Crane Remote Maintenance via Segmented Wireless Protocol Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote maintenance solutions for cranes are complex and expensive, requiring modifications to second-generation radio-mobile protocols, making them difficult and costly to implement and update.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a computer, mobile device, and electronic control unit that employs medium/long distance radio-mobile protocols for remote maintenance commands, which are then converted to short-distance wireless protocols like Bluetooth for execution, allowing for simple and cost-effective maintenance without the need for frequent updates to the crane's control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If second generation radio-mobile protocols (GSM, GPRS) are used for remote maintenance, then remote maintenance capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into two parts: a simple short-distance wireless module (Bluetooth) integrated into the crane's control unit, and a mobile device that handles the complex medium/long distance radio-mobile protocol communication. This segmentation allows the crane to have minimal complexity while still achieving remote maintenance capability through the mobile device acting as an intermediary.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device serves as an intermediary between the remote maintenance worker and the crane's control unit. It receives commands via medium/long distance radio-mobile protocols, processes them locally, and transmits simplified instructions to the control unit via short-distance wireless protocol, thereby eliminating the need for the crane to directly implement complex protocols.
2Reliability
If second generation radio-mobile protocols are implemented in the crane, then remote maintenance is enabled, but adaptation to protocol changes becomes difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the communication functionality, the crane's control unit only needs to implement simple short-distance wireless communication, which is stable and unlikely to change. The mobile device handles all protocol-specific communication, allowing protocol updates to occur without modifying the crane's control unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adaptation to different radio-mobile protocols through the mobile device, which can be updated or replaced independently. The crane's control unit remains static with its simple Bluetooth implementation, while the mobile device adapts to changing communication standards as needed.
3Reliability
If complex radio-mobile protocol modules are installed in the crane, then remote maintenance capability is achieved, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a mobile device, which is a common, relatively inexpensive consumer electronic device, rather than requiring expensive custom-built protocol modules for each crane. The mobile device can be readily replaced or updated without significant cost investment in the crane itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as a cost-effective intermediary, utilizing existing consumer technology rather than requiring expensive industrial-grade protocol modules to be integrated into each crane. This approach leverages the ubiquity and affordability of smartphones and tablets.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
It is described an electronic system (1) for the remote maintenance of a crane (30). The system comprises a computer (5) configured to transmit over a telecommunications network (10) a first request message compliant to a medium/long distance radio-mobile protocol and carrying a remote command for the maintenance of the crane. The electronic system further comprises a mobile device (6) configured to receive the first request message and extract therefrom the remote maintenance command, and configured to generate a second request message compliant to a short distance wireless protocol and carrying the remote maintenance command. The electronic system further comprises an electronic control unit (7) configured to receive the second request message and extract therefrom the remote maintenance command, execute it and send towards the computer a first answer message compliant to the short distance wireless protocol and carrying information correlated to the remote maintenance command.