JP2002082717A - Plant operation monitoring support apparatus and method for providing operation monitoring support information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plant operation monitoring support apparatus which enables an operator to intuitively grasp the state of a plant and a providing method for operation monitoring support information. SOLUTION: This plant operation monitoring support apparatus which helps an operator to monitor the operation of the plant by providing the operator with the operation state of the plant as operation monitoring support information is equipped with a personified image storage means which previously stores personified images Ga corresponding to the operation state of the plant, a personified image selecting means which obtains the personified images corresponding to the operation state of the plant from the personified image storage means, and a personified image display means which displays, as the operation monitoring support information, the personified images Ga read out by the personified image selecting means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plant operation monitoring support system for assisting an operation monitoring of a plant by providing the operation monitoring support information such as an operation state of the plant and its own operation state to the operator. And a method of providing operation monitoring support information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional plant operation monitoring support apparatus uses voices and images to provide the operation monitoring support information to an operator.
For example, when the plant is in a normal operation state, the operation states of various devices constituting the plant are displayed as images based on process values measured by various sensors, and when the plant enters an abnormal operation state, abnormal devices are displayed based on the process values. Is estimated and the image is displayed, or the occurrence of the abnormality is notified by voice as an alarm. Further, the conventional plant operation monitoring support device is configured to receive a voice instruction issued from an operator by using a voice recognition technology.

By the way, in such a plant operation monitoring support apparatus, when providing the operating state of the plant or its own operating state to an operator as an image, the image is displayed using a numerical value represented by a process value, or Information transmission means for displaying abnormal equipment on a lamp (flashing or changing display colors) on the equipment system diagram of the plant is employed. With such conventional information transmission means, it is generally difficult to easily and easily transmit the state of a plant including a large number of devices to an operator. There is a limit to the operator's intuitive grasp of the state of the plant, and thus the psychological burden on the operator cannot be reduced.

Further, when providing operation monitoring support information to an operator as image information using the above numerical values and charts, since the plant is composed of many devices, the image information displayed on one image is Will contain a lot of information. Such image information is provided to the operator on a relatively large screen. However, it is difficult for the operator to find out information to pay attention to from such large-screen image information, which imposes a heavy burden on the operator. Will be forced. Further, the information transmission means for providing the driver with the operation monitoring support information using voice makes the driver feel uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has the following objects. (1) To provide a plant operation monitoring support device and a method of providing operation monitoring support information that can intuitively grasp the state of a plant. (2) To provide a plant operation monitoring support device and a method of providing operation monitoring support information that allow an operator to easily find noticeable information from image information constituting the operation monitoring support information. (3) To provide a plant operation monitoring support device and a method of providing operation monitoring support information that do not cause the operator to feel uncomfortable in providing the operation monitoring support information using voice.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first means relating to a plant operation monitoring support apparatus, an operation state of a plant is provided to an operator as operation monitoring support information. In the plant operation monitoring support device for supporting the operation monitoring of the plant by the operator, an anthropomorphic image storage means for previously storing a plurality of anthropomorphic images Ga corresponding to the operation state of the plant; Anthropomorphic image selection means for acquiring the anthropomorphic image Ga from the anthropomorphic image storage means, and anthropomorphic image display means for displaying the anthropomorphic image Ga read by the anthropomorphic image selecting means as the driving monitoring support information. Is employed.

Further, as a second means relating to the plant operation monitoring support apparatus, in the first means, the personification image storage means stores the personification image Ga expressing the operation state of the plant by human complexion or facial expression. The means of storing is adopted.

As a third means relating to the plant operation monitoring support apparatus, in the first or second means, an anthropomorphic image representing the operation state of the plant operation monitoring support apparatus by a human gesture in the anthropomorphic image storage means. Gb
And a second personification image selecting means for acquiring the personification image Gb corresponding to the operation state of the plant operation monitoring support device from the personification image storage means, and the personification image display means comprises: Means is adopted in which the personified image Gb read by the second personified image selecting means is also displayed as driving monitoring support information.

As a fourth means relating to the plant operation monitoring support apparatus, in the above third means, operation monitoring support information including an image part to be particularly noticed is displayed on the personification image display means simultaneously with the personification image Gb. In this case, means for additionally displaying an instruction image S indicating the image portion of particular interest is adopted.

As a fifth means relating to the plant operation monitoring support apparatus, in the above third or fourth means, the anthropomorphic image display means utters a voice corresponding to a gesture of the anthropomorphic image Gb as operation monitoring support information. Do

On the other hand, according to the present invention, as a first means relating to a method of providing operation monitoring support information, in a method of providing operation monitoring support information indicating an operation state of a plant to a plant operator, the operation monitoring support information is provided. A means of providing the person as an anthropomorphic image Ga that anthropomorphizes a human is adopted.

[0012] The second aspect relates to a method of providing driving monitoring support information.
In the first means, the personified image G
A method is adopted in which a is used to represent the operating state of the plant by human complexion or facial expression.

[0013] A third aspect related to a method of providing driving monitoring support information.
In the first or second means, the anthropomorphic image Gb expressing the operation state of the plant operation monitoring support device that provides operation monitoring support information to the operator by a human gesture is provided to the operator. Adopt means.

[0014] A fourth aspect relating to a method of providing the operation monitoring support information.
In the third means, in the case where the driving monitoring support information including the particularly notable image portion is provided to the driver at the same time as the anthropomorphic image Gb, the instruction image indicating the particularly notable image portion Means of additionally displaying S is adopted.

[0015] A fifth aspect relating to a method of providing driving monitoring support information.
In the third or fourth means, means corresponding to the gesture of the anthropomorphic image Gb is uttered as driving monitoring support information.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a plant operation monitoring support apparatus and operation monitoring support information according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part of a plant operation monitoring support device according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the plant operation monitoring support device includes an agent database 1, a facial expression selection unit 2, a gesture selection unit 3, and an agent display unit 4 as main components.

The agent database 1 stores a plurality of agent images (personifications) according to the operation state of the plant (hereinafter, referred to as “plant state”) and the operation state of the plant operation monitoring support device (hereinafter, referred to as “system state”). Image). This agent image is roughly classified into an agent image Ga expressing a plant state as a human complexion and a facial expression, and an agent image Gb expressing a system state by a human gesture. The agent database 1 stores a plurality of such agent images Ga and Gb, and reads and outputs these agent images Ga and Gb in response to a request from the display selection unit 2 or the gesture selection unit 3.

The expression selecting section 2 searches the agent database 1 in accordance with the "plant state" input from a main control section (not shown) for controlling the plant operation monitoring support apparatus in a comprehensive manner, thereby obtaining the " An agent image Ga corresponding to the “plant state” (ie, a personified image expressing the plant state as a human complexion or facial expression) is acquired from the agent database 1 and output to the agent display unit 4.

The gesture selecting section 3 searches the agent database 1 according to the "system state" input from the main control section, and thereby obtains an agent image Gb (ie, a human gesture) corresponding to the "system state". An anthropomorphic image expressing the system state is obtained from the agent database 1 and output to the agent display unit 4.

The agent display unit 4 operates based on various agent images Ga and Gb input from the facial expression selection unit 2 and the gesture selection unit 3 and voice output information and attention point information input from the main control unit. It displays a driving assistance image directed to a worker (that is, an image Gs that assists the operator in monitoring plant operation) and utters a driving support voice. Note that this driving support image Gs
The driving assistance voice and the driving assistance voice correspond to the driving monitoring assistance information in the present embodiment.

Next, the operation of the plant operation monitoring support apparatus thus configured will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, a display example of a driving support image according to the "plant state" input from the main control unit will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, (a) is an agent image Ga1 expressing the normal operation state of the plant by human complexion and expression, and (b) is an agent image G expressing the cautionary operation state of the plant by complexion and expression.
a2 and (c) are agent images Ga3 expressing the abnormal operation state of the plant by complexion and facial expression.

When a "plant state" indicating that the plant is in a normal operating state is input from the main control unit, the expression selecting unit 2 acquires the agent image Ga1 from the agent database 1 and displays it on the agent display unit 4. Output. As a result, the agent display unit 4 displays the agent image Ga1 corresponding to the operation state (normal operation state) of the plant as the operation support image.

When the "plant state" indicating that the plant is in the cautious operating state is input from the main control section, the expression selecting section 2 acquires the agent image Ga2 from the agent database 1 and displays the agent image Ga2. Part 4
When the "plant state" is input from the main control unit, indicating that the plant is in an abnormal operation state,
The agent image Ga3 is obtained from the agent database 1 and output to the agent display unit 4. And
The agent display unit 4 displays the agent image Ga2 when the operation state of the plant is in the state of caution,
When the operation state of the plant is abnormal, the agent image Ga3 is displayed as a driving support image.

That is, when the plant is in a normal operation state, an agent image Ga1 that gives a sense of security to the operator with a smiling expression and a healthy color is displayed as the driving support image Gs, thereby displaying the operation state of the plant. The driver is intuitively and intuitively informed that the driver is in a good normal driving state. On the other hand, when the plant is in the cautious operation state, the agent image Ga2 having a worried face and a slightly pale expression is used as the driving support image Gs.
Is displayed to inform the driver intuitively and easily that the operating state of the plant is in an operating state that cannot be said to be a normal state. Further, when the plant is in an abnormal state, the agent image Ga3 with a blushed and surprised expression is displayed as the driving support image Gs, so that the driver is intuitive that the operating state of the plant is in the abnormal state. Tell them clearly.

On the other hand, with respect to the operation support image Gs corresponding to the "plant state", for example, the "system state" indicating that the present plant operation monitoring support apparatus is executing some processing is changed to the main control unit. Is input to the gesture selection unit 3 from the agent database 1, the gesture selection unit 3 acquires the agent image Gb expressing the situation in which the operation instruction of the driver cannot be accepted as a human gesture from the agent database 1, Output to the display unit 4. As a result, the agent display section 4 displays the agent image Gb of the gesture.
Is displayed.

When the plant operation monitoring support apparatus is in a system state capable of accepting an operator's operation instruction, an agent image Gb expressing such a system state as a gesture is obtained from the agent database 1. Then, it is displayed on the agent display unit 4.

Agent images Ga1 to Ga3 expressing such "plant state" by human complexion and facial expression.
Alternatively, the operator can intuitively grasp the operating state of the plant or the operating state of the system by displaying the agent image Gb expressing the “system state” as a gesture on the agent display unit 4 as a driving support image. Therefore, it is possible to quickly determine the situation.

By the way, when the operation state of the plant is in an abnormal state, the present plant operation monitoring support apparatus, as shown in FIGS. Image) is displayed on the agent display unit 4 as the driving support image Gs. When displaying such an abnormal support image, the gesture selecting unit 3
By outputting the agent image Gb corresponding to the "system state" to the agent display unit 4, the agent image Gb is displayed in a composite manner with the abnormality support image.

In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the female operator shown at the lower left corner of the screen is the agent image Gb synthesized with the abnormal support image, and the other "trend graph" (process The graph showing the change in the value), the “plant system diagram” and the “cause estimation result” are abnormality support images. The agent image Gb in FIG. 3A expresses the fact that the near-future state is being calculated as a gesture, as in the balloon character F1.

The agent image Gb in FIG. 3B expresses a malfunction cause device estimated based on the calculation of the near-future state as a gesture pointing on the “plant system diagram”. Here, the pointing rod S (pointing image) held by the female operator points to the abnormal cause device on the “plant system diagram”, but “point of interest information” input to the agent display unit 4 from the main control unit. , The image is synthesized by the agent display unit 4 as a part of the agent image Gb.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when a particularly notable image portion (image of interest) of the above-described abnormality-causing device or the like is included in the driving support image Gs such as an abnormality support image, the image of interest is The target image is indicated by the pointing stick S based on the "point of interest information" input from the main control unit in response to the above. By pointing the malfunctioning device with such an indicator rod S, the operator can easily grasp the malfunctioning device on a complicated “plant system diagram”.

Further, the agent display unit 4 of the present embodiment converts the balloon characters F1, F2 displayed as a part of the agent image Gb based on the voice output information input to the agent display unit 4 from the main control unit. The corresponding voice is reported as driving assistance voice. That is, a voice corresponding to the voice gesture of the female operator is notified to the driver by voice. Further, the plant operation monitoring support device is configured to recognize the voice instruction of the operator by voice. However, an agent image of such a gesture as to listen to such voice instruction is displayed on the agent display unit 4. It has become. As described above, by notifying the voice according to the gesture of the agent image, it is possible to eliminate a sense of discomfort to the voice notification of the driver.

The agent image Ga expressing the plant state as a complexion or a facial expression and the agent image Gb expressing the system state by a gesture are not limited to the above embodiment. It may be an image.

[0036]

As described above, the plant operation monitoring support apparatus and the operation monitoring support information according to the present invention have the following effects.

(1) According to the first or sixth aspect of the present invention, the driving monitoring support information is anthropomorphic image G in which a person is anthropomorphized.
Since it is provided to the operator as a, the operator can intuitively grasp the operation state of the plant.

(2) According to the second or seventh aspect of the present invention, the anthropomorphic image Ga represents the operating state of the plant by the human complexion or facial expression. Can be understood very easily.

(3) According to the third or eighth aspect of the present invention, the anthropomorphic image Gb representing the operation state of the plant operation monitoring support apparatus for providing the operation monitoring support information to the operator by a human gesture is displayed by the operator. Therefore, the operator can intuitively grasp the operation state of the plant operation monitoring support device.

(4) According to the fourth or ninth aspect of the present invention, when the driving monitoring support information including the image portion of particular interest is provided to the operator simultaneously with the anthropomorphic image Gb, the operator pays particular attention. Since the instruction image S indicating the image portion to be displayed is additionally displayed, the operator can easily grasp the information to be noticed from the driving monitoring support information.

(5) According to the fifth or tenth aspect of the present invention, since the voice corresponding to the gesture of the anthropomorphic image Gb is uttered as the driving monitoring support information, the driving is provided to provide the driving monitoring support information using the voice. Members do not feel uncomfortable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a main part of a plant operation monitoring support device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an agent image Ga in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an agent image Gb according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Agent database (anthropomorphic image storage means) 2. Expression selecting section (anthropomorphic image selecting means) 3. Gesture selecting section (second anthropomorphic image selecting means) 4. Agent display section (anthropomorphic) Image display means) Ga1 to Ga3, Gb: agent image (personified image) Gs: driving support image (driving monitoring support information) F1, F2: blowout character S: pointing stick (pointing image)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme court ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/16 340 G06F 3/16 340N 17/60 106 17/60 106 (72) Inventor Yuji Matsuura Tokyo 3-1-1-15 Toyosu, Toto-ku, Tokyo Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries, Ltd. Tokyo Engineering Center F-term (reference) 5B049 BB07 CC03 CC21 DD05 EE07 FF03 FF04 FF06 FF09 GG04 GG07 5E501 AC02 AC32 BA03 CA03 CA08 DA01 EA34 FA14 FA32 FA42 FA44 FB2525 5H223 AA01 BB01 EE08 FF03 FF04

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A plant operation monitoring support device for supporting an operation of a plant by providing the operation state of the plant to the operator as operation monitoring support information. Anthropomorphic image storage means (1) for preliminarily storing anthropomorphic image Ga, and anthropomorphic image selecting means (2) for obtaining anthropomorphic image Ga corresponding to the operating state of the plant from anthropomorphic image storage means (1) Plant operation monitoring comprising: an anthropomorphic image display means (4) for displaying the anthropomorphic image Ga read by the anthropomorphic image selection means (2) as the operation monitoring support information. Support equipment. 2. The anthropomorphic image storage means (1) stores an anthropomorphic image Ga expressing the operating state of the plant by human complexion or facial expression.
An operation monitoring support device as described in the above. 3. An anthropomorphic image storage means (1) for storing an anthropomorphic image Gb representing the operation state of the plant operation monitoring support device by a gesture of a human being, and according to the operation state of the plant operation monitoring support device. Second personification image selecting means (3) for acquiring the anthropomorphic image Gb from the anthropomorphic image storage means (1), wherein the anthropomorphic image display means (4) selects the second anthropomorphic image. 3. The plant operation monitoring support device according to claim 1, wherein the personification image Gb read by the means (3) is also displayed as operation monitoring support information. 4. When an operation monitoring support information including an image part to be particularly noticed is displayed on the anthropomorphic image display means (4) simultaneously with the anthropomorphic image Gb, an instruction image S indicating the image part to be particularly noticed. 4. The plant operation monitoring support device according to claim 3, further comprising: 5. The plant operation monitoring support device according to claim 3, wherein the personification image display means (4) utters a voice corresponding to the gesture of the personification image Gb as operation monitoring support information. . 6. A method for providing operation monitoring support information indicating an operation state of a plant to an operator of a plant, wherein the operation monitoring support information is a personified image G of a person.
A method for providing operation monitoring support information, which is provided to the operator as a. 7. The method for providing operation monitoring support information according to claim 6, wherein the anthropomorphic image Ga is used to represent the operating state of the plant by a human complexion or facial expression. 8. An anthropomorphic image Gb representing an operation state of a plant operation monitoring support apparatus that provides operation monitoring support information to an operator by a human gesture is provided to the operator. How to provide the described driving monitoring support information. 9. In a case where driving monitoring support information including a particularly notable image portion is provided to a driver simultaneously with the anthropomorphic image Gb, an instruction image S indicating the particularly notable image portion is additionally displayed. The method for providing operation monitoring support information according to claim 8, wherein: 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein a voice corresponding to the gesture of the anthropomorphic image Gb is uttered as driving monitoring support information.