Remote Diagnostics for Off-Road Guidance Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing remote diagnostics systems are inadequate for diagnosing vehicular guidance devices, particularly in off-road vehicles, as they fail to address communication errors caused by terrain and obstructions, leading to prolonged downtime due to the need for skilled technicians to travel to remote locations.

Innovation Solution

A remote diagnostics system comprising a guidance device with a communication module and a diagnostics module that facilitates communication between the guidance device and a service provider entity, allowing for the transmission of performance data and configuration instructions, enabling remote diagnosis and fault correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a skilled technician travels to the site to diagnose and correct the fault in the guidance device, then the fault can be diagnosed and corrected, but the downtime is prolonged due to travel time to remote locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault diagnosis and correctionVSAvoiddowntime
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A remote diagnostics module is introduced as an intermediary between the guidance device and the technician. This module includes a communication interface that allows the technician to remotely access and diagnose faults in the guidance device without traveling to the site, thereby eliminating travel time while maintaining diagnostic capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-diagnosis capability where the guidance device can be diagnosed and potentially corrected remotely through the diagnostics module. The device essentially serves itself by allowing remote access to its systems, reducing the need for physical technician intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the guidance device operates in remote locations, then the vehicle can access distant work sites, but communication errors occur due to terrain and obstructions between base station and on-board sub-modules

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to remote work sitesVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The remote diagnostics module with its communication interface acts as an intermediary that establishes alternative communication pathways. Instead of relying on direct line-of-sight communication between base station and on-board sub-modules, the system uses remote access through network infrastructure to maintain communication reliability in challenging terrain conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2111594B1A system and method of remote diagnostics
Publication Date: 2017.11.08 LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
  • EP2111594B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2111594B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2111594B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system of remote diagnostics comprising a guidance device having a guidance device identifier, the guidance device further including a communication module for communicating a service request message, the service request message including the guidance device identifier; and a diagnostics module able to communicate with the communication module of the guidance device and configured to receive the service request message of the communication module of the guidance device, the diagnostics module maintaining a data store associating the guidance device identifier with a service provider entity; wherein, the diagnostics module is configured to facilitate communication between the service provider entity and the communication module of the guidance device in response to receipt of the service request message from the communication device of the guidance device and based upon the association of the guidance device identifier with the service provider entity.