JPS60163109A - System for receiving and transmitting control information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain transmission and reception of control information without inclusion of noise by transmitting/receiving the control information in by voice interaction and using a digital signal to transmit/receive a signal in the inside of each device. CONSTITUTION:A command to be given from a command controller 11 of a central controller 1 to a carrier truck 2 in the form of a digital signal is converted into voice by a voice output device 12 and the voice is outputted from a radio transceiver 13 and an antenna 14. The voice output is fetched to anttenas 21, 31 of carrier trucks 2, 3, received by a radio transceiver 22, converted into a digital signal via a voice input device 23 and a discrimination controller 24 discriminates whether or not it is the command to the own truck. The carrier truck 2 discriminating the command as the own command as the result of discrimination gives a drive command to a drive controller 25 from the discrimination controller 24 to drive wheels, thus travelling said truck 2. The mobile state of the truck 2 is transmitted to the central controller 1 via a voice output device 26, the radio transceiver 22 and the antenna 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting and receiving control information between a plurality of devices, and particularly to a method for transmitting and receiving control information that is suitable for use in devices used in manufacturing plants.

[Background of the invention]

Generally, control information is exchanged between a plurality of devices using digital signals using wired or wireless signal transmission paths. The transmission and reception of control information using digital signals is easily affected by noise, and for this reason, it is very difficult to devise ways to minimize the influence of noise.

However, for example, when transmitting and receiving control information between devices that control equipment in a manufacturing factory, even if sufficient control is taken, noise may enter the signal transmission path and cause the equipment to malfunction. will stop functioning.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a control information exchange method that allows control information to be exchanged without noise contamination.

[Summary of the invention]

In the transmission of control information between devices, the present invention provides a voice input device and a voice output device for each device to which control information is to be sent and received, and allows the control information to be exchanged between the devices through voice dialogue. In addition to reducing malfunctions caused by noise contamination, which is a disadvantage of signal transmission and reception, it also improves the reliability of the entire system by monitoring the content of control information transmission and reception between each device through voice dialogue and allowing early response. This was done to improve safety.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the embodiments shows a transport facility that transports parts and materials by unmanned transport vehicles between stations within a manufacturing plant. This conveyance equipment consists of a central control device 1 and a plurality of conveyance vehicles 2.3 that operate based on commands from the central control device 1. Each of these conveyance vehicles 2.3 receives control information from the central control device 1. The vehicle travels between stations 81 to 83 in the factory and picks up and delivers processed parts and unprocessed materials. Control information is exchanged between each of these transport vehicles 2゜3 and the central control device 1 through each antenna 14,
21.31, and the contents of the exchange are sent to the V receiver 5 via the wireless transmitter/receiver 4 carried by the worker.
I make it easy for workers to understand. Furthermore, if there is any incorrect information in the information being exchanged or received, a correction command is given by voice throughout the microcontroller.

By the way, the central control device 1 has a command control device 11,
It includes an audio output device 12, a wireless transmitting/receiving device 13 including the antenna 14, and an audio input device 15. The voice input device 15 is connected to the command control device 11.
In addition to the signals from the stations 81 to S3, the signals from each station 81 to S3 (for example, the presence or absence of stock, unfinished processing, etc.) are sent to the signal line L.
Judgment is made through l~L3, or the transport cart 2゜3 on the day.
The operating program is a key human resource.

These signals taken into the command control device 11 are digital signals. In order to control the operation of the conveyance vehicles 2 and 3, the digital signal output from the command control device 11 is converted into an audio signal which is an analog signal by the audio output device 12, and the radio transmitting/receiving device 13 and the antenna 14. On the other hand, the signals input from the antenna 14 and the wireless transmitting/receiving device 13 are audio signals, which are converted into digital signals by the audio input device 15 and taken into the command control device 11, where the commanded signals are compared.

The transport vehicle 2 also includes a wireless transmitting/receiving device 22 equipped with an antenna 21, a voice input device 23, a determination control device 24,
It includes a drive control section 25 and an audio output device 26.

And antenna 21. Wireless transmitting/receiving device 22. Voice input device 23. The audio output device 26 operates in the same way as that of the central control device 1. The determination control device 24 determines what kind of command signal the digital signal changed by the voice input device &23 is and gives a drive command to the drive control device 25, and also converts the signal from the drive control device 25 into the voice It is transmitted to the output device 26. Further, the drive control device 25 drives the wheels of the transport vehicle 2 based on the signal from the determination control device 24.

The structure and operation of the transport vehicle 3 are of course the same as those of the transport vehicle 2.

Next, the control operation of each transport vehicle 2.3 will be explained. First, from the central control device 10 command control device 11 to the transport vehicle 2
A command to be given to the computer is converted into a digital signal through the audio output device 15 into audio, and the audio is output from the wireless transmitting/receiving device 13 and the antenna 14. The audio output is for each transport vehicle 2.
The signal is taken in from the antennas 21 and 31 of No. 3 and received by the radio transmitting/receiving device 22, converted into a digital signal via the voice input device 23, and the determination control device 24 determines whether or not it is a command to one's own troops. As a result of the determination, the transport vehicle 2 that has been determined to be a command to its own troops is transferred from the determination control device 24 to the drive control device 25.
A drive command is given to drive the wheels, and the transport vehicle 2 is moved to, for example, station S3. The state of movement of the transport vehicle 2 is sequentially determined by the drive control device 25 - determination control device 24 - audio output device 26 - wireless transmitting/receiving unit fi 122.
- sends a signal via the antenna 21 and transmits it to the central control unit 1
Antenna 14 - Radio transmitting/receiving device 13 - Audio input device 1
5 (converted into a digital signal) to the command control device 11 to check whether there are any errors in movement. During this time, another transport vehicle 3 may be operating in response to another command, or may be on standby.

When arriving at station S3, materials and parts are loaded and unloaded from the transport vehicle 2. The completion of this loading and unloading is confirmed by various switches (not shown) provided at station S3.
The signal is transmitted to the central control unit 1 via the signal line L3. When the signal indicating the end of loading and unloading is received, the next command is issued from the command control device 11, and the transport vehicle 2 is moved in the same order as described above.

By the way, an example of the transmission and reception of control information by voice between each of the transport vehicles 2.3 and the central control device 1 will be explained with reference to Tables 1 and 2. Table 1 is an example of giving commands to the transport vehicle from the central controller 1 and responding to them.
~■ indicates the order of dialogue.

Further, Table 2 is an example in which the transport vehicle reports the completion of movement to the central control device 1 and responds thereto.

As described above, since voice, which is an analog signal, is used to exchange control information between each conveyance vehicle and the central control device, malfunctions caused by noise contamination, such as when transmitting and receiving digital signals, are eliminated.

Furthermore, since the control information is transmitted and received by voice, the operator can hear the contents of the control information, which improves the reliability and safety of the entire conveyance facility.

In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment is a control of a transport vehicle, it is not limited to a transport vehicle. Furthermore, although the above embodiment is based on wireless communication, it goes without saying that it can also be performed using wired communication.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides each device with a voice input device and a voice output device so that control information can be exchanged through voice dialogue, and information transmission within each device is performed using digital signals. Since this is done, control information can be exchanged without noise, and the accuracy of information transmission can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a conveyance facility to which the control information transfer method according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each device shown in FIG. 1...Central control device, 2.3...Transportation truck, 12.
...Audio output device, 15.23...Audio input device, 2
6...Audio output device. Right 1 (21 also 2 z

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When transmitting and receiving control information between a plurality of devices, each of the devices is provided with a voice input device and a voice output device to transmit and receive control information through voice dialogue, and A control information transfer method characterized by the fact that all signals are transferred and received using digital signals. 2. When exchanging control information between multiple devices, do each of the devices have an audio input device and an audio output device? and transmitting and receiving the control information through voice dialogue, and transmitting and receiving signals within each of the devices using digital signals, and monitoring the contents of the control information being exchanged through voice dialogue between the devices. Characteristic control information transfer method.