Automated Equipment Health Data Collection via Proximity-Based Smart Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is no effective technique for easily collecting and evaluating equipment health data in distributed industrial settings with limited internet connectivity, such as large industrial plants or oil fields, requiring time-consuming manual data collection and inspection.

Innovation Solution

A smart device utility and app design that includes a robotic walk-around device for automated data collection and evaluation, using a smart communication device to connect with data collectors, prioritize data, and perform analytics like FFTs, enabling efficient data collection and management even in areas with limited connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual data collection and inspection is used, then data can be collected from distributed equipment, but the process is time-consuming and requires close proximity for low signal strength radio communications or physical connection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection processVSAvoidtime required for data collection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The data collector automatically performs data collection and evaluation functions without requiring manual intervention. The device autonomously connects to equipment, collects health data, evaluates the data locally, and manages transmission priorities, enabling the system to serve itself and eliminating the need for time-consuming manual walk-around inspections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection processes with automated electronic data collection and evaluation systems. The data collector uses radio frequency communications and automated processing to substitute for physical close-proximity inspections and manual data gathering, significantly reducing the time required while maintaining data accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated data collection is implemented in areas with limited internet connectivity, then data collection efficiency improves, but data transmission and cloud processing become challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoiddata transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The data collector performs preliminary data evaluation and processing locally before transmission. By pre-processing data, prioritizing what information needs to be sent, and preparing data packets in advance, the device ensures that only essential data is transmitted during periods of limited connectivity, maintaining reliability while improving collection efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The data collector acts as an intermediary between equipment and cloud systems. It buffers, prioritizes, and manages data transmission locally, serving as a mediator that decouples the data collection process from transmission constraints, allowing efficient collection to continue even when internet connectivity is limited

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive equipment monitoring is performed across distributed locations, then equipment health evaluation improves, but the complexity of managing multiple data collectors and connections increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment health evaluation accuracyVSAvoidsystem management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each data collector is designed to autonomously perform connection management, data collection, and local evaluation without requiring centralized coordination. The devices self-configure and manage their own operations, reducing the complexity of managing multiple distributed collectors while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the comprehensive monitoring task into independent, self-contained data collector units. Each unit handles its own equipment locally, segmenting the overall complex system into manageable autonomous components that can operate independently, reducing management complexity while achieving comprehensive coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11089458B2Smart communication device or apparatus for collecting and evaluating information about equipment distributed over a large area, e.g., over a large industrial plant or oil field

Publication Date: 2021.08.10 POSEIDON SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

Apparatus is provided having a smart communication device having a processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about sensed data from a multiplicity of data collectors each associated with a respective piece of equipment and configured to collect the sensed data related to the respective piece of equipment when the smart communication device is moved within a predefined proximity to automatically connect with each data collector to receive the signaling during movement of the smart communication device on a programmed route having multiple pieces of equipment; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about prioritized sensed data related to each of the multiplicity of data collectors for operating an app in the processor, based upon the signaling received. The smart communication device includes an iPad, a smart phone, a laptop or a subsystem of a vehicle/robot. The apparatus may include the vehicle/robot having the subsystem.