Mobile Asset Data Recorder and Transmitter

• US 20150149118A1
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wi-Tronix, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wi-Tronix, LLC
• Inventors: Jordan, Lawrence B., Matta, Lisa A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/02 for measuring length, width, or thickness G01B21/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/00 Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5776 Signal processing not specific to any of the devices covered by groups G01C19/5607 - G01C19/5719
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/188 for accumulated errors, e.g. by coupling inertial systems with absolute positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/28 by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/001 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/08 Railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/252 Employing an initial estimate of location in generating assistance data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2133 : Recording or reproducing at a specific moment, e.g. time interval or time-lapse
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 : between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

An acceleration-based mobile asset data recorder and transmitter equipped with a wireless processing unit, an event recorder, a digital video recorder, a fuel level sensor, and an inertial navigation sensor board. The inertial navigation sensor board includes a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis magnetometer, and a microcontroller. The data recorder and transmitter allows for automatic orientation, automatic compass calibration, fuel compensation with pitch and roll, emergency brake application with impact detection, rough operating condition detection, engine running detection, and inertial navigation of a mobile asset. Users can use the normal operation of their mobile assets to locate and alert, in real-time, areas where their assets are encountering rough operating environments, to provide for quicker emergency response, and to validate the effectiveness of repairs and rerouting.

Claims

1. A method for recording, processing and transmitting data from a mobile asset, comprising the steps of:

a. at least one inertial navigation sensor board onboard the mobile asset, said board comprising a microcontroller communicating with and processing data from a 3-axis accelerometer;

b. reading raw acceleration data from the 3-axis accelerometer;

c. filtering the raw acceleration data into filtered acceleration values; and

d. translating the axes of the inertial navigation sensor board to the axes of the mobile asset using at least one of the raw acceleration data and the filtered acceleration values.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a. establishing acceleration durations in each axis;

b. establishing acceleration thresholds in each axis;

c. storing the acceleration durations;

d. storing the acceleration thresholds;

e. filtering the raw acceleration data to filtered acceleration values;

f. translating the filtered acceleration values to filtered asset axes values;

g. translating the raw acceleration data to raw asset axes values;

h. adding the filtered asset axes values to the acceleration thresholds for each axis; and

i. continually comparing the added thresholds to the raw asset axes values.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

a. at least one event data recorder, onboard the mobile asset, logging data relating to the mobile asset;

b. activating a timer when the raw asset axes values exceed the added thresholds;

c. determining the timer duration when the raw asset axes values no longer exceed the added threshold in a specific axis;

d. determining whether the timer duration exceeds the specified acceleration duration for that axis;

e. storing a trigger event if the timer duration exceeds the acceleration duration;

f. receiving periodic data messages from an onboard event data recorder;

g. detecting when the periodic data message indicates an emergency brake application discrete signal; and

h. storing at least one of the time the trigger event occurred and the time the emergency brake application event occurred.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the steps of:

a. at least one digital video recorder, onboard the mobile asset, recording video and acoustics;

b. checking the time stamp of one of the trigger event and the emergency brake application event;

c. triggering an emergency brake application with impact alert when the latest two events, the time the trigger event occurred and the time of the emergency brake application event, occurred are in close proximity;

d. requesting a digital video download covering the time of the event from the onboard digital video recorder;

e. receiving the digital video download; and

f. sending the digital video download to a back office.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

a. sending alerts indicating any of the GPS location, video, event data recorder information, actual force of the collision, and rollover and derailment occurring as a result of the collision.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the trigger event comprises storing specifics on the axes, the timer duration, and the time of the trigger event.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the data messages comprise the real-time status of various input sensors.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a. at least one fuel level sensor measuring the amount of fuel inside a fuel tank;

b. filtering the raw acceleration data to filtered acceleration values;

c. translating the filtered acceleration values to filtered asset axes values;

d. calculating the asset'"'"'s pitch, wherein the asset'"'"'s pitch is determined by applying the equation;

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

a. at least one GPS sensor, onboard the mobile asset, receiving GPS signals from a global positioning system;

b. at least one event data recorder, onboard the mobile asset, logging data relating to the mobile asset;

c. activating a timer when the raw asset axes values exceed the added thresholds;

d. determining the timer duration when the raw asset axes values no longer exceed the added threshold in a specific axis;

e. determining whether the timer duration exceeds the specified acceleration duration for that axis;

f. storing a trigger event if the timer duration exceeds the acceleration duration;

g. receiving periodic data messages from the at least one of the event data recorder and the GPS sensor; and

h. monitoring the asset'"'"'s speed, wherein the asset'"'"'s speed is determined by applying the equation;

∫

asset'"'"'s acceleration_x-axis.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

a. determining which axis the trigger event was triggered in when the asset'"'"'s speed exceeds a specified value and a trigger event was stored at the same time;

b. logging a potential track issue alert if the trigger event was triggered in the z-axis; and

c. logging an operator mishandling alert if the trigger event was triggered in one of the x-axis and the y-axis.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

a. sending alerts indicating any of rough operating environments, bad tracks and switches, rough seas, poor roads, repaired routes, GPS location, video and access to event recorder information.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the trigger event comprises storing specifics on which axis, duration of the event, and time of the trigger event.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the data message comprises the real-time status of various input sensors.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a. establishing at least one of activity and inactivity durations in each axis;

b. storing the at least one of activity and inactivity durations;

c. establishing at least one of activity and inactivity thresholds in each axis;

d. filtering the raw acceleration data to filtered acceleration values;

e. translating the filtered acceleration values to filtered asset axes values;

f. translating the raw acceleration data to raw asset axes values;

g. adding the filtered asset axes values to the established activity and inactivity thresholds for each axis; and

h. continually comparing the added thresholds to the raw asset axes values.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

a. activating a timer when the raw asset axes values exceed the added thresholds;

b. determining the timer duration when the raw asset axes values no longer exceed the added threshold in a specified axis;

c. determining whether the timer duration exceeds the specified acceleration duration for that axis; and

d. storing one of a trigger activity event and a trigger inactivity event if the timer duration exceeds the acceleration duration.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the trigger event comprises storing specifics on which axis, the timer duration, and the time of the trigger event.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a. at least one 3-axis magnetometer communicating with the microcontroller of the inertial navigation sensor board, said microcontroller processing data from said 3-axis magnetometer;

b. filtering the raw acceleration data to filtered acceleration values;

c. translating the filtered acceleration values to filtered asset axes values;

d. calculating the asset'"'"'s pitch, wherein the asset'"'"'s pitch is determined by applying the equation;

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

a. at least one GPS sensor, onboard the mobile asset, receiving GPS signals from a global positioning system;

b. reading the asset'"'"'s GPS data from the GPS sensor; and

c. parsing the asset'"'"'s GPS data into speed, heading, latitude, and longitude.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

a. at least one 3-axis gyroscope communicating with the microcontroller of the inertial navigation sensor board, said microcontroller processing data from said 3-axis gyroscope;

b. at least one event data recorder, onboard the mobile asset, logging data relating to the mobile asset;

c. reading the asset'"'"'s last known latitude and longitude from the GPS sensor;

d. storing the asset'"'"'s last known latitude and longitude;

e. reading data from a 3 axis gyroscope;

f. calculating a new position using the last known latitude, longitude, asset speed, event data recorder data, tilt compensation heading, and data from the 3-axis gyroscope; and

g. storing the new latitude and longitude.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

a. logging the time of the new latitude and longitude; and

b. sending departure and arrival alerts.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

a. defining departure and arrival virtual trip wires;

b. detecting when the asset crosses the departure and arrival virtual trip wires;

c. logging the time the asset crosses the departure and arrival virtual trip wires; and

d. sending an alert when the asset crosses the departure and arrival virtual trip wires.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein the fuel level sensor is an ultrasonic level sensor,

a. said ultrasonic level sensor using ultrasonic acoustic waves to determine the distance between the sensor head and the fuel level.

23. The method of claim 3, wherein the event data recorder comprises digital and analog inputs.

24. The method of claim 3, wherein the event data recorder comprises pressure switches and pressure transducers.

46. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

a. at least one fuel level sensor measuring the amount of fuel inside a fuel tank.

47. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

a. at least one event data recorder, onboard the mobile asset, logging data relating to the performance of the mobile asset.

48. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

a. at least one digital video recorder, onboard the mobile asset, recording video and acoustics.

49. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

a. calibrating a compass on the mobile asset.

55. The method of claim 4, further including the steps of:

a. requesting a data log file covering the time of the event from the event data recorder;

b. receiving the data log file; and

c. sending the data log file to the back office.

56. The method of claim 10, further including the steps of:

a. at least one digital video recorder, onboard the mobile asset, recording video and acoustics;

b. requesting a digital video download covering the time of the event from the digital video recorder;

c. receiving the digital video download; and

d. sending the digital video download to a back office.

25. A system for recording, processing, and transmitting data from a mobile asset, comprising:

a. a wireless processing unit;

b. at least one inertial navigation sensor board onboard the mobile asset, said board comprising a microcontroller communicating with and processing data from a 3-axis accelerometer;

c. firmware, running on the microcontroller, for reading raw acceleration data from the 3-axis accelerometer, calculating pitch and roll using the data from the 3-axis accelerometer, determining the occurrence of trigger events, sending trigger event messages to the wireless processing unit, and sending periodic data messages containing a predefined set of values to the wireless processing unit every second; and

d. a software application running on the wireless processing unit for communicating with the inertial navigation sensor board, automatically calibrating a compass of the mobile asset, automatically orienting the axes of the wireless processing unit to the axes of the mobile asset, and gathering data from other software applications running on the wireless processing unit.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the software application

a. sends initialization commands to the firmware to establish acceleration durations and acceleration thresholds in each axis;

b. stores the acceleration durations and thresholds;

c. filters the raw acceleration data to filtered acceleration values;

d. translates the filtered acceleration values to filtered asset axes values;

e. translates the raw acceleration data to raw asset axes values;

f. adds the filtered asset axes values to the acceleration thresholds for each axis; and

g. continually compares the added thresholds to the raw asset axes values.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the software application

a. logs data relating to the mobile asset, said data received from at least one event data recorder onboard the mobile asset;

b. activates a timer when the raw asset axes values exceed the added thresholds;

c. determines the timer duration when the raw asset axes values no longer exceed the added threshold in a specific axis;

d. determines whether the timer duration exceeds the specified acceleration duration for that axis;

e. stores a trigger event if the timer duration exceeds the acceleration duration;

f. receives periodic data messages from the event data recorder;

g. detects when the periodic data message indicates an emergency brake application discrete signal; and

h. stores at least one of the time the trigger event occurred and the time the emergency brake application event occurred.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the software application

a. records video and acoustics received from at least one digital video and acoustic recorder onboard the mobile asset;

b. checks the time stamp of one of the trigger event and the emergency brake application event;

c. triggers an emergency brake application with impact alert when the time the trigger event occurred and the time the emergency brake application event occurred are in close proximity;

d. requests a digital video download covering the time of the event from the digital video recorder;

e. receives the digital video download; and

f. sends the digital video download to a back office.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the software application sends alerts indicating any of the actual force of the collision, a rollover and derailment occurring as a result of the collision, GPS location, video and immediate access to event data recorder information.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the trigger event comprises storing specifics on the data from the axes, the timer duration, and the time of the trigger event.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the data message comprises the real-time status of various input sensors.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the software application

a. measures the amount of fuel inside a fuel tank upon receiving a signal from at least one fuel level sensor;

b. filters the raw acceleration data to filtered acceleration values;

c. translates the filtered acceleration values to filtered asset axes values;

d. calculates the asset'"'"'s pitch, wherein the asset'"'"'s pitch is determined by applying the equation;

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the software application

a. receives global positioning system (GPS) signals from an at least one GPS sensor onboard the mobile asset;

b. logs data relating to the mobile asset, said data received from at least one event data recorder onboard the mobile asset;

c. activates a timer when the raw asset axes values exceed the added thresholds;

d. determines the timer duration when the raw asset axes values no longer exceed the added threshold in a specific axis;

e. determines whether the timer duration exceeds the specified acceleration duration for that axis;

f. stores a trigger event if the timer duration exceeds the acceleration duration;

g. receives periodic data messages from the at least one of the event data recorder and the GPS sensor; and

h. monitors the asset'"'"'s speed, wherein the asset'"'"'s speed is determined by applying the equation;

∫

asset'"'"'s acceleration_x-axis.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the software application

a. determines which axis the trigger event was triggered in, when the asset'"'"'s speed exceeds a specified value, and a trigger event was stored at the same time;

b. logs a potential track issue alert if the trigger event was triggered in a z-axis; and

c. logs an operator mishandling alert if the trigger event was triggered in one of an x-axis and a y-axis.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the software application

a. sends alerts indicating any rough operating environments, bad tracks and switches, rough seas, poor roads, repaired routes, GPS location, video, and access to event data recorder information.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the trigger event comprises storing specifics on the data from the axes, duration of the event, and time of the trigger event.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the data messages comprise the real-time status of various input sensors on the asset.

38. The system of claim 25, wherein the software application

a. establishes at least one of activity and inactivity durations in each axis;

b. stores the at least one of the activity and inactivity durations;

c. establishes at least one of activity and inactivity thresholds in each axis;

d. filters the raw acceleration data to filtered acceleration values;

e. translates the filtered acceleration values to filtered asset axes values;

f. translates the raw acceleration data to raw asset axes values;

g. adds the filtered asset axes values to the established activity and inactivity thresholds for each axis; and

h. continually compares the added thresholds to the raw asset axes values.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the software application

a. activates a timer when the raw asset axes values exceed the added thresholds;

b. determines the timer duration when the raw asset axes values no longer exceed the added threshold in a specified axis;

c. determines whether the timer duration exceeds the specified acceleration duration for that axis; and

d. stores one of a trigger activity event and a trigger inactivity event if the timer duration exceeds the acceleration duration.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the trigger event comprises storing specifics on the data from the axes, the timer duration, and the time of the trigger event.

41. The system of claim 25, wherein the software application

a. receives data signals from at least one 3-axis magnetometer communicating with the microcontroller of the inertial navigation sensor board, said microcontroller processing data from said 3-axis magnetometer;

b. filters the raw acceleration data to filtered acceleration values;

c. translates the filtered acceleration values to filtered asset axes values;

d. calculates the asset'"'"'s pitch, wherein the asset'"'"'s pitch is determined by applying the equation;

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the software application

a. receives global positioning system (GPS) signals from at least one GPS sensor onboard the mobile asset;

b. reads the asset'"'"'s GPS data from the GPS sensor; and

c. parses the asset'"'"'s GPS data into speed, heading, latitude, and longitude.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the software application

a. receives data signals from at least one 3-axis gyroscope communicating with the microcontroller of the inertial navigation sensor board, said microcontroller processing data from said 3-axis gyroscope;

b. logs data relating to the mobile asset, said data received from an at least one event data recorder onboard the mobile asset;

c. reads the asset'"'"'s last known latitude and longitude from a GPS sensor onboard the mobile asset;

d. stores the asset'"'"'s last known latitude and longitude;

e. calculates new latitude and longitude using the last known latitude, longitude, asset speed, event data recorder data, tilt compensation heading, and data from the 3-axis gyroscope; and

f. stores the new latitude and longitude.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the software application

a. logs the time of the new latitude and longitude;

and

b. sends asset departure and arrival alerts.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the software application

a. defines departure and arrival virtual trip wires;

b. detects when the asset crosses the departure and arrival virtual trip wires;

c. logs the time the asset crosses the departure and arrival virtual trip wires; and

d. sends an alert when the asset crosses the departure and arrival virtual trip wires.

50. The system of claim 25, wherein

a. at least one fuel level sensor measures the amount of fuel inside a fuel tank.

51. The system of claim 25, wherein

a. at least one event data recorder, onboard the mobile asset, logs data relating to the mobile asset'"'"'s performance.

52. The system of claim 25, wherein

a. at least one digital video recorder, onboard the mobile asset, records video and acoustics.

53. The system of claim 25, wherein the software application

a. calibrates a compass on the mobile asset.

57. The system of claim 28, wherein the software application

a. requests a data log file covering the time of the event from the event data recorder;

b. receives the data log file; and

c. sends the data log file to the back office.

58. The system of claim 34, wherein the software application

a. receives signals from at least one digital video recorder onboard the mobile asset, said recorder recording video and acoustics;

b. requests a digital video download covering the time of the event from the digital video recorder;

c. receives the digital video download; and

d. sends the digital video download to a back office.

54. A method for recording, processing and transmitting data from a mobile asset, comprising the steps of:

a. establishing predefined durations in three axes;

b. establishing predefined thresholds in three axes;

c. reading data from an accelerometer;

d. reading data from a magnetometer;

e. reading data from a gyroscope; and

f. comparing all of said data to said predefined thresholds and to said predefined durations.