A method for allowing a user in a vehicle to tour a facility, comprising:
A step in which a control unit acquires part number information of parts on a production line;
the control unit identifying the part based on the part number information;
a step of the control unit outputting description information of the identified part from an output unit in the vehicle ;
The control unit causes the vehicle to autonomously drive so as to correspond the movement of the parts on the production line with position information of the vehicle;
A method comprising: 14. The method of claim 13 ,
The method, wherein the descriptive information is at least one of a location of the part in a finished product, a location of an operation of the part on a production line, and a detailed image of the part. 15. The method according to claim 13 or 14 ,
Furthermore, the method includes outputting additional information regarding the work process being visited from an output unit in the vehicle. 16. The method of claim 15 ,
The method, wherein the additional information is at least one of an image taken by a camera at the line of sight of a production line worker, an image of a troubleshooting process on the production line, and answer information to a question from a user.

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