Machine Component Beacon Tracking for Signal Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems struggle to accurately differentiate between wireless signals of multiple work implements at a worksite, leading to inaccurate tracking and potential machine downtime and damage.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system that utilizes a component beacon device with a unique identifier, combined with communication controllers to monitor message counts from beacon devices, allowing for the identification of the most relevant signal associated with the attached component, and transmitting this data to a useful life estimation system for precise tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless communication is used to track work implements, then tracking capability is improved, but signal differentiation accuracy deteriorates due to multiple beacon devices at the worksite
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the tracking problem by dividing beacon devices into two categories: component beacon devices (attached to work implements) and non-component beacon devices (portable or on other equipment). The communication controller separately monitors and processes signals from these two groups, applying different tracking logic to each segment to resolve signal differentiation issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication controller acts as an intermediary that receives signals from multiple beacon devices, processes them through message count analysis, and determines which signals correspond to actually attached components. This intermediary processing layer filters out false signals from non-attached beacons before transmitting tracking data to the useful life estimation system.
2Measurement precision
If message count monitoring is used to identify attached components, then component identification accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to continuous signal monitoring and analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the inherent characteristics of beacon signals (their periodic transmission nature) to self-identify attached components. By monitoring message counts over time, the system automatically distinguishes between attached and non-attached beacons without requiring additional sensors or complex external verification systems. The beacon devices themselves provide the information needed for identification through their signal presence.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tracking system (50) may receive a plurality of advertisement messages from a plurality of beacon devices. Each of the plurality of advertisement messages may indicate a respective identifier of a transmitting beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices. A component beacon device (52), of the plurality of beacon devices, may be attached to a component of the machine (10), and a remainder of the plurality of beacon devices may be apart from the machine (10). The tracking system (50) may monitor, in accordance with a plurality of identifiers indicated in the plurality of advertisement messages, respective message counts for the plurality of identifiers. The tracking system (50) may generate a communication that indicates the respective message counts for the plurality of identifiers and productivity data relating to the machine (10). The tracking system (50) may transmit the communication for a useful life estimation system (62).