JP2019067211A - Management system, management system control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a management system capable of identifying when and how many operators are required.SOLUTION: A management system works by automatic operation. When it is difficult to work by the automatic operation, a slave unit switches from operation by the automatic operation to operation by remote control by a master unit. An operator number calculation unit calculates the number of operators necessary for performing the remote operation in each of a plurality of operating time zones, based on the number of operating units in each of the plurality of operating time zones or the total work in each of the plurality of operating time zones.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a management system, a control method of a management system, and a program.

There are various robots such as a robot that autonomously holds an object as a robot that holds an object, and a robot that holds an object based on remote control.
Patent Document 1 describes, as a related technology, a technology related to a system for automatically picking a product in a material handling facility.

Patent No. 5940682

By the way, with a semi-autonomous robot that is composed of a master unit and a slave unit and performs picking that can switch between automatic operation and remote operation, remote operation is switched to remote operation when picking by automatic operation becomes impossible. Picking is performed. Therefore, in the case of such a semi-autonomous robot, it is difficult to identify when and how many operators will be required, since it does not always require the operators.
Therefore, there is a need for a technology that can specify when and how many operators will be required.

  Aspects of the present invention aim to provide a management system, a control method of the management system, and a program that can solve the above-mentioned problems.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the slave unit, the management system is operated by the automatic operation, and when the operation by the automatic operation is difficult, the operation by the automatic operation is switched to the operation by the remote control by the master unit. Calculate the number of operators required to perform the remote control in each of the plurality of operating time zones based on the number of operating units in each of the plurality of operating time zones or the total work in each of the plurality of operating time zones And an operator number calculation unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the management system according to the first aspect, the number of operating units in each of the plurality of operating time zones, or An operation management unit that calculates the total amount of work, and the number-of-operators calculation unit calculates the number of the operators based on the number of operating units calculated by the operation management unit or the total amount of work You may

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the management system according to the first aspect or the second aspect, the number-of-operators calculation unit calculates the number of operators based on the proficiency of artificial intelligence performing the automatic operation. The number of people may be calculated.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control method of the management system is operated by automatic operation, and when the operation by the automatic operation is difficult, the operation by the automatic operation is switched to the operation by remote control by the master unit An operator required for performing the remote control in each of the plurality of operating time zones based on the number of operating units in each of the plurality of operating time zones of the slave unit or the total workload in each of the plurality of operating time zones Calculating the number of people.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the program operates on the computer by the automatic operation, and when the operation by the automatic operation is difficult, the slave switches the operation by the automatic operation to the operation by the remote control by the master unit The number of operators required to perform the remote control in each of the plurality of operating time zones based on the number of operating units in each of the plurality of operating time zones of the department or the total workload in each of the plurality of operating time zones To calculate.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to specify how many operators will be required.

It is a figure showing an example of composition of a management system by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the slave part by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the master part by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the operator provision apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing an example of the composition of the container movement system by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the composition of the operator demand device by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the operator management apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a 1st figure which shows the example of the processing flow of the management system by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a 2nd figure which shows the example of the processing flow of the management system by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the management system by another embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram showing composition of a computer concerning at least one embodiment.

Embodiment
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Configuration of management system 1)
The configuration of a management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The management system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the master unit and the slave unit, the number of operating slave units in a semi-autonomous robot that performs picking operations, or the total amount of work performed by the slave units (for example, the total number of picks) Accordingly, the number of required operators (hereinafter referred to as “the number of operators”) is calculated, and the operators are assigned to each slave unit 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 1 includes a plurality of slave units 10, a plurality of master units 20, an operator providing device 30, a container moving system 40, an operator request device 50, an operator management device 60, and a plurality of communications. The terminal device 70 includes a network NW.
In the management system 1, the slave unit 10 can move the object I to a predetermined position, for example, by an automatic operation by AI (Artificial Intelligence) or the like. When the movement of the target object I by the automatic operation of the slave unit 10 becomes difficult, an operator is assigned to the slave unit 10, and the operator remotely operates the slave unit 10 via the master unit 20, thereby the slave unit 10 The object I can be moved to a predetermined position 10. The operator request device 50 specifies the number of operating slave units 10 in each of a plurality of operating time zones, or the total amount of work of the slave units 10 in each of a plurality of operating hours according to the number of orders of the object I. The operator request device 50 notifies the operator providing device 30 of the specified number of operating slave units 10 or the total work amount of the slave units 10 in each of a plurality of operating times. The operator providing apparatus 30 calculates the number of operators required for assignment to the slave units 10 based on the number of operating slave units 10 or the total work amount of the slave units 10 in each of a plurality of operation times. The operator providing device 30 notifies the operator management device 60 of the calculated number of operators. An operator is registered in advance in the operator management apparatus 60 via the communication terminal apparatus 70, and the operator management apparatus 60 that has received the notification has the required number of operators from among the registered operators. Is selected, and the operator providing apparatus 30 is notified of the selected operator. The operator providing apparatus 30 remotely controls the slave unit 10 by connecting the master unit 20 operated by the notified operator and the slave unit 10 in which the movement of the object I by the automatic operation becomes difficult. to enable.

(Configuration of slave unit 10)
Each of the slave units 10 is a robot disposed at a place different from the master unit 20 (in the example shown in FIG. 1, the warehouse A). Each of the slave units 10 grasps the object I by semi-autonomous control, and moves the grasped object I to a predetermined position. Here, with semi-autonomous control, when remote control is not required, control is performed based on judgment of artificial intelligence AI or the like according to input information such as image information, and when remote control is required, control is performed according to remote control by the operator. . The remote control required time is, for example, when it is determined that the movement of the object I is difficult. The remote control unnecessary time is, for example, when it is determined that the slave unit 10 holds the object I and can move the object I to a predetermined position.
If there is one among the plurality of slave units 10 in which movement of the object I is difficult, the master unit 20 is connected to the slave unit 10 in which movement of the object I is difficult via the network NW. The slave unit 10 to which the master unit 20 is connected operates in accordance with a control signal received from the master unit 20 via the network NW. When the slave unit 10 receives a control signal from the master unit 20 and the slave unit 10 operates according to the control signal, the slave unit 10 and the master unit 20 constitute a master-slave type remote working system.
As shown in FIG. 2, the slave unit 10 includes a communication unit 101, an imaging unit 102, a grip unit 103, an autonomous control unit 104, and a remote control necessity detection unit 105.

  The communication unit 101 communicates with the master unit 20 via the network NW. When the communication unit 101 communicates with the master unit 20, the slave unit 10 and the master unit 20 constitute a master-slave type remote work system.

  The imaging unit 102 captures an image of an object I to be gripped. The image captured by the imaging unit 102 is a stereoscopic image in which an object looks stereoscopic. The photographing unit 102 transmits the photographed image to the master unit 20 via the communication unit 101.

  The grip unit 103 operates in accordance with a control signal received from the autonomous control unit 104 when remote control is unnecessary. Further, when remote control is required, the grip unit 103 operates in accordance with a control signal received from the master unit 20 via the communication unit 101.

  The autonomous control unit 104 generates a control signal by processing based on artificial intelligence AI corresponding to input information such as image information captured by the imaging unit 102 when remote control is unnecessary, and outputs the generated control signal to the gripping unit 103 Do.

The remote control necessity detection unit 105 detects that the movement of the object I is difficult for the grip unit 103. Specifically, the remote control necessity detection unit 105 specifies the position of the grip unit 103 and the position of the object I in the image captured by the imaging unit 102. Then, it is assumed that the relative distance between the position of the gripping unit 103 and the position of the object I does not hold the object I until the object I reaches the predetermined position. It is determined whether the distance is equal to or greater than the determination threshold. If the remote control necessary detection unit 105 determines that the relative distance between the position of the grip unit 103 and the position of the object I is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the object I is difficult, ie, remote control Is required (when remote control is required). In addition, when the remote control necessity detection unit 105 determines that the relative distance between the position of the grip unit 103 and the position of the object I is less than the threshold value, the movement of the object I is not difficult, ie, It is determined that remote control is unnecessary.
If it is determined that the remote operation is necessary, the remote operation necessity detection unit 105 transmits the identifier of the slave unit 10 for which the remote operation has become necessary to the operator providing device 30 via the communication unit 101.

(Configuration of master unit 20)
Each of the master units 20 is arranged at a place different from the slave unit 10 (in the example shown in FIG. 1, a working center B where the operator O works). When remote control of the slave unit 10 is required, one of the plurality of master units 20 transmits a control signal corresponding to the operation of the operator to the slave unit 10 via the network NW. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the master units 20 includes a communication unit 201, an image reproduction unit 202, and an operation input unit 203.

  The communication unit 201 communicates with the slave unit 10 and the operator providing device 30 via the network NW.

The image reproduction unit 202 receives a stereoscopic image from the slave unit 10 to be operated via the communication unit 201. In addition, the image reproduction unit 202 receives the remote control necessity notification signal from the operator providing device 30 via the communication unit 201 when the remote control necessity detection unit 105 determines that the remote control is necessary.
The image reproduction unit 202 displays the received stereoscopic image. When the image reproduction unit 202 receives a notification signal of remote control necessity from the operator providing device 30 via the communication unit 201, the image reproduction unit 202 displays on the slave unit 10 that the remote control is necessary.

  The operation input unit 203 detects an operation performed by the operator Ob, and transmits a control signal corresponding to the detected operation to the slave unit 10 and the operator providing device 30 of the operation target via the communication unit 201.

(Configuration of Operator Providing Device 30)
As shown in FIG. 4, the operator providing apparatus 30 includes a communication unit 301, a storage unit 302, an operator number calculation unit 303, and an operation management unit 304.

The communication unit 301 communicates with the master unit 20 and the container moving system 40 via the network NW.
The storage unit 302 associates and stores each of a plurality of operating time zones with the identifier of the master unit 20 operated by the operator assigned to each of the operating time zones. Here, the operator assigned to each operation time zone is selected by the operator management apparatus 60 from among the operators registered in advance for each operation time zone, and the operator management apparatus 60 provides the operator It is the operator who notified 30. In addition, the storage unit 302 stores the combination of the master unit 20 and the slave unit 10 connected via the network NW in association with the respective identifiers.

  The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 calculates the number of operators necessary for the work performed by the slave unit 10 in operation. Specifically, the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 acquires, from the operator request device 50, information on the number of operating slave units 10 or the total amount of work performed by each slave unit 10. When acquiring the information on the number of operating slave units 10, the number-of-operators calculating unit 303 calculates the necessary number of operators based on the following equation (1). Further, when the information on the total work amount performed by each slave unit 10 is acquired, the required number of operators is calculated based on the following equation (2).

Here, the operating number in the equation (1) is the operating number of the slave unit 10 for each operating time zone (for example, every hour). Further, the AI learning level is, for example, an average value of the master level of the entire slave unit 10. AI's proficiency takes values between 1 (lowest proficiency) and infinity (highest proficiency). For example, when AI's proficiency is 1, it is always in the state that the operator needs to operate, and when AI's proficiency is infinity, the operator's operation is not necessary at all and AI is always in operation. . The coefficient α is a coefficient for converting the number of operating units into the number of operators.
Further, the total amount of work in equation (2) is the total amount of work (for example, the number of picks) of the slave unit 10 for each operating time zone. Moreover, the proficiency level of AI in Formula (2) is the same as the proficiency level of AI in Formula (1). Further, the coefficient β is a coefficient for converting the total amount of work into the number of operators.
The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 transmits the calculated number of operators to the operator management apparatus 60. The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 acquires, from the operator management apparatus 60, information of an operator who can operate the slave unit 10 for each operation time zone. The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 assigns the operator indicated by the acquired information to the slave unit 10.

The operation management unit 304 switches the master unit 20 that controls the slave unit 10 based on the state of the target I to be held by the slave unit 10 that is the operation target.
Specifically, the state of the object I is the degree of difficulty of the operation of holding the object I. If the operation management unit 304 determines that the slave unit 10 is an object I that is difficult to grip, the slave unit 10 is connected to the master unit 20 operated by the operator O assigned by the operator number calculation unit 303. .

(Configuration of container transfer system 40)
The container transfer system 40 includes a movement control unit 401, a plurality of containers M, and a mechanism T for moving each container M in the warehouse A, as shown in FIG. An object I is stored in the container M.
When receiving the connection instruction signal, the movement control unit 401 identifies the connection destination of the master unit 20 included in the received connection instruction signal. The movement control unit 401 performs control to move the container M to the position of the slave unit 10 that is the connection destination of the specified master unit 20 using the mechanism T.

(Configuration of operator request device 50)
The operator request device 50 specifies the number of operating slave units 10 in each of a plurality of operating hours, or the total work volume in each of a plurality of operating hours, and calculates the number of operating vehicles calculated or the total work amount as an operator providing device It is an apparatus which receives the provision of the required number of operators to the operator provision apparatus 30 by transmitting to 30. The operator request device 50 includes a communication unit 501, a storage unit 502, and an operation management unit 503, as shown in FIG.

The communication unit 501 communicates with other devices via the network NW.
The storage unit 502 stores various information necessary for the processing of the operator request device 50.
The operation management unit 503 manages the operation of each slave unit 10 for each operation time zone (for example, every hour). Specifically, the purchaser accesses the website where the object I can be purchased via the terminal device, and performs an operation of purchasing the object I on the terminal device. The terminal device manages information on the website including information (for example, ID, name, etc.) specifying the object I, the number of purchases of the object I, the delivery destination of the object I, etc. according to the operation of the purchaser Send to server When the management server receives information including the information specifying the object I, the number of purchases of the object I, the delivery destination of the object I, etc. from the terminal device, the management server stores the date and time of receiving the information and the received information. Do. The management server also transmits the received date and time and the received information to the operation management unit 503. The operation management unit 503 receives, from the management server, the date and time when the order is received, and information including the information specifying the object I, the number of purchases of the object I, the delivery destination of the object I, and the like. Then, the operation management unit 503, for example, responds to the number of purchases of the target I ordered on the date and time showing the previous day, that is, according to the number of orders of the target I on the previous day, Calculate the number of 10 operating units or the total amount of work (for example, the number of picks). The calculation of the number of operating slave units 10 or the total work amount by the operation management unit 503 is performed, for example, according to a calculation formula based on past results. The operation management unit 503 writes the calculation result in the storage unit 502.
The operation management unit 503 transmits the calculation result to the operator providing device 30 via the communication unit 501.

(Configuration of operator management device 60)
The operator management apparatus 60 includes a communication unit 601, a storage unit 602, and an operator management unit 603, as shown in FIG.

The communication unit 601 communicates with other devices via the network NW.
The storage unit 602 stores various information necessary for the processing of the operator request device 50.
The operator management unit 603 manages operable operators for each operation time zone (for example, every hour). For example, a person who desires to work as an operator (for example, part-time job) accesses the dedicated website recruiting operators from the communication terminal 70 in advance (for example, two days ago), and the time available for working Register the band, name, contact information, etc. The storage unit 602 stores information of a registered person who desires labor.
When the operator management unit 603 receives information on the number of operators for each operation time zone (for example, every hour) from the operator providing device 30, the operator management unit 603 stores the number of operators corresponding to the number of operators as the storage unit 602. The operator providing apparatus 30 is notified of the selected operator from among the registered persons. Note that the operator management unit 603, for example, selects an operator from among registered persons in order of earlier registered time.
Further, the operator managing unit 603 notifies the communication terminal device 70 possessed by the selected operator via the communication unit 601 of a workable time zone and a place (for example, the working center B).

(Configuration of communication terminal device 70)
The communication terminal device 70 includes a communication unit. The communication unit of the communication terminal device 70 communicates with the operator management device 60, and registers a workable time zone, a name, a contact address, etc. in the operator management device 60. The communication terminal device 70 is, for example, a smartphone, a personal computer, a tablet terminal or the like.

(Process of management system 1)
Next, processing of the management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, the process of calculating the number of required operators and the assignment of the operators, which are performed before the management system 1 performs the work by the slave unit 10, will be described.
Here, the processing flow of the management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 will be described.

  A person who desires to work as an operator (for example, part-time job) accesses the dedicated site for recruiting operators from the communication terminal device 70 in advance (for example, two days ago), and the working hours, name, etc. Register contacts, etc. The operator management unit 603 acquires, via the communication unit 601, information of a registered person who desires labor. The operator management unit 603 writes the acquired information in the storage unit 602 (step S1). Further, the operator management unit 603 writes the information of the registered person who desires labor in the storage unit 302 of the operator providing device 30.

  The operation management unit 503 manages the operation of each slave unit 10 for each operation time zone (for example, every hour). The operation management unit 503 calculates, for example, the number of slave units 10 in operation for each operation time zone or the total amount of work (for example, the total number of picks) according to the number of orders of the object I of the previous day (step S2) ). The operation management unit 503 writes the calculation result in the storage unit 502. Further, the operation management unit 503 transmits the calculation result to the operator providing device 30 via the communication unit 501 (step S3).

The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 calculates the number of operators necessary for the work performed by the slave unit 10 in operation (step S4). Specifically, the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 acquires, from the operator request device 50, information on the number of operating slave units 10 or the total amount of work performed by each slave unit 10. When the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 acquires information on the number of operating slave units 10, the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 calculates, for example, the necessary number of operators based on the above equation (1). When the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 acquires information on the total amount of work performed by each slave unit 10, for example, the number-of-operators required is calculated based on the above equation (2).
The formula used when the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 calculates the required number of operators based on the information on the number of operating slave units 10 is not limited to the above-mentioned formula (1). In the equation used when the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 calculates the required number of operators based on the information on the number of operating slave units 10, the number of operators increases as the number of operating operators increases, and the AI proficiency level is It is an expression that the number of operators decreases as it becomes higher. For example, in another embodiment of the present invention, using the following equation (3), equation (4) or the like rather than the above equation (1) may result in a more appropriate number of operators.

In addition, R1 in Formula (4) is a constant of 1 or more.
Further, the equation used when the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 calculates the necessary number of operators based on the information of the total work amount of the slave unit 10 is not limited to the above-mentioned equation (2). According to the equation used when the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 calculates the required number of operators based on the information on the total work of the slave unit 10, the number of operators increases as the total work increases, and AI learning As the degree increases, the number of operators decreases. For example, in another embodiment of the present invention, it may be more appropriate to use the following equation (5), equation (6) or the like than the equation (2).

R1 in the equation (6) is a constant of 1 or more.
The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 transmits the calculated number of operators to the operator management apparatus 60 (step S5). The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 acquires, from the operator management apparatus 60, information of an operator who can operate the slave unit 10 for each operation time zone (step S6). The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 assigns the operator indicated by the acquired information to the slave unit 10 (step S7).

Next, a process of switching the operation of the slave unit 10 from the operation by the AI to the operation by the operator when the remote control is necessary will be described.
Here, the processing flow of the management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 will be described.

The remote operation necessity detection unit 105 of each slave unit 10 determines whether or not the determination time is the time when the remote operation is unnecessary at each predetermined time interval (for example, 100 ms) (step S11).
If the remote control necessary detection unit 105 determines that remote control is unnecessary (YES in step S11), the processing returns to step S1.
When it is determined that the remote operation is required (NO in step S11), the remote operation necessity detection unit 105 transmits the identifier of the slave unit 10 for which the remote operation is required to the operator providing device 30 (step S12).

  The operation management unit 304 receives an identifier from the slave unit 10 for which remote control is required (step S13). When receiving the identifier, the operation management unit 304 specifies, in the storage unit 302, the master unit 20 of the operator O assigned to the operating time zone including the received time (step S14). The operation management unit 304 transmits, via the communication unit 301, a remote control necessity notification signal for notifying that remote control is required to the specified master unit 20 (step S15).

  The image reproduction unit 202 of each identified master unit 20 receives a remote control necessity notification signal from the operator providing device 30 via the communication unit 201 (step S16). Each image reproducing unit 202, upon receiving the remote control necessary notification signal, displays on the slave unit 10 that the remote control is necessary (step S17).

The assigned operator sees that the remote control of the slave unit 10 displayed by the image reproduction unit 202 is necessary, and operates the slave unit 10 to perform the operation of moving the object I. When it is determined, the operation to notify the slave unit 10 to be operated is performed on the operation input unit 203, for example.
The operation input unit 203 transmits an operation notification signal for notifying the operation of the slave unit 10 to the operator providing device 30 according to the operation by the operator (step S18). The operation notification signal includes the identifier of the transmitted master unit 20.

The operation management unit 304 receives an operation notification signal from the master unit 20 via the communication unit 301 (step S19).
The operation management unit 304 connects the master unit 20 of the identifier included in the operation notification signal received first to the slave unit 10 for which remote control is required (step S20). The operation management unit 304 writes the combination of the master unit 20 and the slave unit 10 performing communication and the time in the storage unit 302 (step S21). The operation management unit 304 transmits, to the master unit 20 of the identifier included in the operation notification signal received first, a connection notification signal for notifying connection to the slave unit 10 for which remote operation is required (step S22). .

The image reproduction unit 202 of the master unit 20b that has first transmitted the operation notification signal receives the connection notification signal from the operator providing device 30 via the communication unit 201 (step S23). When receiving the connection notification signal, the image reproduction unit 202 displays a comment confirming the operation start (step S24).
The operator who sees the comment confirming the operation start performs an operation (for example, an operation of pressing the “confirm” button) on the operation input unit 203 indicating that the operation start has been confirmed.
The operation input unit 203 detects an operation indicating that the operation start by the operator has been confirmed (step S25). When the operation input unit 203 detects an operation indicating that the operator has confirmed the start of the operation, the image reproduction unit 202 displays a stereoscopic image captured by the imaging unit 102 of the slave unit 10 to be controlled (step S26).
The operator performs an operation of holding the object I and moving it to a predetermined position on the operation input unit 203 while viewing the stereoscopic image displayed by the image reproduction unit 202.
The operation input unit 203 detects an operation of holding the target object I by the operator and moving it to a predetermined position (step S27). The operation input unit 203 generates a control signal according to the detected operation by the operator (step S28). The operation input unit 203 transmits the generated control signal to the slave unit 10 to be controlled and the operator providing device 30 (step S29). The operation input unit 203 generates a control signal in real time according to the operation by the operator, and transmits the generated control signal to the slave unit 10 and the operator providing device 30 to be controlled each time the control signal is generated.

The gripping unit 103 receives a control signal from the master unit 20 (step S30). The gripping unit 103 operates in accordance with the received control signal (step S31).
The operation management unit 304 receives a control signal from the master unit 20 (step S32). The operation management unit 304 writes the control signal in the storage unit 302 as learning data for the input of the image information of the artificial intelligence AI included in the slave unit 10 and the received control signal (step S33).

Thus, the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 is in operation based on the number of slave units 10 operated for each operation time zone calculated by the operation management unit 503, or the total amount of work (for example, the total number of picks). The number of operators required for the work performed by the slave unit 10 is calculated. The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 transmits the calculated number of operators to the operator management apparatus 60. The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 acquires, from the operator management apparatus 60, information of an operator who can operate the slave unit 10 for each operation time zone. The number-of-operators calculation unit 303 assigns the operator indicated by the acquired information to the slave unit 10.
Therefore, the management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention can calculate an appropriate number of operators for each operating time zone. As a result, the management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can hire an appropriate number of operators without regard to the work place in each operating time zone, and it becomes easy to secure the labor force.
In particular, when the company providing the slave unit 10 and the master unit 20 to a company operating a warehouse or the like includes the operator providing apparatus 30 and the staffing company includes the operator management apparatus 60, the company operating the warehouse A There is no need to recruit operators at the company or manage labor. In addition, a company providing slave unit 10 and master unit 20 to a company operating warehouse A can operate the warehouse because it can provide the labor registered with a staffing agency together with slave unit 10 and master unit 20 as an added value. Market to new customers such as A temporary staffing agency can recruit housewives and students who have spare time, and can provide new labor with those labor and make a profit. As a result, a company introducing the slave unit 10 and the master unit 20, a company providing the slave unit 10 and the master unit 20, and a staffing company all have a so-called win-win relationship, and further business development is I can expect it.

In addition, as described above, the storage unit 302 according to the embodiment of the present invention stores each operation time zone and the identifier of the master unit 20 operated by the operator assigned to the operation time zone in association with each other. When the operation management unit 304 receives an identifier from the slave unit 10 for which remote operation is required, the storage unit 302 identifies the master unit 20 operated by the operator assigned to the operating time zone including the received time. . The operation management unit 304 transmits, via the communication unit 301, a remote control necessary notification signal for notifying that remote control is required to the specified master unit 20.
Therefore, the management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can hire an operator without worrying about the working place of the operator in each operation time zone, and it becomes easy to secure the labor.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit 302 and the storage unit 602 are each operating time zone, an identifier of the master unit 20b operated by the operator assigned to the operating time zone, and further, the operation thereof. It associates and memorizes the operation proficiency level of the person. Then, when the slave unit 10a requires remote control in each operation time zone, the management system 1 performs an operation according to the operation proficiency level of the operator, as in the management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The master unit 20b operated by a person may be connected to the slave unit 10a.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the number-of-operators calculation unit 303 itself may be provided with an AI to calculate the required number of operators.

Note that each of the slave units 10 according to each embodiment of the present invention may be disposed in each of two or more different places. Also, each of the master units 20 according to each embodiment of the present invention may be disposed at each of two or more different locations.
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the management system 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of slave units 10a1 to 10an, a plurality of master units 20b1 to 20bm, an operator providing device 30, and a plurality of container moving systems 40. A plurality of operator request devices 50, an operator management device 60, a plurality of communication terminal devices 70, and a network NW may be provided. Each of the slave units 10a1 to 10an has the same configuration, and the slave units 10a1 to 10an are collectively referred to as a slave unit 10a. Further, each of the master units 20b1 to 20bm has the same configuration, and the master units 20b1 to 20bm are collectively referred to as a master unit 20b. Also, the container transfer system 40 and the operator request device 50 are provided one by one for each warehouse.
In such a case, the number of operators required for each warehouse is calculated using the equation (1) or the equation (2) shown in the embodiment of the present invention, and the operator request device 50 The calculation result may be transmitted to the operator providing device 30.
Further, the management system 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention calculates the number of operators required for each warehouse using, for example, the equation (1) or the equation (2) shown in the embodiment of the present invention In the case of a warehouse operated by the same company, the operator request device 50 may transmit the sum of the calculation results to the operator providing device 30 for each same company.

  Further, the management system 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention may calculate the required number of operators in consideration of the operation proficiency level of the operators. For example, in the case of an operator who has a record of registration in the past, the management system 1 introduces, for example, a coefficient such that the number of required operators is reduced as the operation proficiency level of the operator increases. The required number of operators may be calculated.

  In addition, as an operation | work which grips the target object I which the management system 1 by each embodiment of this invention performs, the example which grips the target object I in a warehouse was mentioned and demonstrated. However, the operation of holding the object I performed by the management system 1 according to each embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the operation of holding the object I in the warehouse. The operation of holding the object I performed by the management system 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention is an operation of holding the object I not only in the warehouse but also in an office, supermarket, hospital, library, laboratory, etc. Well, other remote operations such as fishing, sorting, unpacking, packing, inspection, assembly, etc. may be performed.

  Note that the storage units 302, 502, 602, and other storage units in each embodiment of the present invention may be provided anywhere as long as appropriate transmission and reception of information is performed. In addition, a plurality of storage units 302, 502, 602, and other storage units may exist in a range where appropriate transmission and reception of information is performed, and data may be distributed and stored.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, even if the management system 1 includes a labor cost calculation unit that calculates the labor cost by multiplying the hourly salary by the number of operators calculated by the number of operators calculation unit 303. Good. In this case, the labor cost calculated by the labor cost calculation unit may be used for the settlement of the company.

  In the process flow according to the embodiment of the present invention, the order of the processes may be reversed as long as appropriate processes are performed.

  Each of the storage unit and the storage device (including the register and the latch) in the embodiment of the present invention may be provided anywhere as long as appropriate transmission and reception of information is performed. In addition, each of the storage unit and the storage device may store a plurality of data in a distributed manner in a range where appropriate transmission and reception of information is performed.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, the above-described slave unit 10, master unit 20, operator providing device 30, container moving system 40, operator request device 50, operator management device 60, communication terminal device 70, and the like The control device may have a computer system inside. The process of the process described above is stored in the form of a program in a computer readable recording medium, and the process is performed by the computer reading and executing the program. An example of a computer is shown below.
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment.
The computer 5 includes a CPU 6, a main memory 7, a storage 8 and an interface 9 as shown in FIG.
For example, each of the slave unit 10, the master unit 20, the operator providing device 30, the container moving system 40, the operator request device 50, the operator management device 60, the communication terminal device 70, and other control devices described above is a computer 5 Implemented in The operation of each processing unit described above is stored in the storage 8 in the form of a program. The CPU 6 reads a program from the storage 8 and develops it in the main memory 7 and executes the above processing according to the program. Further, the CPU 6 secures a storage area corresponding to each storage unit described above in the main memory 7 in accordance with a program.

  Examples of the storage 8 include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a magnetic disk, a magnetooptical disk, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), and a digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM). , Semiconductor memory and the like. The storage 8 may be internal media directly connected to the bus of the computer 5 or may be external media connected to the computer 5 via the interface 9 or a communication line. When the program is distributed to the computer 5 by a communication line, the computer 5 that has received the distribution may expand the program in the main memory 7 and execute the above processing. In at least one embodiment, storage 8 is a non-transitory tangible storage medium.

  Also, the program may realize part of the functions described above. Furthermore, the program may be a file capable of realizing the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system, a so-called difference file (difference program).

  While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are examples and do not limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments may be subjected to various additions, various omissions, various substitutions, and various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

1: Management system 5: Computer 6: CPU
7 ... main memory 8 ... storage 9 ... interface 10, 10a1-10an ... slave unit 20, 20b 1-20bm ... master unit 30 ... operator providing device 40 ... container movement System 50 ··· Operator request device 60 · · · Operator management device 70 · · · Communication terminal devices 101, 201, 301, 501, 601 · · · Communication unit 102 · · · Imaging unit 103 · · · · grip unit 104 ... autonomous control unit 105 ... remote control necessity detection unit 202 ... image reproduction unit 203 ... operation input unit 302, 502, 602 ... storage unit 303 ... number of operators calculation unit 304 ... Operation management unit 401 ... Movement control unit 503 ... Operation management unit 603 ... Operator management unit A, A1-An ... Warehouse B, B1-Bm ... Working center I ... ·Object ... container NW ··· network O ··· operator T ··· mechanism

Claims (5)

When the operation by the automatic operation is difficult and the operation by the automatic operation is difficult, the number of operating units in each of a plurality of operating time zones of the slave unit which switches from the operation by the automatic operation to the operation by the remote control by the master unit A number-of-operators calculating unit that calculates the number of operators required when performing the remote control in each of the plurality of operating time zones based on the total amount of work in each of the operating time zones;
Management system comprising: An operation management unit that calculates the number of operating units in each of the plurality of operation time zones or the total amount of work according to the number of orders of objects to be operated by the slave unit;
Equipped with
The number-of-operators calculation unit
The number of operators is calculated based on the number of operating units calculated by the operation management unit or the total amount of work.
The management system according to claim 1. The number-of-operators calculation unit
The number of operators is calculated based on the proficiency of artificial intelligence performing the automatic operation.
The management system according to claim 1 or 2. When the operation by the automatic operation is difficult and the operation by the automatic operation is difficult, the number of operating units in each of a plurality of operating time zones of the slave unit which switches from the operation by the automatic operation to the operation by the remote control by the master unit Calculating the number of operators necessary for performing the remote control in each of the plurality of operating time zones based on a total amount of work in each of the operating time zones;
How to control the management system including: On the computer
When the operation by the automatic operation is difficult and the operation by the automatic operation is difficult, the number of operating units in each of a plurality of operating time zones of the slave unit which switches from the operation by the automatic operation to the operation by the remote control by the master unit Calculating the number of operators necessary for performing the remote control in each of the plurality of operating time zones based on a total amount of work in each of the operating time zones;
A program that runs

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