Beacon-Based Equipment Attachment Detection for Work Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring the life cycle of equipment attached to work machines is challenging due to the equipment's usage across multiple machines, and machine hours do not accurately reflect equipment usage, making it difficult to predict servicing needs and track operation data.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that receive information on the operational context of a work machine, detect beacon signals from attached equipment, determine the proximity status based on these signals, and establish criteria to confirm equipment attachment, enabling accurate tracking of equipment usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If machine hours are used to track equipment usage, then the work machine operation time is recorded, but the equipment usage accuracy deteriorates because machine hours do not reflect actual equipment usage when equipment is attached to multiple machines
Solution Approach 1:
A beacon device is introduced as an intermediary component attached to the equipment. The beacon transmits identification signals that enable the work machine to identify and track specific equipment, resolving the measurement accuracy issue without requiring complex centralized monitoring infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously detecting beacon signals from attached equipment and updating equipment usage records in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures accurate tracking of equipment usage across multiple machines while maintaining system simplicity
2Reliability
If beacon signal detection is used to determine equipment proximity, then equipment attachment status is accurately identified, but false positives may occur when equipment is merely near the work machine rather than attached
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing multiple detection criteria before confirming equipment attachment. It checks for consistent beacon signal presence, verifies proximity over a period of time, and cross-references with work machine operational context to ensure reliable attachment determination
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes detection parameters dynamically by adjusting proximity thresholds and detection criteria based on work machine operational context. This allows the system to adapt to different scenarios and reduce false positives while maintaining detection accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer program product for: receiving information on an operational context of the work machine, detecting at least one beacon signal provided by a beacon associated with equipment attachable to the work machine, determining, based on the at least one beacon signal, a proximity status of the equipment, the proximity status relating to a proximity of the equipment to the work machine, determining, based on the operational context of the work machine, at least one criterion for the proximity status of the equipment, and determining, in response to determining that the at least one criterion for the proximity status of the equipment is fulfilled, that the equipment is attached to the work machine.