Mobile asset data recorder and transmitter
First Claim
1. A system for recording, processing, and transmitting data from a mobile asset, comprising:
- a wireless processing unit having at least one axis;
at least one digital video recorder onboard the mobile asset, the at least one digital video recorder adapted to perform recording or transmitting a still image file, a video file or an acoustic file in real-time;
at least one inertial navigation sensor board onboard the mobile asset, the board comprising a microcontroller communicating with and processing data from a 3-axis accelerometer;
at least one event data recorder onboard the mobile asset, the at least one event data recorder adapted to monitor real-time status of at least one input sensor and log event data relating to the mobile asset;
firmware, running on the microcontroller, adapted to calculate pitch and roll based on an x-axis raw acceleration value, a y-axis raw acceleration value, or a z-axis raw acceleration value from the 3-axis accelerometer, to determine when at least one trigger event occurs, to send at least one trigger event message to the wireless processing unit when at least one trigger event occurs, or to send at least one periodic data message containing a predefined set of values to the wireless processing unit every second; and
a software application running on the wireless processing unit, the software application adapted to;
communicate with the inertial navigation sensor board;
automatically calibrate a compass on the mobile asset;
automatically orient the at least one axis of the wireless processing unit to at least one corresponding axis of the mobile asset;
filter the x-axis raw acceleration value, y-axis raw acceleration value, and z-axis raw acceleration value into an x-axis filtered acceleration value, a y-axis filtered acceleration value, and a z-axis filtered acceleration value;
translate the axes of the inertial navigation sensor board to the axes of the mobile asset and determine an x-axis translated raw acceleration value by translating the x-axis raw acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset, determine a y-axis translated raw acceleration value by translating the y-axis raw acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset, and determine a z-axis translated raw acceleration value by translating the z-axis raw acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset;
translate the axes of the inertial navigation sensor board to the axes of the mobile asset and determine an x-axis translated filtered acceleration value by translating the x-axis filtered acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset, determine a y-axis translated filtered acceleration value by translating the y-axis filtered acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset, and determine a z-axis translated filtered acceleration value by translating the z-axis filtered acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset; and
gather data from other software applications running on the wireless processing unit.
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Accused Products
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.
57 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for recording, processing, and transmitting data from a mobile asset, comprising:
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a wireless processing unit having at least one axis; at least one digital video recorder onboard the mobile asset, the at least one digital video recorder adapted to perform recording or transmitting a still image file, a video file or an acoustic file in real-time; at least one inertial navigation sensor board onboard the mobile asset, the board comprising a microcontroller communicating with and processing data from a 3-axis accelerometer; at least one event data recorder onboard the mobile asset, the at least one event data recorder adapted to monitor real-time status of at least one input sensor and log event data relating to the mobile asset; firmware, running on the microcontroller, adapted to calculate pitch and roll based on an x-axis raw acceleration value, a y-axis raw acceleration value, or a z-axis raw acceleration value from the 3-axis accelerometer, to determine when at least one trigger event occurs, to send at least one trigger event message to the wireless processing unit when at least one trigger event occurs, or to send at least one periodic data message containing a predefined set of values to the wireless processing unit every second; and a software application running on the wireless processing unit, the software application adapted to; communicate with the inertial navigation sensor board; automatically calibrate a compass on the mobile asset; automatically orient the at least one axis of the wireless processing unit to at least one corresponding axis of the mobile asset; filter the x-axis raw acceleration value, y-axis raw acceleration value, and z-axis raw acceleration value into an x-axis filtered acceleration value, a y-axis filtered acceleration value, and a z-axis filtered acceleration value; translate the axes of the inertial navigation sensor board to the axes of the mobile asset and determine an x-axis translated raw acceleration value by translating the x-axis raw acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset, determine a y-axis translated raw acceleration value by translating the y-axis raw acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset, and determine a z-axis translated raw acceleration value by translating the z-axis raw acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset; translate the axes of the inertial navigation sensor board to the axes of the mobile asset and determine an x-axis translated filtered acceleration value by translating the x-axis filtered acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset, determine a y-axis translated filtered acceleration value by translating the y-axis filtered acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset, and determine a z-axis translated filtered acceleration value by translating the z-axis filtered acceleration value to the axes of the mobile asset; and gather data from other software applications running on the wireless processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification