Engine speed data usage system and method

• US 10,685,299 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Mejegard, Peter, Wahlstrom, Per, Holmberg, Stefan, Philpott, Gary, Wahlgren, Hakan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngon, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US14/383,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20150039269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,657 Days
• Field of Search: 702182
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/008 by doing functionality tests
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A fleet management system is provided for outdoor power equipment and is, in some embodiments, configured to estimate operator performance and/or skill for a particular operator based at least partially on engine speed data sensed during the particular operator'"'"'s use of one or more pieces of equipment. Embodiments of the invention also provide an apparatus configured to receive data comprising RPM values of a rotating component of a piece of outdoor power equipment sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, and further configured to generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment in order to use the RPM histogram to determine additional information about the particular operator, the particular piece of equipment, and/or the particular period of operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment;

a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model of equipment or type of equipment;

a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to;

generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data,

determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the function,

determine additional information about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, wherein the additional information comprises information about skill, experience, performance, exposure, or safety of an operator associated with the operator ID code,

generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to;

cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor power equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is part of fleet management system and is configured to wirelessly receive the ID code automatically from an ID unit held by the operator during use of the piece of outdoor power equipment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises vibration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises fuel consumption.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises a measure of wear and tear.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises noise.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises information about maintenance needs of the equipment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output comprises a warning or other electronic notice.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output comprises information sent to the piece of outdoor power equipment.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output comprises information sent to display device over a network so that the information can be displayed to a remote user.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment;

a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model of equipment or type of equipment;

a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to;

generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data,

determine additional information about the particular operator and/or the particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the consistency of the RPM histogram associated with the operator over two or more work sessions, wherein the additional information comprises information about performance of the operator,

determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the stored function, and

generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to;

cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor power equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolutions per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment;

a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model of equipment or type of equipment;

a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to;

generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data,

determine additional information about the particular operator and/or the particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on a comparison of the RPM histogram of the operator to a baseline histogram stored in the memory of the apparatus, wherein the additional information comprises information about performance of the operator,

determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the stored function, and

generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to;

cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment;

a memory communicably having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model equipment or type of equipment;

a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to;

generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data,

determine additional information about the particular operator and/or the particular piece of outdoor power equipment,

determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the stored function, wherein the total parameter value or the average parameter value comprises emissions, fuel consumption, or a measure of wear and tear,

generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to;

cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment;

a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model equipment or type of equipment;

a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to;

generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data,

determine additional information about a particular operator, a particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and or the period of operation based on the RPM histogram, wherein the additional information comprises an amount of time or a number of times that the operator did a certain action with the piece of outdoor power equipment,

determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the stored function, and

determine if the number or amount exceeds or falls below a predefined threshold stored in a memory of the apparatus, and

generate an output, based on the determination of the number or amount exceeding or falling below a predefined threshold, wherein the output is based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, and/or the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and

a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to;

cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the certain action comprises turning an engine on or off, engaging or disengaging a clutch, striking a component of the piece of outdoor power equipment against another object, racing the engine, idling the engine, or working the engine.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing device is further configured to generate an invoice based at least partially on the amount of time or number of times.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the rotating component comprises an engine shaft.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rotating component comprises a shaft or pulley in a power-take-off system.