Work Implement Usage Tracking via Acceleration Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to accurately differentiate between the usage and transportation of work implements, leading to inaccurate tracking and potential false readings in usage measurement.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a movement characteristic sensor, a wireless transmitter, and a controller that associates a unique identification number with the work implement, stores movement characteristic thresholds, and determines usage by analyzing acceleration signals to differentiate between operational and transportation movements, while operating in both standard and low power modes to conserve energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of work implement movement is implemented, then usage tracking accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring by activating the movement characteristic sensor and wireless transmitter only during specific cycle time intervals rather than continuously. The controller sequentially operates in standard power mode (monitoring active) and low power mode (monitoring inactive), reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate usage tracking accuracy through periodic data collection.
2Reliability
If movement characteristic sensor and wireless transmitter operate continuously, then data transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless transmitter operates periodically rather than continuously, activating during cycle time intervals to transmit usage data and remaining in low power mode between transmissions. This periodic operation reduces power consumption while maintaining data transmission reliability through regular updates at appropriate intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors movement characteristic signals and determines when usage events occur, then triggers wireless transmission only when necessary to report usage data. This feedback-driven approach ensures data transmission reliability by reporting actual usage events while minimizing unnecessary transmissions that would consume power.
3Measurement precision
If movement threshold analysis is implemented, then differentiation between usage and transportation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system differentiates between usage and transportation by analyzing changes in movement characteristic parameters (acceleration, velocity, direction) and comparing them against predetermined thresholds. The controller evaluates whether measured parameters exceed these thresholds to determine actual usage events, providing accurate differentiation through parameter analysis without requiring complex mechanical differentiation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for tracking usage of a work implement includes a movement characteristic sensor, a wireless transmitter, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether movement of the work implement exceeds a movement characteristic threshold based upon the movement characteristic signals, increase a work implement usage time by a cycle time interval if the movement of the work implement exceeds the movement characteristic threshold, and transmit with a wireless transmitter on the work implement the work implement usage time and the unique identification number to a system remote from the work implement. Further, the controller is configured to sequentially operate in a standard power mode and in a low power mode, and while in the low power mode, power to at least one of the movement characteristic sensor and the wireless transmitter is terminated.