DE102021202264A1 - Usage and maintenance-dependent determination of the health status of devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Method (100) for determining the state of health (6) of a device (1) with the steps: • a usage history (2) of the device (1) is provided (110) that provides information about the type, frequency and/or duration of There are acts of use which lead to wear and tear of the device (1) and/or are likely to deteriorate the device (1) in some other way compared to a defined new condition;• a maintenance history (3) of the device (1) is provided (120 ), which provides information about the type, frequency and/or duration of care activities that serve to maintain, care for and/or repair the device (1) and/or are suitable for otherwise influencing the condition of the device (1). drive to the defined new condition;• from the usage history (2) a malus contribution (4) for the state of health (6) of the device (1) is determined (130);• from the maintenance history (3) a bonus contribution (5) for determines (140) the state of health (6) of the device (1);• From the bonus contribution (5) and the malus contribution (4), the sought-after state of health (6) of the device (1) is determined (150).

Description

The present invention relates to the monitoring and maintenance of technical devices whose state of health is particularly dependent on user behavior, such as electrically powered baby carriages or small electric vehicles.

State of the art

Electrically powered strollers, such as those from the DE 10 2018 215 748 A1 known, are often only used until a child can sit upright independently. This useful life is very short compared to the stroller's technical lifespan under normal use and also short compared to standard warranty periods.

On the other hand, if used improperly, it is quite possible to damage such devices even within a relatively short period of time, even to the point of failure. For example, prams are often misused for transporting significantly heavier loads or driven up stairs because carrying them up the stairs is too annoying. If the stroller breaks down while you are using it, the guarantee will be claimed, although the guarantee claim is actually forfeited due to improper use. If the stroller survives its own use, it is resold on the secondary market to an unsuspecting buyer.

A similar problem exists with small electric vehicles, also known as “e-scooters”. These vehicles are specifically designed to be rented out spontaneously for just a few hours or even less, and they pass through as many hands as that.

Disclosure of Invention

Within the framework of the invention, a method for determining the health status of a device was developed. In this context, “state of health” can be understood, for example, as any summary measure of the functionality and usability of the device. Depending on the specific application, however, the state of health can also relate to individual components or functions of the device, for example.

The method provides a usage history of the device. This usage history provides information about the type, frequency and/or duration of usage actions that lead to wear and tear of the device and/or are likely to deteriorate the device in some other way compared to a defined new condition. Acts of use therefore also include normal use in particular. In the case of a pram or a small electric vehicle, for example, this normal use can be measured by how often this vehicle was put into operation and/or the distances covered in each case. In addition, acts of use can also include, for example, events that are outside of normal use. These events can include, for example, abnormal operating states, error states or also recognized improper use, for example due to overload.

A maintenance history of the device is also provided. This maintenance history provides information about the type, frequency and/or duration of care actions that serve to maintain, care for and/or repair the device and/or are suitable for otherwise driving the condition of the device towards the defined new condition . Such care actions can be, for example, software updates, maintenance or adjustment work carried out by a specialist workshop, the replacement of components, assemblies and/or operating materials and the cleaning of the device.

A penalty contribution for the state of health of the device is determined from the usage history. For this purpose, for example, specific units of the usage quantity or usage intensity and/or specific events can each be assigned a "tariff" that is added to the malus contribution. Like the overall state of health, the malus contribution can be scalar or vectorial. For example, a vectorial penalty can include components for specific subsystems or properties of the device, such as the chassis or the drive system. In this case, the dependency of the penalty contribution on the said units or events does not have to be linear. For example, the penalty contribution can also increase disproportionately in the case of particularly intensive use or particularly frequent wear and tear events. Likewise, for example, free quotas can be defined per time unit (e.g. “one severe vibration per hour”) that do not affect the penalty contribution.

Analogously, a bonus contribution for the state of health of the device is determined from the maintenance history. This bonus contribution can in turn be scalar or vectorial, analogous to the malus contribution. Here, too, every care action can have a certain “tariff” on the bonus contribution.

From the bonus contribution and the malus contribution, the searched state of health of the device detected. For example, the malus contribution can be subtracted scalarly or vectorially from the bonus contribution. However, different components of the state of health can also be weighted differently, for example. It can also be specified, for example, that a penalty in relation to certain components can be more easily compensated for by a bonus than a penalty in relation to other components.

It was recognized that a more accurate estimate of the actual state of health of the device can be obtained by weighing up and offsetting a malus contribution against a bonus contribution than by only taking into account the use. The effect of usage on health is in many ways physically dependent on how much care is given to the device in return. For example, even normal use can wear out the device excessively, while more intensive use can be at least partially compensated for by better maintenance.

As a result, for example, based on the determined state of health, it can be better assessed when more detailed maintenance is necessary or whether the user has handled the device with enough care that he is still entitled to a warranty claim. For example, the guarantee claim can be void not only when a previously specified guarantee period expires, but also if the user has let the health of the device "slip" and this health falls below a certain minimum level.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the effect of at least one usage action on the malus contribution is compensated in full or in part in response to the fact that a concrete, predetermined maintenance action has taken place after this usage action. In this way, it can be more precisely taken into account in the state of health that the physical effects of certain usage actions on the device can be at least partially reversed with certain care actions.

In particular, for example, the effect of at least one act of use, which leads to the wear or deterioration of a specific component, a specific assembly and/or a specific operating material of the device, on the penalty contribution can be caused by a maintenance action with which this component, this assembly group or this operating material is cared for, serviced and/or renewed can be fully or partially compensated. If, for example, the electric motor of a pram has been overloaded for a long time carrying heavy crates of drinks uphill instead of a child, this overload can be "cured" by replacing or servicing the electric motor. However, this does not "heal" the overloading of the chassis. The corresponding penalty contribution only disappears when the chassis has been subjected to a thorough inspection in a workshop, for example with an ultrasound or X-ray machine.

Likewise, the effect of at least one maintenance action on the bonus contribution can be compensated in full or in part in response to the fact that a specific usage action has taken place after this maintenance action. Plus points that have been gained in a certain physical respect through care can be forfeited again if negative interventions were made again at the same physical point through corresponding acts of use.

For example, the effect of at least one care action, with which a specific component, a specific assembly, and/or a specific operating material of the device is cared for, serviced and/or renewed, on the bonus contribution through an action of use that this component, this assembly , or this fuel, excessively stressed, can be compensated in whole or in part. The aforesaid detailed check of the chassis, which results in the stroller being certified as being in particularly good health, loses its validity, for example, if the user then drives down a flight of stairs with a heavy load.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a prognosis for a point in time at which the device becomes completely or partially inoperable and/or maintenance work on the device becomes necessary is determined from a development of the state of health over time. In this way, the condition-dependent maintenance in particular can be dosed in such a way that no unnecessary costs are incurred, but on the other hand maintenance is not delayed until the device is permanently damaged.

• • die Wirkung mindestens einer Nutzungshandlung auf den Malusbeitrag, und/oder
• • die Wirkung mindestens einer Pflegehandlung auf den Bonusbeitrag, und/oder
• • das Zusammenwirken des Bonusbeitrags und des Malusbeitrags im Hinblick auf den gesuchten Gesundheitszustand des Geräts, und/oder
• • die Prognose

mit einer parametrierten Funktion und/oder einem trainierten Machine Learning-Modell ermittelt. In den Parametern, die das Verhalten dieser Funktion, und/oder dieses Machine Learning-Modells, charakterisieren, sind dann Vorerfahrungen verkörpert, die an einer Flotte gleicher oder ähnlicher Geräte erfasst wurden. Die parametrierte Funktion, bzw. das Machine Learning-Modell, kann also mit derartigen Vorerfahrungen trainiert werden. Hierzu können insbesondere beispielsweise Nutzungshistorien und Wartungshistorien über einen längeren Zeitraum und von einer Vielzahl gleicher oder ähnlicher Geräte erfasst werden. Wenn sich dann beispielsweise später herausstellt, dass ein Gerät mit bestimmten Historien einen Defekt erlitten hat, kann diese Kombination dieser konkreten Nutzungshistorie mit dieser konkreten Wartungshistorie mit dem entsprechenden Defekt „gelabelt“ werden.In a further particularly advantageous embodiment

• • the effect of at least one act of use on the malus contribution, and/or
• • the effect of at least one care action on the bonus contribution, and/or
• • the interaction of the Bonus Contribution and the Malus Contribution with respect to the device health sought, and/or
• • prognosis

determined with a parameterized function and/or a trained machine learning model. The parameters that characterize the behavior of this function and/or this machine learning model then embody previous experiences that were recorded on a fleet of the same or similar devices. The parameterized function, or the machine learning model, can therefore be trained with such prior experience. For this purpose, for example, usage histories and maintenance histories can be recorded over a longer period of time and from a large number of identical or similar devices. If it then turns out later, for example, that a device with a specific history has suffered a defect, this combination of this specific usage history with this specific maintenance history can be “labeled” with the corresponding defect.

In this way, for example, causal relationships between usage actions, care actions and the state of health of the device can be learned, which are not known in advance but only appear after the device has been in operation for a long time. For example, it is difficult to calculate in advance how long it will take for a baby carriage to be overloaded with an unsuitable load, leading to a fatigue fracture of the chassis.

The usage history and the maintenance history can in particular be recorded in a cloud, for example. The malus contribution, the bonus contribution and the state of health sought can then be determined in this cloud. In particular, histories from a large number of devices can be aggregated in the cloud.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a digital certificate is generated about the state of health and/or about facts that were included in the determination of this state of health. This digital certificate is signed with a private key from an asymmetric cryptosystem that is not accessible to the user of the device. The digital certificate can in particular also be generated in the cloud, for example. However, this is not mandatory. A private key can also be secured in the device itself, for example, so that the user cannot extract it or misuse it.

The digital certificate can be used, for example, as proof of authorization for asserting warranty claims. If the user has used his device incorrectly and/or insufficiently maintained it and has thus contributed to its failure himself, he must be responsible for the consequential costs of this action himself and cannot pass them on to the guarantor. The same applies to the sale of devices on the secondary market.

An electrically powered stroller and/or a small electric vehicle and/or a rental bicycle and/or a rental motorbike is advantageously selected as the device. As previously explained, these devices pass through the hands of many different users and are treated very differently by those users. For example, small electric vehicles are often loaded with two people, although this is not permitted. Many renters of rental bicycles and rental motorbikes disregard the rule that use is only permitted on paved public roads.

Thus, the usage actions that affect the penalty contribution can include, for example, using the device when it is overcharged and/or using the device on a surface that is not intended for this purpose.

The functionality of the described method can be fully or partially implemented in software. The invention therefore also relates to a computer program with machine-readable instructions which, when executed on one or more computers, cause the computer or computers to carry out one of the methods described. In this sense, control devices for vehicles and embedded systems for technical devices that are also able to execute machine-readable instructions are also to be regarded as computers.

The invention also relates to a machine-readable data carrier and/or a download product with the computer program. A downloadable product is a digital product that can be transmitted over a data network, i.e. can be downloaded by a user of the data network and that can be offered for sale in an online shop for immediate download, for example.

Furthermore, a computer can be equipped with the computer program, with the machine-readable data carrier or with the downloadable product. In particular, this computer can be a control unit for a vehicle and/or for a drive unit of a vehicle.

Further measures improving the invention are presented in more detail below together with the description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention using a figure.

character list

• 1 Schematisches Ablaufdiagramm eines Ausführungsbeispiels des Verfahrens 100.

It shows:

• 1 Schematic flow chart of an embodiment of the method 100.

1 shows a schematic flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the method 100 for determining the state of health 6 of a device 1. According to block 105, an electrically powered stroller and/or a small electric vehicle and/or a rental bicycle and/or a rental motorbike can be selected as the device 1 will.

In step 110 a usage history 2 of the device 1 is provided. In step 130, a malus contribution 4 for the state of health 6 of the device 1 is determined from this usage history 2 . In particular, according to block 131, for example, the effect of at least one usage action on the malus contribution 4 can be fully or partially compensated for in response to the fact that a concrete, specified maintenance action has taken place after this usage action. Specifically, according to block 131a, for example, the effect of at least one act of use that leads to the wear or deterioration of a specific component, a specific assembly and/or a specific operating material of the device 1, on the malus contribution 4 through a maintenance action with which this component, this assembly , or this fuel is cared for, serviced and/or renewed, can be compensated in whole or in part.

In step 120 a maintenance history 3 of the device 1 is provided. In step 140, a bonus contribution 5 for the state of health 6 of the device 1 is determined from this maintenance history 3 . In this case, for example according to block 141, the effect of at least one maintenance action on the bonus contribution 5 can be fully or partially compensated for in response to the fact that a specific usage action has taken place after this maintenance action. Specifically, according to block 141a, for example, the effect of at least one maintenance action, with which a specific component, a specific assembly group, and/or a specific operating material of the device 1 is maintained, serviced and/or renewed, on the bonus contribution 5 by an action of use that this component, this assembly group or this fuel, excessively stressed, can be compensated in whole or in part.

In step 150, the sought-after state of health 6 of the device 1 is determined from the bonus contribution 5 and the malus contribution 4 .

In step 160, a prognosis 7 can be determined from a time development of the state of health 6 for a point in time at which the device 1 becomes completely or partially inoperable and/or maintenance work on the device 1 becomes necessary.

Alternatively or in combination with this, in step 170 a digital certificate 8 about the state of health 6 and/or about facts that were included in the determination of this state of health 6 can be generated. This digital certificate is signed with a private key from an asymmetric cryptosystem that is not accessible to the user of the device.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102018215748 A1 [0002]

Claims (13)

Method (100) for determining the state of health (6) of a device (1) with the steps: • A usage history (2) of the device (1) is provided (110), which provides information about the type, frequency and/or duration of usage actions that lead to wear and tear of the device (1) and/or are suitable for to deteriorate the device (1) in any other way compared to a defined new condition; • a maintenance history (3) of the device (1) is provided (120), which provides information about the type, frequency and/or duration of care actions that serve to maintain, care for and/or repair the device (1) and/ or are suitable for otherwise driving the condition of the device (1) in the direction of the defined new condition; • from the usage history (2) a malus contribution (4) for the state of health (6) of the device (1) is determined (130); • a bonus contribution (5) for the state of health (6) of the device (1) is determined (140) from the maintenance history (3); • The sought-after state of health (6) of the device (1) is determined (150) from the bonus contribution (5) and the malus contribution (4). Method (100) according to claim 1 , wherein • the effect of at least one usage action on the malus contribution (4) in response to the fact that after this usage action a specific predetermined care action has taken place is fully or partially compensated (131); and/or • the effect of at least one care action on the bonus contribution (5) in response to the fact that a specific use action has taken place after this care action is fully or partially compensated (141). Method (100) according to claim 2 , whereby the effect of at least one act of use that leads to the wear or deterioration of a specific component, a specific assembly and/or a specific operating material of the device (1) on the penalty contribution (4) through a care act with which this component, this assembly , or this fuel is cared for, serviced and/or renewed, is fully or partially compensated (131a). Method (100) according to any one of claims 2 until 3 , whereby the effect of at least one care action, with which a specific component, a specific assembly group, and/or a specific operating material, of the device (1) is maintained, serviced and/or renewed, on the bonus contribution (5) through an action of use that this component, this assembly group, or this fuel, is subjected to excessive stress, is fully or partially compensated (141a). Method (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 4 , wherein a prognosis (7) for a point in time is determined (160) from a temporal development of the state of health (6) at which the device (1) becomes completely or partially inoperable and/or maintenance work on the device (1) becomes necessary. Method (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 5 , where • the effect of at least one usage action on the penalty contribution (4), and/or • the effect of at least one maintenance action on the bonus contribution (5), and/or • the interaction of the bonus contribution (5) and the penalty contribution (4) with regard to on the searched state of health (6) of the device (1), and / or • the prognosis (1) with a parameterized function and / or a trained machine learning model are determined, in the parameters that the behavior of this function, and /or this machine learning model, characterize previous experiences that were recorded on a fleet of the same or similar devices (1). Method (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the usage history (2) and the maintenance history (3) are recorded in a cloud and the malus contribution (4), the bonus contribution (5) and the sought-after state of health (6) are determined in this cloud. Method (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 7 , wherein a digital certificate (8) about the state of health (6) and/or about facts that were included in the determination of this state of health (6) is generated (170), this digital certificate not having a for the user of the device accessible private key of an asymmetric cryptosystem is signed. Method (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 8th , wherein an electrically powered stroller and/or a small electric vehicle and/or a rental bicycle and/or a rental motorbike is selected as the device (1) (105). Method (100) according to claim 9 , wherein the actions of use that affect the malus contribution (4) include use of the device (1) in an overcharged state and/or use of the device (1) on a surface that is not intended for this purpose. Computer program containing machine-readable instructions which, when executed on one or more computers, or cause the computers to execute the method (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 10 to execute. Machine-readable data carrier and/or download product with the computer program claim 11 . One or more computers with the computer program after claim 11 , and/or with the machine-readable data medium and/or download product claim 12 .

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