Autonomous Instrument Monitoring for Root Cause Error Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Determining the root cause of errors in industrial instrument management systems is complex and time-consuming, requiring skilled technicians and leading to high costs and downtime, as existing systems lack autonomous fault-handling capabilities.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous instrument management system that includes a monitor module for data collection, a recommendation module using a cause and effect table to generate solutions, a ticket generation module for error resolution, and a machine learning module to update the cause and effect table for improved performance over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If skilled technicians are used to determine root cause of errors, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cost and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-diagnosis by automatically analyzing error signals and determining root causes using a cause-and-effect data structure, eliminating the need for external skilled technicians to perform time-consuming diagnostic tasks while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of human technicians performing manual diagnosis with an automated electronic system that uses signal analysis and a cause-and-effect data structure to rapidly determine root causes of errors, significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If skilled technicians are used to determine root cause of errors, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-diagnosis by automatically analyzing error signals and determining root causes using a cause-and-effect data structure, eliminating the need for expensive skilled technicians while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy through automated signal processing and pattern recognition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the expensive human expert system with an automated electronic diagnostic system that uses signal analysis and a cause-and-effect data structure to accurately determine root causes of errors, significantly reducing operational costs while maintaining diagnostic capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If manual error resolution is used, then system reliability is maintained, but downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoiddowntime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains a pre-configured cause-and-effect data structure that contains predetermined relationships between error signals and root causes, allowing for immediate automated diagnosis and resolution when errors occur, thereby minimizing downtime while ensuring system reliability through accurate error identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs autonomous error resolution by automatically analyzing error signals, determining root causes using the cause-and-effect data structure, and implementing corrective actions without human intervention, significantly reducing downtime while maintaining system reliability through consistent automated responses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If autonomous fault handling is implemented, then cost-effectiveness and downtime reduction are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost-effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous fault handling system is segmented into distinct functional modules including error signal reception, signal analysis, cause-and-effect data structure querying, and corrective action implementation, allowing the complex functionality to be managed through modular, organized components that improve maintainability and reduce operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4148521B1Autonomous instrument management
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4148521B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4148521B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4148521B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One embodiment includes a monitor module for a first device, wherein the first device is configured to obtain measurement data from a second device, to compare the measurement data to a reference value, and to send a signal when the measurement data in comparison to the reference indicates an error condition. Machine learning can be used, where a head-end is capable of modifying the second device when the reference value so indicates. This enables various embodiments to fix the second device without human intervention