Low-Powered Sensor Triggered Health Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine health monitoring systems using timer-based data collection are ineffective for intermittently-operated machines, as they often collect data during non-useful periods, resulting in inconsistent and difficult-to-interpret data, making it challenging to assess machine health accurately.
Innovation Solution
A low-powered sensor system that collects data for an extended period after receiving a trigger signal, waits for a predetermined delay to ensure the machine reaches a steady operating condition, and then collects data for a shorter period, providing this data to a computing device for analysis, thereby improving data relevance and consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If timer-based monitoring is used for intermittently-operated machines, then data collection is simple and automated, but the collected data is inconsistent and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by collecting sensor data for an extended period after receiving a trigger signal during a setup phase to determine the delay setting. This preliminary data collection allows the system to establish a baseline and calculate the appropriate delay needed to reach steady operating conditions, ensuring that subsequent data collections occur at consistent, meaningful intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making the delay period adjustable and adaptive. The delay setting is not fixed but can be modified based on the specific machine's operating characteristics. The system dynamically determines the delay based on when steady operating conditions are detected, allowing the monitoring to adapt to different machines and operating scenarios while maintaining automated operation.
2Loss of information
If data collection occurs during all operating periods, then more data is collected, but energy consumption increases and data relevance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by collecting sensor data only during specific intervals after the machine reaches steady operating conditions, rather than continuously. Data collection occurs in predetermined time intervals following the delay period, which is triggered by specific events (trigger signals). This periodic approach ensures that data is collected when most relevant to assessing machine health while minimizing unnecessary data collection during transient or idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by collecting extended sensor data after a trigger signal to determine the appropriate delay setting before entering the periodic data collection phase. This preliminary phase establishes when steady operating conditions are reached, allowing the system to subsequently collect data only during relevant operational periods, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining data relevance.
3Measurement precision
If delay period is extended to ensure steady operating conditions, then data quality improves, but response time to detect issues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the delay period adaptive rather than fixed. The delay is determined based on actual machine performance characteristics observed during the setup phase. If the machine reaches steady operating conditions quickly, the delay is shorter; if it takes longer, the delay is extended accordingly. This dynamic adjustment ensures that data quality is maintained while minimizing unnecessary delays for machines that stabilize quickly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic action to balance delay and response time by implementing multiple data collection intervals after the delay period. Rather than waiting for a single extended period, the system collects data in periodic intervals, allowing earlier detection of issues while still ensuring that the machine has reached steady operating conditions. This approach maintains data quality while reducing the overall time to detect potential problems.
Data Source
AI summary
A low-powered sensor, a method for a low-powered sensor, and an apparatus are provided for monitoring a condition of a machine. Responsive to receiving a trigger signal during a setup phase, the low-powered sensor collects sensor data for a predetermined extended period of time. The low-powered sensor receives a setting of a delay based on a determined amount of time of the predetermined extended period of time, since the receiving of the trigger signal, for the machine to reach a steady operating condition within predetermined limits. Upon receiving the trigger signal after the receiving of the setting of the delay, the low-powered sensor waits a period of time of the set delay before collecting the sensor data for a predetermined amount of time that is shorter than the predetermined extended period of time, and provides the collected sensor data to a computing device for analysis.