Vehicle Component Telemetry for Predictive Maintenance Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fleet management systems lack reliable methods to predict component failures in vehicles, leading to unnecessary replacements and increased costs due to unreliable manufacturer estimates and variations in operating conditions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular telemetry system that monitors operational components in real-time, using statistical analysis of signals and contextual information to generate predictions of component failure, allowing for timely maintenance and reducing unnecessary replacements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule based on running total of mileage or operational time is used, then maintenance can be performed regularly, but component replacement occurs unnecessarily early and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent failure prediction accuracyVSAvoidunnecessary component replacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from using fixed parameters (mileage or operational time thresholds) to dynamic parameters that change based on actual component condition. Telematics data continuously updates component health parameters, allowing maintenance schedules to adapt to real-time wear patterns rather than following predetermined intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where telematics sensors monitor component performance, compare actual conditions against predicted failure models, and adjust maintenance timing accordingly. This closed-loop approach prevents both premature replacement and unexpected failures by constantly updating the component state assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If simple comparison of current value with previous value is used, then monitoring is simple, but component failure cannot be accurately predicted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent failure prediction accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces predictive models as intermediary layers between raw telematics data and failure predictions. These models process multiple data points and contextual information to generate accurate failure predictions without requiring complex real-time analysis, effectively mediating between simple data collection and sophisticated prediction needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis by pre-processing telematics data and establishing baseline component behavior patterns before failure occurs. By preparing predictive models in advance with historical data, the system can quickly assess current component state without complex real-time computation, achieving both accuracy and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If Mean Time Between Failure engineering data is used, then failure timing can be estimated, but predictions are inaccurate due to variations in operating conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating condition adaptabilityVSAvoidfailure prediction reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms static Mean Time Between Failure data into dynamic predictions that adapt to actual operating conditions. By continuously updating component wear models with real-time telematics data reflecting actual usage patterns, environmental conditions, and load variations, the system adjusts failure predictions to match current operational context rather than relying on average historical data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3525177B1Telematically monitoring a condition of an operational vehicle component
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 GEOTAB INC
  • EP3525177B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3525177B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3525177B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

Apparatus, device, methods and system relating to a vehicular telemetry environment for monitoring vehicle components and providing indications towards the condition of the vehicle components and providing optimal indications towards replacement or maintenance of vehicle components before vehicle component failure.