Monitoring operational conditions of a cargo ship through use of sensor grid on intermodal containers

• US 8,990,033 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Friedlander, Robert R., Kraemer, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schechter, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Satanovsky, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/192,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 702/56, 702/54, 702/71, 702/76, 702/77, 340/539.22, 340/566
• US Class Current: 702/56
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2017/0009 Methods or devices specially adapted for preventing theft, or unauthorized use of vessels, or parts or accessories thereof, other than by using locks
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/12 of longitudinal or not specified vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/00 Vibration-testing of structures; Shock-testing of structures G01M9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/56 by investigating moisture content
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/04 Analysing solids using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 Monitoring of the detection circuits

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product monitors operational conditions of a cargo ship. A baseline composite vibration pattern is established from readings generated by multiple smart sensors. Each of the multiple smart sensors is a uniquely-identified smart sensor that has been affixed to one of multiple intermodal shipping containers that have been loaded onto a cargo ship, and each smart sensor includes a vibration sensor for detecting mechanical vibration. Subsequent readings are then taken from the multiple smart sensors to generate a new composite vibration pattern. In response to the new composite vibration pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration pattern, the new composite vibration pattern is matched with a known composite vibration pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration pattern.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of monitoring operational conditions of a cargo ship, the method comprising:

a processor establishing a baseline composite vibration pattern from readings generated by multiple smart sensors, wherein each smart sensor, of the multiple smart sensors, is a uniquely-identified smart sensor that has been affixed to one of multiple intermodal shipping containers, wherein each smart sensor comprises a vibration sensor for detecting mechanical vibration, wherein the multiple intermodal shipping containers have been loaded onto a cargo ship, and wherein the baseline composite vibration pattern is generated by combining two or more frequency plus amplitude vibration patterns generated by two or more of the multiple smart sensors that are affixed to the multiple intermodal shipping containers;

the processor taking subsequent readings from the multiple smart sensors to generate a new composite vibration pattern, wherein the new composite vibration pattern is generated by combining two or more new frequency plus amplitude vibration patterns generated by two or more of the multiple smart sensors that are affixed to the multiple intermodal shipping containers; and

the processor, in response to the new composite vibration pattern being different, beyond a predefined range, from the baseline composite vibration pattern, matching the new composite vibration pattern with a known composite vibration pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration pattern.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor identifying a physical shifting of the multiple intermodal shipping containers by matching the new composite vibration pattern with the known composite vibration pattern.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor identifying damage to a non-mechanical physical structure of the cargo ship by matching the new composite vibration pattern with the known composite vibration pattern.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

the processor identifying damage to a drive train of the cargo ship by matching the new composite vibration pattern with the known composite vibration pattern.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said each smart sensor further comprises an acoustic sensor, and wherein the method further comprises:

the processor incorporating acoustic readings from acoustic sensors in the multiple smart sensors to modify the baseline composite vibration pattern to create a baseline vibration/acoustic composite pattern;

the processor incorporating subsequent acoustic readings from the acoustic sensors to generate a new composite vibration/acoustic pattern; and

the processor, in response to the new composite vibration/acoustic pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration/acoustic pattern, matching the new composite vibration/acoustic pattern with a known composite vibration/acoustic pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration/acoustic pattern.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said each smart sensor further comprises a chemical sensor, and wherein the method further comprises:

the processor incorporating chemical readings from chemical sensors in the multiple smart sensors to modify the baseline composite vibration pattern to create a baseline composite vibration/chemical pattern;

the processor incorporating subsequent chemical readings from the chemical sensors to generate a new composite vibration/chemical pattern; and

the processor, in response to the new composite vibration/chemical pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration/chemical pattern, matching the new composite vibration/chemical pattern with a known composite vibration/chemical pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration/chemical pattern.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a pre-determined level of change in weather conditions currently being experienced by the cargo ship, the processor re-establishing the baseline composite vibration pattern by taking new readings from the multiple smart sensors.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of the smart sensors comprises a uniquely-identified radio frequency identifier (RFID) device, and wherein the computer implemented method further comprises:

the processor mapping a location of each of the multiple intermodal shipping containers by interrogating RFID devices in the multiple smart sensors; and

the processor adjusting the baseline composite vibration pattern and the new composite vibration pattern according to the location of each of the multiple intermodal shipping containers.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions to perform a method for monitoring operational conditions of a cargo ship, the method comprising:

establishing a baseline composite vibration pattern from readings generated by multiple smart sensors, wherein each smart sensor, of the multiple smart sensors, is a uniquely-identified smart sensor that has been affixed to one of multiple intermodal shipping containers, wherein each smart sensor comprises a vibration sensor for detecting mechanical vibration, and wherein the multiple intermodal shipping containers have been loaded onto a cargo ship, and wherein the baseline composite vibration pattern is generated by combining two or more frequency plus amplitude vibration patterns generated by two or more of the multiple smart sensors that are affixed to the multiple intermodal shipping containers;

taking subsequent readings from the multiple smart sensors to generate a new composite vibration pattern, wherein the new composite vibration pattern is generated by combining two or more new frequency plus amplitude vibration patterns generated by two or more of the multiple smart sensors that are affixed to the multiple intermodal shipping containers; and

in response to the new composite vibration pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration pattern, matching the new composite vibration pattern with a known composite vibration pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration pattern.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a physical shifting of the multiple intermodal shipping containers by matching the new composite vibration pattern with the known composite vibration pattern.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying damage to a non-mechanical physical structure of the cargo ship by matching the new composite vibration pattern with the known composite vibration pattern.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying damage to a drive train of the cargo ship by matching the new composite vibration pattern with the known composite vibration pattern.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said each smart sensor further comprises an acoustic sensor, and wherein the method further comprises:

incorporating acoustic readings from acoustic sensors in the multiple smart sensors to modify the baseline composite vibration pattern to create a baseline composite vibration/acoustic pattern;

incorporating subsequent acoustic readings from the acoustic sensors to generate a new composite vibration/acoustic pattern; and

in response to the new composite vibration/acoustic pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration/acoustic pattern, matching the new composite vibration/acoustic pattern with a known composite vibration/acoustic pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration/acoustic pattern.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said each smart sensor further comprises a chemical sensor, and wherein the method further comprises:

incorporating chemical readings from chemical sensors in the smart sensors to modify the baseline composite vibration pattern to create a baseline composite vibration/chemical pattern;

incorporating subsequent chemical readings from the chemical sensors to generate a new composite vibration/chemical pattern; and

in response to the new composite vibration/chemical pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration/chemical pattern, matching the new composite vibration/chemical pattern with a known composite vibration/chemical pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration/chemical pattern.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to a pre-determined level of change in weather conditions currently being experienced by the cargo ship, re-establishing the baseline composite vibration pattern by taking new readings from the multiple smart sensors.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each of the smart sensors comprises a uniquely-identified radio frequency identifier (RFID) device, and wherein the method further comprises:

mapping a location of each of the multiple intermodal shipping containers by interrogating RFID devices in the multiple smart sensors; and

adjusting the baseline composite vibration pattern and the new composite vibration pattern according to the location of each of the multiple intermodal shipping containers.

17. A system comprising:

a processor, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to establish a baseline composite vibration pattern from readings generated by multiple smart sensors, wherein each smart sensor, of the multiple smart sensors, is a uniquely-identified smart sensor that has been affixed to one of multiple intermodal shipping containers, wherein each smart sensor comprises a vibration sensor for detecting mechanical vibration, and wherein the multiple intermodal shipping containers have been loaded onto a cargo ship, and wherein the baseline composite vibration pattern is generated by combining two or more frequency plus amplitude vibration patterns generated by two or more of the multiple smart sensors that are affixed to the multiple intermodal shipping containers;

second program instructions to take subsequent readings from the multiple smart sensors to generate a new composite vibration pattern, wherein the new composite vibration pattern is generated by combining two or more new frequency plus amplitude vibration patterns generated by two or more of the multiple smart sensors that are affixed to the multiple intermodal shipping containers; and

third program instructions to, in response to the new composite vibration pattern being different from the baseline composite vibration pattern, match the new composite vibration pattern with a known composite vibration pattern in order to identify a cause of the new composite vibration pattern; and

wherein the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to identify a physical shifting of the multiple intermodal shipping containers by matching the new composite vibration pattern with the known composite vibration pattern; and

wherein

the fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

fourth program instructions to, in response to a pre-determined level of change in weather conditions currently being experienced by the cargo ship, re-establish the baseline composite vibration pattern by taking new readings from the multiple smart sensors; and

wherein the fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the smart sensors comprises a uniquely-identified radio frequency identifier (RFID) device, and wherein the system further comprises:

fourth program instructions to map a location of each of the multiple intermodal shipping containers by interrogating RFID devices in the multiple smart sensors; and

fifth program instructions to adjust the baseline composite vibration pattern and the new composite vibration pattern according to the location of each of the multiple intermodal shipping containers; and

wherein

the fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.