Fuel Level Compensation Using 3-Axis Accelerometer Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing event and data recorder systems in high-value assets, such as locomotives and marine vessels, face inaccuracies in fuel level measurement due to pitch and roll movements, which affect real-time business intelligence and operational analysis.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an accelerometer-based system that compensates for pitch and roll movements by using a 3-axis accelerometer, firmware, and system software to calculate accurate fuel levels, integrating with GPS and inertial navigation for precise fuel volume calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional fuel level measurement systems are used in mobile assets, then the system structure is simple, but the fuel level measurement accuracy deteriorates due to pitch and roll movements
Solution Approach 1:
An accelerometer is introduced as an intermediary device to measure pitch and roll angles. The accelerometer data serves as a mediator between the fuel level sensor and the final measurement, allowing the system to compensate for vehicle movement effects without fundamentally changing the fuel sensing mechanism itself
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameters by incorporating angular orientation data (pitch and roll angles) from the accelerometer. By measuring and compensating for these angular parameters, the system corrects the fuel level measurement to account for vehicle inclination, thereby improving accuracy
2Measurement precision
If accelerometer-based pitch and roll compensation is implemented, then fuel level measurement accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerometer serves multiple functions: it measures pitch angle, measures roll angle, and provides temporal reference for the fuel level measurements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated sensors for each measurement parameter, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the fuel level measurement function with the pitch and roll measurement functions into a single integrated system. By merging these measurement capabilities and processing them together through coordinate transformation, the system achieves improved accuracy without proportionally increasing complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances fuel reporting accuracy, supports smart fueling, burn-rate analysis, and emissions monitoring with improved real-time data, enabling better strategic initiatives and operational insights.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer-based system that compensates for pitch and roll movements by using a 3-axis accelerometer
Data Source
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AI summary
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.