Robotic Vibration Measurement for Repeatable Machinery Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurately evaluating machinery vibrations in oil and gas production facilities to identify components requiring maintenance is challenging due to the dynamic nature of machinery, leading to potential misalignment and mechanical deviations that cause vibrations outside normal operating ranges, necessitating frequent and repeatable assessments.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robotic system equipped with vibration sensors, cameras, and machine learning models autonomously or semi-autonomously traverses facilities to identify mechanical devices and components, measure vibrations, and analyze data to determine maintenance needs, replacing manual assessments with standardized and frequent evaluations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual vibration measurements are performed by technicians, then measurement flexibility is maintained, but measurement frequency and consistency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system performs self-navigation and self-measurement without human intervention. The system autonomously traverses the facility, identifies mechanical devices, positions vibration sensors, and collects data according to predetermined schedules, eliminating the need for manual technician involvement while maintaining measurement consistency and frequency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical measurement process with an automated robotic system that uses sensors, cameras, and machine learning algorithms to identify targets and perform measurements, substituting human technicians with an automated technological system
2Reliability
If frequent vibration evaluations are conducted to monitor machinery health, then maintenance timing is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is designed as a multi-functional platform that combines navigation, visual identification through cameras, vibration sensing, and data analysis capabilities in a single system. This universal design allows one system to perform multiple functions including facility traversal, target identification, measurement collection, and maintenance coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces machine learning models as intermediary components that process visual data from cameras and vibration data from sensors to automatically identify mechanical devices and determine maintenance requirements. These intermediary algorithms simplify the complexity by automating the decision-making process
3Measurement precision
If standardized measurement protocols are implemented, then measurement comparability is improved, but operational flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system dynamically adapts its measurement protocol execution based on real-time conditions while maintaining overall standardization. The system can adjust measurement parameters, traversal paths, and sensor positioning within standardized frameworks to accommodate different mechanical devices and facility layouts, preserving both comparability and operational flexibility
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
Ensures accurate and timely identification of maintenance requirements, minimizing downtime by providing automated alerts and standardized vibration analysis, thus maintaining facility productivity.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a vibration parameter of the component
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus operate to determine a health profile of a mechanical device including using a mobile robotic system to determine a location of a mechanical device. The mobile robotic system determines a location of a component of the mechanical device and measures a vibration parameter at the location of the component of the mechanical device. If the vibration measurement is outside a predetermined range, the system alerts personnel.