Diagnostics/prognostics using wireless links

• US 20030004624A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Wilson, Bary W., Greitzer, Frank L., Heister, Earl
• Granted Patent: US 6,662,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring operating parameters of a machine (such as a vehicle) and producing diagnostic and/or prognostic results are disclosed. Active, semi-active, or semi-passive sensors are wirelessly linked with an interrogator that selectively interrogates the sensors, such as through transponders in wired communication with the sensors. A data concentrator or processor analyzes data from certain sensors and generates diagnostic/prognostic conclusions, in some cases using additional data selectively requested from and acquired by the sensors. In some embodiments, raw or abstracted data is communicated with a management center that provides troubleshooting information (again, possibly using additional, selectively acquired data), makes resource management decisions (such as preparing parts or labor resources to make a repair), and tracks problems in all or a subset of the machines being managed.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a wireless signal transceiver in communication with said processor;

two or more sensors configured to detect two or more operating parameters of a machine and generate corresponding parameter information signals;

one or more transponder means configured to receive the parameter information signals from said sensors and wirelessly communicate the operating parameter data to said wireless signal transceiver in response to a selective interrogation signal;

a processor-readable medium, in communication with said processor, encoded with programming instructions executable by said processor to;

control generation by said transceiver of the selective interrogation signal, and

perform computations on the operating parameter data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said computations comprise determining a machine state as a function of the operating parameter data.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a display means, in communication with said processor, for visually communicating the machine state to a person.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the machine has an operator compartment; and

said display means is in the operator compartment.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a stationary monitoring facility in communication with said processor through a wireless link; and

a state message from said processor to said monitoring facility through said wireless link reflecting the machine state.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the communication between said monitoring facility and said processor passes through a public access data network.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said wireless link comprises a public access cellular communications network.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said wireless link is a two-way link.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a responsive message from said monitoring facility to said processor, where the responsive message is sent in response to state messages that indicate one or more predetermined machine states.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said responsive message is a request for specific additional data regarding one or more of the operating parameters;

and

further comprising a reply message through the wireless channel from said processor to said monitoring facility containing the requested additional data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one transponder means is an RF tag.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one transponder means includes no internal power source.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one transponder means comprises an internal power source.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one transponder means shares a power source with the machine.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a first one of said one or more transponder means is further configured to:

generate a selective interrogation signal to which a second one of said one or more transponder means is configured to respond;

receive the parameter information signals from the second transponder means; and

communicate the parameter information signals to said wireless signal transceiver.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the vehicle has an operator'"'"'s compartment; and

the display device is configured to be observed by a person in said operator'"'"'s compartment.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said report signal reflects the result of processing a plurality of the operating parameters.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said report signal reflects diagnosis based on a plurality of operating parameters.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said report signal reflects a prognosis based on a plurality of operating parameters.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of said one or more tag means is an RF tag.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said RF tag is semi-passive.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said RF tag is semi-active.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said RF tag is active.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein said programming instructions are executable by said processor to:

effect an interrogation of said one or more tag means to obtain one or more data signals; and

perform at least one computation on said one or more data signals.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the conclusion is a diagnostic conclusion.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising indicating the conclusion to an operator of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising wirelessly communicating the conclusion to a vehicle management facility.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising compiling diagnostic and/or prognostic information at the vehicle management facility from a plurality of vehicles.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising the vehicle management facility controlling maintenance or repair resources based on the diagnostic/prognostic information.

16. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a wireless signal transceiver in communication with said processor;

one or more sensors collectively configured to detect two or more operating parameters of a vehicle;

one or more tag means for receiving the operating parameters from said sensors and wirelessly communicating the operating parameters to said wireless signal receiver;

a processor-readable medium, in communication with said processor, encoded with programming instructions executable by said processor to;

develop a report signal as a function of the operating parameters; and

send said report signal to a display device.

18. The system of claim 16:

further comprising a fleet command center; and

wherein the display device is configured to be observed by a fleet operator in said fleet command center.

27. A method, comprising

configuring one or more sensors on a vehicle collectively to detect two or more operating parameters of the vehicle;

wirelessly transmitting signals representative of the two or more operating parameters from the one or more sensors to a processor; and

analyzing the signals with the processor to reach a conclusion.

33. An apparatus, comprising

a first number of sensors collectively configured to provide data signals indicative of one or more operating parameters of a machine, where the first number is at least one;

a second number of semi-passive RF tags coupled to the one or more sensors, where the second number is at least one; and

one or more data collection devices that interrogate said at least one RF tag to read the data signals.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first number is at least two.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the second number is at least two.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data signals are indicative of two or more operating parameters of the machine.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a processor, in communication with said one or more data collection devices, that processes the one or more operating parameters indicated by the data signals.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the second number is less than the first number.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said management center is configured to generate a response signal to said one or more result signals and send it to said communications hardware.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said response signal indicates instructions to an operator of the vehicle.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein:

said response signal comprises a request for additional information concerning additional operating parameters of the vehicle, where the additional operating parameters were not described in said result signal; and

the programming instructions are further executable by said processor to;

cause said one or more interrogators to selectively request the additional information;

cause said communications hardware to transmit the additional information to said management center.

39. A system for maintaining a plurality of vehicles, comprising:

a management center; and

an on-board subsystem on each vehicle, each said subsystem comprising;

one or more sensors that collectively sense a plurality of operating parameters of the vehicle;

one or more transceivers, each in communication with one or more sensors, that communicate a data signal indicative of the operating parameters in response to an interrogation signal;

one or more interrogators configured to selectively produce the interrogation signals and receive the data signals;

a processor, in communication with said one or more interrogators and a computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with programming instructions executable by said processor to;

perform analysis of the health of one or more portions of the vehicle based on the operating parameters indicated by the data signals to produce one or more result signals; and

control production of interrogation signals by said one or more interrogators; and

communications hardware in communication with said processor to communicate at least one of said one or more result signals to said management center.