Tool management vest

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025086775-A1
Application number	US-202318466706-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 13, 2023
Priority date	Sep 13, 2023
Publication date	Mar 13, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wearable device and more particularly, to a vest management system for identifying broken or damaged equipment or tools within a manufacturing context and providing a notification to replace the equipment. In one illustrative embodiment, the vest may incorporate at least one camera on a forward position. The camera on the vest may scan an environment to detect tools within it. Once a tool is identified, the tool may be inspected to determine whether it is worn or damaged. This may be performed through image mapping or recognition. After identifying a damaged tool, a notification may be provided by the vest to a network administrator where replacement parts may be ordered.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wearable device comprising:
at least one camera; and a processor executing one or more instructions stored on memory to perform:
receiving an image from the at least one camera;
detecting a tool within the image;
identifying whether the tool within the image is damaged;
providing information regarding the tool when the tool has been damaged.

2 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is embedded within the wearable device.

3 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is positioned on a front strap of the wearable device.

4 . The wearable device of claim 1 , comprising two cameras for detecting a depth of the image.

5 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor executing the one or more instructions stored on the memory further performs retrieving data for a set of tools.

6 . The wearable device of claim 5 , wherein retrieving the data for the set of tools comprises determining a location of the wearable device and associating the set of tools with the location.

7 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein detecting the tool within the image comprises removing background environmental objects from the image.

8 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein identifying whether the tool within the image is damaged comprises analyzing a condition of the tool as being useable or not useable.

9 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein identifying whether the tool within the image is damaged comprises analyzing a remaining life of the tool.

10 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein providing information regarding the tool when the tool has been damaged comprises sending a replacement report containing information about the tool with the identified damage.

11 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable storage medium to store a computer readable program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations comprising:
receiving an image from a wearable device; detecting whether there is a tool within the image and whether a replacement tool is required; when the replacement tool is required, identifying a location of the wearable device; and providing a notification of the tool and the location.

12 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the wearable device is within a manufacturing environment.

13 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein receiving the image from the wearable device comprises obtaining the image from a centralized computer system which is in communication with a plurality of anchors that sense the wearable device.

14 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein detecting whether a replacement tool is required comprises searching through a database of images to determine whether the tool needs repairs.

15 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein detecting whether a replacement tool is required comprises determining whether the tool is worn out or damaged.

16 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to order the replacement tool.

17 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to provide the replacement tool to the location when the order is received.

18 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the notification includes a condition of the tool.

19 . A tool management system comprising:
at least one wearable device; a memory storing one or more instructions; and a processor executing one or more of the instructions stored on the memory to perform:
receiving an image along with a location from the at least one wearable device;
detecting that a tool has been damaged based on the image;
tagging the location of the tool that has been damaged.

20 . The tool management system of claim 19 , wherein the processor executing the one or more of the instructions stored on the memory to perform processes further comprises providing instructions to the wearable device to gather additional information about the tool.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fong Aaron C
• Kumar Pardeep

Classifications

• G06V10/764

  using classification, e.g. of video objects · CPC title

• G06V10/94

  Hardware or software architectures specially adapted for image or video understanding · CPC title

• G06V20/64

  Three-dimensional [3D] objects · CPC title

• A41D1/002

  adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085) · CPC title

• G06F1/163

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title