Wireless Measurement Synchronization for Distributed Vehicle Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) for rotorcraft and other avionics are heavy, costly, and time-consuming, requiring physical connections and dedicated hardware, which limits their efficiency and accessibility for real-time monitoring and data analysis.
Innovation Solution
A distributed sensing topology using wireless communication networks allows for synchronization of measurement data from various mechanical components, enabling a mobile device to collect and analyze data from sensors without dedicated HUMS hardware, facilitating real-time monitoring and reducing weight and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional wired HUMS installations are used, then measurement data can be obtained from mechanical components, but the system becomes heavy and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. Sensors communicate measurement data via wireless signals (e.g., radio frequency) to the HUMS processor, eliminating the need for physical cable connections and reducing system weight while maintaining measurement capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the heavy wired connection infrastructure from the HUMS system. By taking out the physical cables and dedicated wired communication hardware, the system achieves weight reduction while preserving the core functionality of collecting and processing measurement data from mechanical components
2Measurement precision
If traditional wired HUMS installations are used, then measurement data can be obtained from mechanical components, but the system becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes expensive wired communication infrastructure with more cost-effective wireless communication technology. By using standard wireless communication protocols and components, the system reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to acquire measurement data from mechanical components
3Measurement precision
If measurement data is transferred via physical connection, then data can be processed and displayed, but the process is time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the slow physical connection data transfer mechanism with rapid wireless communication. Measurement data is transmitted wirelessly in real-time or near-real-time, significantly reducing the time required to transfer data from sensors to the processing unit and enabling faster analysis and display of mechanical component status
4Reliability
If dedicated HUMS hardware is used, then monitoring functionality is provided, but accessibility and convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the HUMS system universally accessible by enabling data transfer to multiple types of devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) through wireless communication. The system can interface with various operating systems and devices, allowing users to review monitoring data conveniently on different platforms while maintaining reliable monitoring functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication intermediary that bridges the HUMS processor and various user devices. This intermediary layer enables convenient access to monitoring data on mobile devices and computers without requiring direct physical connection to dedicated HUMS hardware, improving ease of operation while preserving monitoring reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
Distributed monitoring systems and data synchronization methods are provided for monitoring a vehicle (102), such as a rotorcraft (102). One exemplary method involves a mobile device (130, 200) broadcasting measurement synchronization messages corresponding to a measurement window to measurement units onboard the vehicle (102) over a wireless network (138), obtaining synchronization timestamp data corresponding to the measurement synchronization messages from each of the measurement units, obtaining measurement data obtained during the measurement window from the measurement units, and associating samples of measurement data from a first measurement unit (108, 300, 802) with one or more samples of measurement data from a second measurement unit (110, 300, 802) based on the synchronization timestamp data. In this manner, measurement data samples from different measurement units having different clock frequencies operating independently or asynchronously with respect to one another may be retrospectively synchronized before characterizing a condition of the vehicle (102) based at least in part on the temporally associated measurement data samples.