Mobile Sensor Nodes Distance Schedule Pipeline Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for monitoring long-distance water pipelines face challenges due to the large size and high cost of single mobile sensor nodes, which can get trapped and fail to cover the entire pipeline effectively, requiring an improved method for data collection using multiple mobile sensor nodes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a plurality of mobile sensor nodes with a distance-based schedule and energy status management, allowing nodes to perform data collection operations based on pre-defined locations and energy thresholds, enabling efficient data collection and reducing the risk of node entrapment and failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single mobile WSN node performs the entire monitoring operation of a pipeline, then the node must be equipped with large memory size and long battery life, but this results in huge physical size and high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single mobile WSN node into multiple smaller mobile WSN nodes. Each node performs monitoring for a segment of the pipeline rather than the entire pipeline. This segmentation allows each node to have reduced memory size and battery capacity while collectively covering the complete pipeline distance, thus reducing the physical size of individual nodes without compromising overall monitoring reliability.
2Reliability
If a single mobile WSN node is deployed with huge physical size to ensure reliability, then monitoring coverage is improved, but the node gets trapped inside the pipeline blocking fluid current
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the monitoring task across multiple smaller nodes, each node has reduced dimensions that prevent them from getting trapped in the pipeline. The smaller size eliminates the harmful effect of blocking fluid current while maintaining collective monitoring coverage through coordinated operation of multiple nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple small mobile WSN nodes to achieve the monitoring coverage that previously required a single large node. The collective capability of multiple small nodes equals or exceeds that of a single large node, while avoiding the harmful effect of blocking fluid current.
3Volume of moving object
If multiple mobile sensor nodes are deployed, then the physical size and cost of each node is reduced, but data collection coordination and coverage continuity must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring each mobile WSN node with a specific monitoring segment assignment before deployment. Each node is programmed with its designated pipeline distance range, eliminating the need for complex real-time coordination during operation. This pre-planned segmentation simplifies the overall system complexity while maintaining continuous coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method and system for monitoring one or more properties of an asset using a plurality of mobile sensor nodes. The method generates a distance-based schedule for the plurality of mobile sensor nodes for monitoring the one or more properties of the asset. The method, then, monitors a location of a first mobile sensor node in the asset. The data collection operation is then initiated at the first mobile sensor node based on the location of the first mobile sensor node in accordance with the distance-based schedule. The data collection operation of the first mobile sensor node is then managed based on the distance-based schedule and an energy status of the first mobile sensor node. Finally, the data pertaining to the one or more properties of the asset is collected from the plurality of mobile sensor nodes.