Information Management Method, Identification Information Imparting Apparatus, and Information Management System

Provided are an information management method, an identification information imparting apparatus, and an information management system that use a spray pattern capable of identifying a target object in a simple way. The present invention is characterized by: spraying a liquid material on a part of a target object (Oi) by the liquid material ejection device (10) to form an irregular spray pattern (Mi); storing a spray pattern image (Pi), which is obtained by photographing and imaging the spray pattern (Mi), and information (Ri) about the target object in association with each other; and managing the information about the target object using the spray pattern image (Pi) as identification information of the target object.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information management method, an identification information imparting apparatus, and an information management system in which a spray pattern formed by spraying paint on a target object is used as identification information of the target object.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, the use of unmanned flying objects (aerial vehicles) such as multicopters has been studied for the inspection of concrete walls of structures or the like such as tunnels, bridges, dams, buildings, etc. (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

However, even if an abnormality is found, the content of repair work is reviewed, and a construction plan for the repair work is made, it is difficult for a worker to identify an abnormal part from position information in the field. Thus, it is conceivable to add identification information such as characters, symbols, bar codes or the like.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, it is difficult for a remotely operated machine, such as a multicopter, to write or digitally print existing characters and/or symbols on a structure as identification information. The reason is that, for example, with a multicopter, it is difficult to get close to a target object for printing or drawing that requires precision.

The inventors of the present invention have focused on the fact that spray patterns formed by spraying paint on target objects are not the same as one another and can identify the target objects like fingerprints, and have come up with an idea of using the spray patterns as identification information.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information management method, an identification information imparting apparatus, and an information management system that use a spray pattern capable of identifying a target object in a simple way.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above object, an information management method of the present invention is characterized by: spraying a liquid material on a part of a target object to form an irregular spray pattern; storing a spray pattern image, which is obtained by photographing and imaging the spray pattern, and information about the target object in association with each other; and managing the information about the target object using the spray pattern image as identification information of the target object.

In addition, an identification information imparting apparatus of the present invention is an identification information imparting apparatus for imparting identification information to a target object, characterized by comprising:a liquid material ejection means configured to spray a liquid material onto the target object to form an irregular spray pattern; andan imaging means configured to image the spray pattern and record it as a spray pattern image; wherein the spray pattern image is used as identification information of the target object.

The present invention can also be configured as follows.

1. The liquid material ejection means is provided with an aerosol container for ejecting the liquid material by gas pressure in the container.

2. The liquid material ejection means is provided with a spray control means configured to control ejection of the liquid material from the aerosol container.

3. The liquid material is ejected as a jet stream.

4. The liquid material ejection means and the imaging means are mounted on a moving object.

Moreover, another information management method of the present invention is characterized by:mounting an imaging means and a liquid material ejection means on a moving object;moving the moving object to spray, upon finding a target region on a surface of a target object, a liquid material from the liquid material ejection means to a part of or a vicinity of the target region to form an irregular spray pattern;imaging the target region including the spray pattern by the imaging means to obtain image information and to extract a spray pattern image from the image information;obtaining position information of the moving object by a position information detection means; andstoring, in an information storage unit, the spray pattern image and target region information about the target region including the position information and image information of the target region in association with each other thereby to manage the information of the target region.

The present invention can also be configured as follows.1. The target region of the target object is a region with an abnormality.

Further, an information management system of the present invention is an information management system for managing information about a target region of a target object, characterized by comprising:a moving object on which an imaging means and a liquid material ejection means are mounted;a spray pattern image obtaining means configured to execute processing of spraying a liquid material from the liquid material ejection means to the target object to form an irregular spray pattern, imaging the target region including the spray pattern by the imaging means to obtain image information, and extracting a spray pattern image from the image information;a position information detection means configured to obtain position information of the moving object; anda registration means configured to store, in an information storage unit, the spray pattern image and target region information about the target region including the position information and image information of the target region in association with each other.

1. Provision is further made for an information update means configured to update the target region information stored in the information storage means by adding an additional correction thereto.

2. Provision is further made for an information obtaining means configured to obtain the spray pattern image formed in the target region of the target object, and input the spray pattern image thus obtained thereby to obtain corresponding target region information from the information storage means.

3. The target region is a region of the target object in which there is an abnormal part, and provision is further made for an abnormality detection means configured to detect the abnormal part.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, by using a spray pattern image of a liquid material as identification information, it is possible to manage information about a target object in a simple method of spraying the liquid material onto the target object. In particular, in cases where a moving object is used, even when it is difficult for the moving object to approach the target object, it is possible to easily impart identification information to the target object simply by spraying the liquid material thereto.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Dimensions, materials, and shapes of components, relative arrangements thereof, a hardware configuration of an apparatus, a software configuration, a processing flow, and the like described in the following embodiments are to be appropriately changed depending on a target object to which the present invention is applied, a configuration of the apparatus, and various conditions, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the following embodiments.

First, a conceptual configuration of an information management method and an information management system according to the present invention will be described by usingFIG. 1. This embodiment will be described by taking, as an example, a case where a target object of the present invention is used for repair management of a concrete wall600of a structure such as a tunnel, a dam, an expressway, a bridge, a high-rise building or the like.

This information management is divided into three stages that include an inspection marking stage (I) for inspecting and marking an abnormal part of the concrete wall600, a registration stage (II) of construction management data for registering a construction content of the abnormal part, and a repair work stage (III) for performing repair work. Hereinafter, each of the stages will be described.

Inspection Marking Stage (I)

In the inspection marking stage (I), a repair target region Oi is marked by spraying a liquid material using an identification information imparting apparatus1.

The identification information imparting apparatus1includes a liquid material ejection device (liquid material ejection means)10and a camera20(imaging means), wherein the liquid material ejection device10serves to eject the liquid material to the repair target region Oi of the concrete wall600as the target object to form an irregular spray pattern. In this embodiment, the liquid material ejection device10and the camera20are mounted on a flying object100which is a moving object, and the concrete wall600is photographed and inspected by the camera20which is moving with the flying object100, and the liquid material such as paint is ejected to a part of or a vicinity of the repair target region Oi, in which an abnormal part C has been found, to form a spray pattern Mi.

The liquid material ejected from the liquid material ejection device10collides with the concrete wall600and scatters in all directions to spread along a wall surface thereof, or splashes by gravity, air resistance or the like after being ejected and before reaching the wall surface to form the spray pattern Mi. Since the liquid material scatters radially and irregularly due to an impact or the like, an outer periphery m of the spray pattern Mi has an irregular uneven shape. The shape of the outer periphery is not constant, and none of them are the same, and hence, the repair target region Oi can be identified like a fingerprint.

The liquid material is a substance in the form of liquid, gel, cream, or paste, and for example, a paint or the like is used. As the liquid material, a material is suitable which does not fall off due to rain or the like and which can be removed as needed. In addition, a material may be used which is colorless and transparent in visible light and which can be identified by ultraviolet rays or infrared rays, or in the case of a concrete wall of a tunnel, a luminous material may be used so as to be easily seen or checked by a worker.

The flight of the flying object100is remotely controlled by a transmitter120, and the liquid material ejection device10is controlled by an inspection marking terminal device200that constitutes a spray control means. In addition, the operation of the camera20is also controlled by the inspection marking terminal device200.

The transmitter120controls the flight of the flying object100, and basically controls the flight, including ascending, descending, turning, horizontal movement, by means of an operation device such as a lever. The exchange of signals between the flying object100and the transmitter120is communicated by wireless communication.

The inspection marking terminal device200controls the flying object100, the liquid material ejection device10, and the camera20via the transmitter120, thereby to perform a series of processes of inspection, marking, and photographing. In the figure, there is illustrated a state in which a photographed image is displayed on a display unit213of the inspection marking terminal device200.

That is, the flying object100is caused to fly along the concrete wall600while keeping a predetermined distance, so that the surface thereof is photographed by the camera20to detect the presence or absence of the abnormal part C such as a crack from an image thus photographed.

Subsequently, the repair target region Oi in which the abnormal part has been found is sprayed with the liquid material by the liquid material ejection device10, so that it is marked with the spray pattern Mi.

Then, the repair target region Oi thus marked is photographed by the camera20, and a spray pattern image Pi is extracted from the repair target region image Qi thus photographed and imaged, so that the spray pattern image Pi and repair target region information Ri related to the repair target region Oi including the repair target region image Qi are registered and managed in a management server500in association with each other. If the information of the repair target region image Qi and the information of the spray pattern image Pi are associated with each other, the photographing of the repair target region Oi may include the repair target region image Qi and the spray pattern image Pi in one image, or these pieces of information may be associated with each other in different images. Further, the repair target region Oi may be a set of a plurality of images. The repair target region information Ri includes, in addition to the repair target region image Qi, position information Si of the repair target region Oi and the like. The position information Si includes, for example, map information such as latitude, longitude, height, etc., the name of a structure provided with a concrete wall as a target object, and the like.

In the repair target region information Ri, the construction content including a repair work content for the abnormal part C is further registered, and the construction content is registered in the management data registration stage (II) which will be described below.

Registration Stage (II) of Construction Management Data

In the registration stage of the construction management data, a construction manager accesses the management server500from a manager terminal device300, and determines and registers the construction content such as a repair method of the abnormal part such as a crack or the like, by referring to the repair target region image Qi.

Repair Work Stage (III)

In the repair work stage (III), the worker photographs the spray pattern Mi by means of a worker terminal device400at the site, transmits the spray pattern image Pi thus photographed to the management server500, obtains the construction content of the corresponding repair target region Oi, and performs the repair work based on the construction content.

FIG. 2(A)illustrates a system configuration of the inspection marking terminal device200, the manager terminal device300, the worker terminal device400, and the management server500, which have been mentioned above.

The management server500includes a data storage unit (information storage unit)501in which the spray pattern image Pi and the repair target region information Ri related to the repair target region are stored in association with each other, and the inspection marking terminal device200, the manager terminal device300, and the worker terminal device400can communicate with one another via a communication network N such as the Internet or the like.

FIG. 2(B)illustrates an example of data stored in a data storage unit501.

That is, the repair target region information Ri is stored in association with the spray pattern image Pi, and the repair target region image Qi including a repair target part, the position information Si, the construction content Ti and the like are included as the repair target region information Ri.

Next, the identification information imparting apparatus used in the inspection marking stage ofFIG. 1will be described in more detail.

FIG. 3illustrates the identification information imparting apparatus.

This identification information imparting apparatus1includes the flying object100, and the liquid material ejection device10and the camera20mounted on the unmanned flying object.

InFIG. 3, the flying object100is a so-called multicopter, and has an airframe101that includes a main body portion102and a plurality of arm portions103extending radially from the main body portion102, wherein rotor blades104are provided at distal ends of the arm portions103via motors105, respectively. In the illustrated example, the rotor blades104are illustrated at two locations on the left and right, but in the sense that there are a plurality of rotor blades104, various known multicopters, such as three (tricopter), four (quadcopter), six (hexacopter), etc., can be applied.

Liquid Material Ejection Device10

The liquid material ejection device10is configured to include an aerosol container11that is mounted on the outside of the airframe101of the flying object100, an actuator13with a nozzle that is connected to a stem12provided with a discharge passage of the aerosol container11, and an opening and closing mechanism30that constitutes an ejection control unit adapted to push the stem12through the nozzle-equipped actuator13to open the discharge passage.

The aerosol container11is a container that ejects a liquid material as a content by the gas pressure of a liquefied gas or a compressed gas filled therein, and an existing aerosol container11made of metal or pressure-resistant plastic can be applied thereto. The aerosol container11generally sprays the liquid material in the form of a mist from the nozzle by attaching the actuator to the stem12, but in the present invention, the purpose is to form a spray pattern, and the liquid material is ejected as a linear jet stream. Although the stem12alone can be used to eject the liquid material as a jet stream, it is necessary to push the stem12in, and hence in this embodiment, the actuator13with the flanged nozzle is connected thereto, and the stem12is pushed in by means of the opening and closing mechanism30through a flange14of the nozzle-equipped actuator13, so that an unillustrated internal valve is opened to eject paint. Here, note that the nozzle is provided with an orifice, which allows a better jet stream to be ejected than in the case of only the stem.

In the illustrated example, the aerosol container11is mounted in a state where a central axis of the aerosol container11(a central axis of its body) is horizontally oriented by using a space on a lower surface of the airframe101of the flying object100. A mounting device50is provided on the lower surface of the airframe101, so that the aerosol container is mounted on the airframe101through the mounting device50. The mounting device50shall be of a structure that can be attached to the airframe, and shall be firmly fixed by bolts or other screw fastening, band fastening, adhesive fastening, etc. The flying object100is detachably mounted on the mounting device50by a holding member51such as a clamper or the like.

The camera20is mounted on the front side of the airframe101so as to face forward with its photographing direction (optical axis direction of the lens) aligned with the direction of ejection by the aerosol container11.

As the form of the propellant and the content of the aerosol container11, an isolated type is used in which the liquid material is contained in an inner bag and the propellant is contained between the outer periphery of the inner bag and the inner periphery of the container body. In the case of the isolated type, ejection can be made from the aerosol container11even when the aerosol container11is in a horizontal orientation (the stem is positioned horizontally) or a downward orientation (the stem is positioned downward).

However, the present invention is not limited to the isolated type, and a two-phase type or three-phase type container with a dip tube can be applied when the posture of the aerosol container11at the time of liquid ejection is used with the stem12facing upward, and a two-phase type or three-phase type container having no dip tube can be applied when the posture of the aerosol container11is used with the stem12facing downward.

Here, note that liquefied gases such as general hydrocarbons (liquefied petroleum gas) (LPG), dimethyl ether (DME), and fluorinated hydrocarbons (HFO-1234ze), as well as compressed gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) can be used as propellants, but non-flammable fluorinated hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, etc., are suitable, and nitrogen is particularly suitable, considering its environmental impact.

Opening and Closing Mechanism30

The opening and closing mechanism30includes a pressing member31with an engaging portion31athat engages with the flange14of the nozzle-equipped actuator13, and a driving unit32which is a driving means, such as a solenoid, a linear motor or the like, that linearly drives the pressing member31, wherein the pressing member31is driven in the axial direction of the aerosol container by means of the driving unit32, whereby the stem12is driven in the direction of being pushed into the container via the pressing member31and the nozzle-equipped actuator13. The drive unit32may be any mechanism that drives in a linear direction, and may linearly drive directly by a linear motor, a solenoid or the like, or may linearly drive via a motion conversion mechanism, such as a cam, a screw feed mechanism or the like, that converts the rotational motion of a rotary motor into a linear direction.

Other Mounting Examples of Liquid Material Ejection Device10and Camera20

FIG. 4illustrates an example in which the liquid material ejection device10and the camera20are mounted on the flying object100via a gimbal40.

The gimbal40is a pedestal having degrees of freedom of rotation about three mutually orthogonal axes, and detects an inclination of each rotation axis by a sensor and corrects the inclination of the rotation axis by a motor, and various known devices can be applied to the gimbal40. By using the gimbal40, the camera20and the liquid material ejection device10can be stabilized, and the camera20and the liquid material ejection device10can be tilted.

FIG. 4(A)illustrates an example in which the liquid material ejection device10is attached to the camera20mounted via a gimbal40. The liquid material ejection device10is held by utilizing a frame of the gimbal40that holds the camera20. In this way, the camera20and the liquid material ejection device10are moved in synchronization with each other by means of the gimbal40.

FIG. 4(B)illustrates an example in which the liquid material ejection device10and the camera20are attached to the gimbal40in a parallel state. In this case, too, the camera20and the liquid material ejection device10are moved in synchronization with each other by means of the gimbal40.

InFIG. 4(C), the liquid material ejection device10is mounted on the lower surface of the airframe101side by side with the camera20to balance the center of gravity, and a nozzle17is connected to an ejection port of the liquid material ejection device10via a flexible extension tube16, so that the nozzle17is attached to the camera20held by the gimbal40. In this case, the nozzle17is moved in synchronization with the camera20by means of the gimbal40.

Control Unit of Flying Object

FIG. 5(A)is a control block diagram of a control unit provided in the flying object100.

That is, the control unit110of the flying object includes a transceiver110E that communicates with the transmitter120, a flight control unit110A that controls the flight of the flying object100, a camera control unit110B that controls the operation of the camera20, a gimbal control unit110C that controls the gimbal40in the case where the gimbal40is provided, and an ejection control unit110D that controls the ejection timing and the ejection period of time of the opening and closing mechanism30.

The flight control unit110A calculates a control signal to the motor105of each of the rotor blades104based on detection information from sensors112such as gyro sensors, acceleration sensors, geomagnetic sensors, range sensors, etc., position information from a GPS113, command signals from the transmitter120, or command signals transmitted from inspection marking terminal device200via the transmitter120, thereby to control the flight of the flying object100. In the figure, only one motor105is described for simplification, but a plurality of motors are provided.

The camera control unit110B executes a photographing or imaging operation by the camera20based on the command signals transmitted from the inspection marking terminal device200via the transmitter120.

The ejection control unit110D outputs ejection and stop signals to the driving unit32of the opening and closing mechanism30based on the command signals transmitted from the inspection marking terminal device200via the transmitter120, thereby to control the ejection operation of the liquid material ejection device10.

Each control unit is described as a functional block that executes a respective process, and although not particularly described, a computer can execute control processes of flight control, camera control, and ejection operation by performing arithmetic processing by a CPU which is a hardware resource provided in the control unit110, on the basis of a program stored in a memory unit.

FIG. 5(B)is a control block diagram of the transmitter120.

That is, it has a control unit120A, a transceiver unit120B that transmits signals to the transceiver unit110E of the control unit110of the flying object via an antenna, an operation unit120C such as a stick or the like, and a communication interface120D (hereinafter, I/F) that communicates with the inspection marking terminal device200.

Inspection Marking Terminal Device200

FIG. 6(A)is a functional block diagram of the inspection marking terminal device.

That is, it includes an abnormality detection unit (abnormality detection means)201for an inspection target region, a marking processing unit202that operates the liquid material ejection device10to perform marking processing, an image obtaining unit203that obtains an image of the target region marked, a position information obtaining unit (position information detection means)204that obtains position information, and a transmission processing unit205that transmits the spray pattern image, the position information, and the target region image to the management server500in association with each other.

In the image obtaining unit203, the spray pattern image is extracted from the image of the target region.

The position information obtaining unit204obtains information about the location of the concrete wall600and position information about a spraying position.

This inspection marking terminal device200constitutes a spray pattern image obtaining means of the information management system of the present invention.

FIG. 6(B)illustrates the configuration of a computer that constitutes the inspection marking terminal device200, andFIG. 1illustrates an information terminal device of a general tablet type.

The computer has a general configuration, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)211, a main storage device212composed of a ROM and a RAM, a display unit213such as for example a touch panel type LCD or the like, a communication I/F214for connecting to the transmitter120, an input device215for inputting information, and a communication network I/F216for accessing the management server500via a relay station and a communication network such as the Internet.

The processes of the abnormality detection unit201, the marking processing unit202, the image obtaining unit203, the position information obtaining unit204, and the transmission processing unit205are performed by executing a program stored in the main storage device212or a program stored in the management server500via the communication network I/F216.

Note that the inspection marking terminal device200can use a camera controller that is provided separately from the transmitter120and includes an operation unit for controlling the operation of the camera20, or can be provided integrally with the transmitter, and any combination of devices can be used.

FIG. 7illustrates an example of an inspection procedure of the concrete wall.

FIG. 7(A)illustrates a vertical wall, in which the concrete wall600is divided into a plurality of inspection regions Di in a grid pattern in the vertical and horizontal directions, and inspection is performed by repeating ascent and descent for each column. Marking Processing Process

When the inspection is started, the processing of the abnormality detection unit201of the inspection marking terminal device200is executed. That is, the CPU211reads out an inspection processing program from the main storage device212to execute a series of inspection processing procedures.

When inspection processing is executed, the flying object100flies to a first inspection region Di and enters a hovering state, so that it operates the camera20to photograph the inspection region Di thereby to obtain an image for inspection. The image from the camera20is received by the transmitter120through wireless communication between the flying object100and the transmitter120, and is transmitted from the transmitter120to the inspection marking terminal device200through the communication I/F214.

Then, the presence or absence of an abnormal part is detected from the inspection image thus obtained. The abnormal part may be detected, for example, by recognizing the width of a crack and determining that the crack is abnormal when the width is equal to or larger than a predetermined width, or by using a determination means that uses Al.

When there is no abnormal part, the inspection region is moved to the next inspection region.

When there is an abnormal part, the processing of the marking processing unit202is executed, so that a liquid material ejection command is transmitted to activate the liquid material ejection device10to spray the liquid material on the wall surface of the inspection region Di thereby to form the spray pattern Mi.

When the marking is completed, the processing of the image obtaining unit203is executed, and a photographing command signal is transmitted so that the camera20is activated to obtain an image of the target region to which the spray pattern Mi is attached. The image thus photographed is transmitted to the inspection marking terminal device200via the transmitter120in the same manner as the inspection image.

Subsequently, the processing of the transmission processing unit205is executed, so that the spray pattern image Pi is extracted from the image of the inspection region Di obtained, and is transmitted to the management server500in association with the image and the position information of the inspection region Di to which the spray pattern is attached, and the inspection region is then moved to the next inspection region.

When the liquid material is ejected, a reaction force in a direction opposite to the direction of the ejection of the liquid material acts on the flying object100due to the momentum of the ejected liquid material, but since the amount of liquid required to form the spray pattern is small, this does not have any effect.

In the Case of the Concrete Wall600being an Inclined Surface

FIG. 7(B)illustrates an example of an inspection procedure in the case of an inclined wall such as a tunnel or the like.

In this case, by using the flying object100with the camera20and the liquid material ejection device10mounted thereon via the gimbal40, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the camera20and the liquid material ejection device10can be tilted in accordance with the inclination of the wall surface.

For example, if the flying object100is caused to rise while maintaining a certain distance from the wall surface by using a distance sensor, a flight trajectory thereof can be known, and if an optical axis of the camera20is aligned perpendicular to the flight trajectory by means of the gimbal40, the directions of the camera20and the nozzle-equipped actuator13of the liquid material ejection device10can be oriented perpendicular to the wall surface.

Note that inFIG. 7, each inspection region Di is assumed to be photographed or imaged in a state of hovering at a certain position to detect an abnormal part, but it is also possible for the flying object to fly continuously and stop at the time of detecting an abnormal part to perform imaging and marking processing.

FIG. 8(A)illustrates a functional block diagram of the management server500.

That is, it includes the data storage unit501, a new data registration processing unit (registration means)502, a management data registration processing unit503, a work data search processing unit504, and a transceiver unit505.

The data storage unit501stores the spray pattern image Pi, which is image information of the irregular spray pattern Mi formed by spraying the liquid material onto the repair target region, and the repair target region information such as the repair target region image Qi, which is image information of the corresponding repair target region Oi, position information or the like, in association with each other.

The new data registration processing unit502registers, in the data storage unit501, the spray pattern image Pi, the repair target region image Qi, the position information, and the like transmitted from the inspection marking terminal device200in association with each other.

In response to a data request transmitted from the manager terminal device300, the management data registration processing unit503obtains the corresponding spray pattern image Pi and repair target region information from the data storage unit501, and transmits them from the transceiver unit505to the manager terminal device300.

In response to a data request from the worker terminal device400, the work data search processing unit504searches the data storage unit501for information of the repair target region corresponding to the spray pattern image Pi, obtains corresponding repair target region information, and transmits it to the worker terminal device400.

FIG. 8(B)illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computer that implements the management server500.

That is, a CPU511, a main storage device512composed of a ROM and a RAM, a net communication I/F513, an external storage device514such as a hard disk or the like, etc., are provided.

The external storage device514is used as the data storage unit501illustrated inFIG. 8(A). In addition, each processing unit is operated and processed by the CPU511based on a program stored in the main storage device512, which is a hardware resource, to realize each function. That is, the processes of the new data registration processing unit502, the management data registration processing unit503, and the work data search processing unit504are performed by executing the program stored in the main storage device512.

Next, the registration stage of the construction management data will be described.

FIG. 9(A)is a functional block diagram of the manager terminal device300.

That is, the manager terminal device300includes a request transmission processing unit301that transmits a search request for repair target region information to the management server500, a reception processing unit302that receives the repair target region information from the management server500, a management data creation processing unit303that creates management data such as a construction content or the like, and a data transmission processing unit304that transmits the created data.

This manager terminal device300constitutes an information updating means for updating data by adding and correcting target object information stored in the data storage unit501.

FIG. 9(B)illustrates a hardware configuration of a computer that realizes the manager terminal device300.

That is, a CPU311, a main storage device312composed of a ROM and a RAM, a display unit313such as an LCD or the like, a net communication I/F314for accessing the management server500, an input device315for inputting information, and the like are provided.

Each processing unit illustrated inFIG. 9(A)is operated and processed by the CPU311based on a program stored in the main storage device312, which is a hardware resource, to realize each function. That is, the processes of the request transmission processing unit301, the reception processing unit302, the management data creation processing unit303, and the data transmission processing unit304are performed by executing the program stored in the main storage device312.

FIG. 11illustrates a processing procedure between the manager terminal device300and the management server500.

That is, the manager accesses the management server500from the manager terminal device300, and transmits a search request for target region information for which a construction content is to be registered (S31). The search request can identify the repair target region by identifying, for example, an inspection place or location such as a tunnel, a dam, a bridge or the like, or an inspection date or the like.

In the management server500, upon receiving the search request at the transceiver unit505(S32), the processing of the management data registration processing unit503is executed to search the data storage unit501for repair target region information (S33), and the repair target region information thus searched or extracted is transmitted to the manager terminal device300(S34). At the side of the manager terminal device300, upon receiving the repair target region information (S35), the repair target region information is displayed on the display unit313. The manager checks an abnormal part such as a crack or the like from a repair target region image displayed, and inputs an appropriate construction content as additional information to create additional data (S36). When the additional data is created, the additional data is transmitted to the management server500(S37), and is registered in the information storage unit501in the management server500(S38).

Stage of Repair Work

The worker carries the worker terminal device400provided with a camera416, and transmits to the management server500the spray pattern image Pi obtained by photographing and imaging the spray pattern Mi attached to the concrete wall600at the work site by the camera416, and requests corresponding target region information. Then, the target region information transmitted from the management server500in response to the request is received and displayed on a display unit413.

FIG. 10(A)is a functional block diagram of the worker terminal device400.

That is, the worker terminal device400includes an image obtaining processing unit401that obtains a spray pattern image, a request transmission processing unit402that transmits a search request for corresponding repair target region information with the spray pattern image attached thereto to the management server500, a reception processing unit403that receives the repair target region information from the management server500, and a display processing unit404that displays the repair target region information on the display unit413.

This worker terminal device400constitutes an information obtaining means that obtains corresponding target object information from the data storage unit of the information management system of the present invention.

FIG. 10(B)illustrates a hardware configuration of a computer that realizes the worker terminal device400.

That is, a CPU411, a main storage device412composed of a ROM and a RAM, the display unit413such as an LCD or the like, a net communication I/F414for accessing the management server500, an input device415for inputting information, the camera416, and a GPS417are provided.

The processes of the image obtaining processing unit401, the request transmission processing unit402, the reception processing unit403, and the display processing unit404, which are illustrated inFIG. 10(A), are performed by executing a program stored in the main storage device212.

FIG. 12illustrates a flow of information between the worker terminal device400and the management server500.

That is, when finding the spray pattern Mi at the work site, the worker photographs the spray pattern with the camera416to obtain a spray pattern image (S41), accesses the management server500, and transmits a search request for repair target region information with the photographed spray pattern image attached thereto. In addition, position information obtained by the GPS417, inspection date and time, and the like may be added to the search request (S42).

In the management server500, upon receiving the search request at the transceiver unit505(S43), a program for the work data search processing unit504is executed to search the data storage unit501for repair target region information (S44), and the repair target region information thus searched or extracted is transmitted to the worker terminal device400(S45). At the side of the worker terminal device400, when the target region information is received (S46), repair target region information including a construction content is displayed on the display unit413(S47). The worker can check or confirm the site by looking at the spray pattern image and the repair target region image displayed on the display unit413as well as the spray pattern and the abnormal part of the wall surface at the site, and perform the repair work according to the construction content displayed.

In this way, the worker can obtain information including the construction content from the management server500by photographing the spray pattern Mi with the camera416and inquiring to the management server500, which simplifies the confirmation work and eliminates the need for complicated work of carrying documents describing the construction content.

Other Embodiments

Here, note that in the above-described embodiment, the abnormality detection means is provided as the target region detection unit, but the abnormality detection means is not necessarily required. For example, an inspector may visually monitor images taken from the flying object, and execute marking processing if a defective part is found.

Also, without detecting a specific target region, all target regions may be marked and used as identification information of the target regions.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the aerosol container is mounted on the airframe in an exposed state, but it may be mounted on the flying object in a state of being housed in a sleeve which is a housing container. Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the aerosol container11is mounted outside the airframe101, but the aerosol container11may be configured such that it is placed inside the airframe101, with the nozzle17being connected thereto via the extension tube16, as illustrated inFIG. 4(C).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has also been described in which a multicopter is used as the flying object on which the liquid material ejection device is mounted, but an unmanned aerial vehicle using propellers may be used, instead of the flying object using rotor blades (rotors). Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to unmanned flying objects, but can also be applied to unmanned or manned moving objects that travel on a road surface.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, a concrete wall has been described as an example of a target of the present invention, but the invention is not limited to such a concrete wall, and can be widely used as identification information of various target objects such as glass of buildings, panels of solar power generation facilities, trees, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS