METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR SYSTEM HEALTH

• US 20080147361A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation Americas Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation Americas Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US11/611,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0251 Abstraction hierarchy, e.g. "complex systems", i.e. system is divided in subsystems, subsystems are monitored and results are combined to decide on status of whole system

Abstract

A method of monitoring a system includes identifying a plurality of subsystems associated with the system. Each of the plurality of subsystems is configured to receive at least one input signal and at least one output signal and has at least one predetermined limit. The method also includes generating a plurality of subsystem models by generating at least one subsystem model of each of the plurality of subsystems. Each of the subsystem models are at least partially formed from the first input signals and the first output signals. The method further includes generating at least one system model having at least one predetermined limit by integrating the plurality of subsystem models. At least one of the subsystem models is bounded by at least one predetermined limit of at least one other subsystem model, and/or at least one predetermined limit of the system model.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a system, said method comprising:

identifying a plurality of subsystems associated with the system, wherein each of the plurality of subsystems is configured to receive at least one input signal and at least one output signal, wherein each of the plurality of subsystems has at least one predetermined limit;

generating a plurality of subsystem models by generating at least one subsystem model of each of the plurality of subsystems, wherein each of the subsystem models are at least partially formed from the first input signals and the first output signals; and

generating at least one system model having at least one predetermined limit by integrating the plurality of subsystem models, wherein at least one of the subsystem models is bounded by at least one of the following;

at least one predetermined limit of at least one other subsystem model; and

at least one predetermined limit of the system model.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein generating at least one system model having at least one predetermined limit by integrating the plurality of subsystem models comprises:

generating a first subsystem model of a first subsystem having a first predetermined limit;

generating a first subsystem model of a second subsystem having a second predetermined limit; and

generating a second subsystem model of the first subsystem having a third predetermined limit.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising at least one of:

generating a second subsystem model of the second subsystem having a fourth predetermined limit; and

generating the system model having a system model predetermined limit.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising iteratively generating the plurality of subsystem models and the at least one system model with predetermined limits.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein generating a plurality of subsystem models comprises:

at least partially forming a system health monitoring scheme;

coupling at least one input channel and one output channel in data communication with each subsystem;

coupling each input channel and each output channel in data communication with the system health monitoring scheme that includes the plurality of subsystem models; and

receiving a first input signal via each of the input signal conduits and a first output signal via each of the output signal conduits within the process health monitoring scheme.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a second input signal via each of the input signal conduits and a second output signal via each of the output signal conduits to a system health monitoring scheme that includes the plurality of subsystem models;

comparing each of the second input signals and each of the second output signals within the plurality of subsystem models; and

generating at least one notification signal if comparing the signals with the plurality of subsystem models indicates a variance exceeding a predetermined value.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising forming at least one statistical process control algorithm within the system health monitoring scheme configured to enhance an information content of the at least one notification signal.

8. A method of monitoring a system, said method comprising:

identifying a plurality of subsystems associated with the system, wherein each of the plurality of subsystems is configured to receive at least one input signal and at least one output signal, wherein each of the plurality of subsystems has at least one predetermined limit;

generating a plurality of subsystem models by generating at least one subsystem model of each of the plurality of subsystems, wherein each of the subsystem models are at least partially formed from the first input signals and the first output signals;

coupling at least one machine learning scheme in data communication with at least one of a system model and at least one of the plurality of subsystem models; and

generating at least one system model having at least one predetermined limit by integrating the plurality of subsystem models, wherein at least one of the subsystem models is bounded by at least one of the following;

at least one predetermined limit of at least one other subsystem model; and

at least one predetermined limit of the system model.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein generating at least one system model having at least one predetermined limit by integrating the plurality of subsystem models comprises:

generating a first subsystem model of a first subsystem having a first predetermined limit;

generating a first subsystem model of a second subsystem having a second predetermined limit; and

generating a second subsystem model of the first subsystem having a third predetermined limit.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising at least one of:

generating a second subsystem model of the second subsystem having a fourth predetermined limit; and

generating the system model having a system model predetermined limit.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising iteratively generating the plurality of subsystem models and the at least one system model with predetermined limits.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein generating a plurality of subsystem models comprises:

at least partially forming a system health monitoring scheme;

coupling at least one input channel and one output channel in data communication with each subsystem;

coupling each input channel and each output channel in data communication with the system health monitoring scheme that includes the plurality of subsystem models; and

receiving a first input signal via each of the input signal conduits and a first output signal via each of the output signal conduits within the process health monitoring scheme.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting a second input signal via each of the input signal conduits and a second output signal via each of the output signal conduits to a system health monitoring scheme that includes the plurality of subsystem models;

comparing each of the second input signals and each of the second output signals within the plurality of subsystem models; and

generating at least one notification signal if comparing the signals with the plurality of subsystem models indicates a variance exceeding a predetermined value.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising forming at least one statistical process control algorithm within the system health monitoring scheme configured to enhance an information content of the at least one notification signal.

15. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein coupling at least one machine learning scheme in data communication with at least one of a system model comprises configuring and training the at least one machine learning scheme to decrease a number of false predictions.

16. A system health monitor comprising:

a plurality of subsystem models formed to at least partially represent each of a plurality of subsystems, wherein a first subsystem model has a first predetermined limit and a second subsystem model has a second predetermined limit; and

at least one system model at least partially formed by said plurality of subsystem models, wherein said at least one system model at least partially represents a system formed by said plurality of subsystems, said at least one system model has a third predetermined limit, wherein the first predetermined limit, the second predetermined limit, and the third predetermined limit cooperate to form at least one of;

a fourth predetermined limit of said first subsystem model;

a fifth predetermined limit of said second subsystem model; and

a sixth predetermined limit of said system model.

17. A system health monitor in accordance with claim 16 further comprising at least one system and subsystem model module configured to form said at least one system model and said plurality of subsystem models.

18. A system health monitor in accordance with claim 16 further comprising at least one comparison module comprising at least one comparison algorithm, said at least one comparison module is coupled in data communication with at least one system input conduit and at least one system output conduit and is configured to receive at least one system input and at least one system output.

19. A system health monitor in accordance with claim 16 further comprising at least one machine learning scheme coupled in data communication with at least one of:

at least one system and subsystem model module;

at least one comparator module;

at least one statistical process control module; and

at least one alert module.

20. A system health monitor in accordance with claim 19 wherein said at least one machine learning scheme is configured to facilitate a veracity and an accuracy of at least one predictive failure notification.