SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING OPERATION OF VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A device for acquiring data related to structural loading of a transit or other vehicle, the device attachable to the vehicle and comprising:
- one or more sensors configured for sensing structural events experienced by the vehicle, and for providing corresponding output signals;
at least one data processor configured for using said output signals to generate data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle to the structural events;
memory usable by the at least one data processor for storing the generated data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, devices, and computer programming products useful for the gathering and use of data relating to structural loading and other operational use of transit and other vehicles, and their systems. Systems according to the invention can, for example, comprise one or more data acquisition devices such as strain gauges, accelerometers, or other sensors; data processors; memories; and communications systems. Such systems, methods, and programming are useful in a wide variety of ways, including, for example, monitoring the structural status and use of vehicles and their systems, including fatigue other operational analyses; gathering and applying data useful in the maintenance of such vehicles and the routes they travel; monitoring the use/abuse of such vehicles by operators and other individuals; reporting traffic events or anomalies; and routing transit and other vehicles around such events or anomalies. Rainflow, level-crossing and other peak-counting or event-counting algorithms are applied to advantage, such that required data storage is greatly reduced, and life-long monitoring is feasible.
304 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A device for acquiring data related to structural loading of a transit or other vehicle, the device attachable to the vehicle and comprising:
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one or more sensors configured for sensing structural events experienced by the vehicle, and for providing corresponding output signals; at least one data processor configured for using said output signals to generate data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle to the structural events; memory usable by the at least one data processor for storing the generated data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for acquiring data related to structural loading of a transit or other vehicle, the system installable in the vehicle and comprising a plurality of data acquisition devices, at least one data processor, an on-board data communication system, and memory accessible by the at least one data processor:
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each of the plurality of data acquisition devices comprising one or more sensors configured for sensing structural events experienced by the vehicle, and for providing corresponding output signals; the at least one data processor configured for processing said output signals to generate data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle to the structural events, and to store the generated data in the memory accessible by the at least one data processor; the on-board data communication system configured for communication of the output signals and the data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle between the plurality of data acquisition devices, the at least one data processor, and the memory usable by the at least one data processor.
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13. A system for acquiring data related to structural loading of a transit or other vehicle, the system installable in the vehicle and comprising a plurality of data acquisition devices, at least one controller, and an on-board data communication system;
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each of the plurality of data acquisition devices comprising one or more sensors configured for sensing structural events experienced by the vehicle, and for providing corresponding output signals;
at least one data processor configured for using said output signals to generate data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle to the structural events; and
memory usable by the at least one data processor for storing the data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle;the at least one controller configured to control at least one of acquisition, processing, and storage of the data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle; the on-board data communication system configured for communication of the data useful in determining structural response of the vehicle between the plurality of data acquisition devices and the controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of scheduling repair or maintenance of a transit path, the method performed by a data processor and comprising:
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receiving signals representing data generated aboard at least one transit vehicle, the signals useful for determining the location of a structural event experienced by the vehicle; determining the location of the structural event experienced by the vehicle on a path traveled by the vehicle; storing in volatile or persistent memory signals representing the determined location; using the stored signals representing the determined location, generating signals useful for scheduling a path repair or maintenance activity to be conducted at the determined location; and outputting the generated signals useful for scheduling a path repair or maintenance activity to be conducted at the determined location in a form useful in performing the repair or maintenance activity. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of scheduling repair or maintenance of at least one transit vehicle, the method performed by a data processor and comprising:
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receiving signals representing data generated aboard at least one transit vehicle, the data generated using signals provided by one or more sensors attached to the vehicle in response to structural events experienced by the vehicle; storing the received signals in volatile or persistent memory; using the stored signals, generating signals useful for scheduling repair or maintenance activities to be performed on the vehicle; and outputting the generated signals useful for scheduling repair or maintenance activities to be performed on the vehicle in a form useful in performing the repair or maintenance activity.
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22. A method of processing data useful for monitoring the performance of an operator of a transit vehicle, the method performed by a data processor and comprising:
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receiving signals representing data generated aboard at least one transit vehicle, the signals useful for determining the time and location of a structural event experienced by the vehicle; determining the time and location of the structural event experienced by the vehicle on a path traveled by the vehicle; storing in volatile or persistent memory signals representing the determined time and location; using the stored signals representing the determined time and location to generate signals useful for creating a report pertaining to the performance of an operator of the vehicle at the time and location of the structural event. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method of processing data useful for routing of transit vehicles, the method performed by a data processor and comprising:
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receiving signals representing data generated aboard at least one transit vehicle, the signals useful for determining the time and location of a traffic event experienced by the vehicle; determining the time and location of the traffic event experienced by the vehicle on a path traveled by the vehicle; storing in volatile or persistent memory signals representing the determined time and location; using the stored signals representing the determined time and location to generate signals useful for routing the same or other transit vehicles to avoid the traffic event. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A device for acquiring data related to operation of a vehicle system, the device attachable to the vehicle and comprising:
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one or more sensors configured for sensing one or more operating conditions experienced by the system, and for providing corresponding output signals; at least one data processor configured for using said output signals to generate data useful in recording operational use of the system, the output signals generated using at least one peak-counting or level-crossing algorithm to identify relevant operating history parameters; memory usable by the at least one data processor for storing the generated data useful in determining the recording operational of the system and a duty-cycle to which it has been exposed. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for acquiring data related to operation of a vehicle system, data acquisition system comprising a plurality of data acquisition devices, at least one data processor, an on-board data communication system, and memory accessible by the at least one data processor;
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each of the plurality of data acquisition devices comprising one or more sensors configured for sensing operating conditions of at least one vehicle system, and for providing corresponding output signals; the at least one data processor configured for using said output signals to generate data useful in recording operational use of the system, the output signals generated using at least one peak-counting algorithm to identify relevant operating history parameters; the on-board data communication system configured for communication of the output signals and the data useful in recording operational use of the system between the plurality of data acquisition devices, the at least one data processor, and the memory usable by the at least one data processor.
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33. A method of processing data useful for monitoring use of a system of a transit or other vehicle, the method performed by a data processor and comprising:
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receiving signals representing data generated aboard at least one transit vehicle, the signals useful for recording an operational history of the vehicle system; storing in volatile or persistent memory signals representing the operational history of the vehicle system; using the stored signals representing the operational history of the vehicle system to generate signals useful for creating a report pertaining to the use of the vehicle system. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification