WO2020198801A1 - System and method for monitoring a plurality of vehicle or infrastructure components - Google Patents

System and method for monitoring a plurality of vehicle or infrastructure components Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020198801A1
WO2020198801A1 PCT/AU2020/050331 AU2020050331W WO2020198801A1 WO 2020198801 A1 WO2020198801 A1 WO 2020198801A1 AU 2020050331 W AU2020050331 W AU 2020050331W WO 2020198801 A1 WO2020198801 A1 WO 2020198801A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
operating parameter
output signal
monitoring device
parameter monitoring
measurements
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2020/050331
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Colin Cole
Maksym Spiryagin
Esteban Bernal
Original Assignee
Colin Cole
Maksym Spiryagin
Esteban Bernal
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2019901155A external-priority patent/AU2019901155A0/en
Application filed by Colin Cole, Maksym Spiryagin, Esteban Bernal filed Critical Colin Cole
Priority to AU2020254708A priority Critical patent/AU2020254708A1/en
Publication of WO2020198801A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020198801A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L15/00—Indicators provided on the vehicle or vehicle train for signalling purposes ; On-board control or communication systems
    • B61L15/0018—Communication with or on the vehicle or vehicle train
    • B61L15/0027—Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/20—Administration of product repair or maintenance
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L15/00—Indicators provided on the vehicle or vehicle train for signalling purposes ; On-board control or communication systems
    • B61L15/0081—On-board diagnosis or maintenance
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61L—GUIDING RAILWAY TRAFFIC; ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC
    • B61L27/00—Central railway traffic control systems; Trackside control; Communication systems specially adapted therefor
    • B61L27/50—Trackside diagnosis or maintenance, e.g. software upgrades
    • B61L27/57—Trackside diagnosis or maintenance, e.g. software upgrades for vehicles or vehicle trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • G05B19/04—Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers
    • G05B19/042—Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B23/00—Testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof
    • G05B23/02—Electric testing or monitoring
    • G05B23/0205—Electric testing or monitoring by means of a monitoring system capable of detecting and responding to faults
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B23/00—Testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof
    • G05B23/02—Electric testing or monitoring
    • G05B23/0205—Electric testing or monitoring by means of a monitoring system capable of detecting and responding to faults
    • G05B23/0259—Electric testing or monitoring by means of a monitoring system capable of detecting and responding to faults characterized by the response to fault detection
    • G05B23/0267—Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]
    • G05B23/027—Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C17/00—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
    • G08C17/02—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01—Protocols
    • H04L67/12—Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q9/00—Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/10—Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/30—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
    • H04W4/38—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for collecting sensor information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/30—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
    • H04W4/40—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/30—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
    • H04W4/40—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
    • H04W4/42—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/70—Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
    • G05B2219/20—Pc systems
    • G05B2219/26—Pc applications
    • G05B2219/2637—Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C2200/00—Transmission systems for measured values, control or similar signals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q2209/00—Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems
    • H04Q2209/40—Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems using a wireless architecture
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q2209/00—Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems
    • H04Q2209/80—Arrangements in the sub-station, i.e. sensing device
    • H04Q2209/88—Providing power supply at the sub-station
    • H04Q2209/886—Providing power supply at the sub-station using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/02—Services making use of location information
    • H04W4/025—Services making use of location information using location based information parameters
    • H04W4/027—Services making use of location information using location based information parameters using movement velocity, acceleration information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/80—Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/18—Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring operating conditions in vehicles and distributed networks.
  • the present invention relates to the field of safety and advanced maintenance planning of road and railway vehicles and distributed networks requiring large numbers of sensor nodes, and more specifically to a low-cost and low-power system and method for on board real-time detection of faults, abnormal operating conditions and other condition monitoring applications.
  • Condition monitoring techniques are commonly used in many industries, including railways and road transport, to increase efficiency by enabling prognosis and implementation of advanced planning of maintenance tasks and to enhance safety by continuously diagnosing the asset health condition.
  • the majority of condition monitoring systems used in railways are static wayside systems that record and analyse vehicle response and operational data of the trains that pass the static system. This wayside condition monitoring approach is inherently limited as is not able to provide continuous real-time diagnosis of individual vehicles, since it does not produce any information between sensing points, which is the majority of the time the vehicle is operating.
  • WSN Wireless Sensor Networks
  • a major limitation of condition monitoring WSNs deployed on-board railway vehicles is the lack of power supply and communications in the majority of unpowered rolling stock, and the difficulties associated with providing a power supply from a powered vehicle to an unpowered vehicle, thereby increasing costs and reducing the convenience of installing and operating such systems.
  • the cost and difficulty of installing, operating and maintaining such systems is increased further when it is necessary to scale a distributed network to the order of thousands of sensor nodes to achieve significant monitoring capabilities, such as in railway operations. To achieve this sensor nodes forming the WSN must have efficient power managing or energy harvesting technologies to provide real safety and efficiency improvements.
  • the individual cost of the sensor node hardware and installation must be low enough to allow massive WSN
  • the present invention is directed to a sensor node system and method which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned
  • the invention resides broadly in a method for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle or infrastructure network, the method comprising the steps of: a) Associating one or more sensors with one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components; b) Acquiring measurements of one or more operating parameters of the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using the one or more sensors; c) Transmitting the measurements of the one or more operating parameters to an operating parameter monitoring device in a form including high frequency signals; d) Converting the measurements into an output signal message indicating the presence or absence of a fault in the one or more vehicle
  • the vehicle may be of any suitable form.
  • the vehicle may include a wheeled vehicle, an aircraft, an aquatic vehicle or the like. More preferably, the vehicle may be a vehicle that operates on rails, such as a tram, train, cable car, funicular or the like. Most preferably, the vehicle comprises a train.
  • the train may be of any suitable type, although it is envisaged that the train may comprise one or more locomotives and one or more unpowered carriages or wagons.
  • the vehicle components may be of any suitable form.
  • the vehicle components may comprise a wheel, axle, suspension frame, a part of the body of a locomotive, carriage or wagon and so on.
  • one or more sensors may be associated with one or more infrastructure components.
  • the infrastructure components may be of any suitable type such as, but not limited to, one or more rails, sleepers, signal boxes, points, posts or poles, overhead wires or the like.
  • the one or more sensors may be located remotely to the operating parameter monitoring device and electronically associated therewith. More
  • the one or more sensors may form a portion of the operating parameter monitoring device.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may be in the form of a substantially self- contained device. It is envisaged that, when the operating parameter monitoring device is associated with a vehicle component and/or infrastructure component, the operating parameter monitoring device functions as a node.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may be associated with the vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using any suitable technique.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may be integrally formed with the components, may be fixedly connected to the components (for instance, a joining technique, heat treatment, adhesives or the like) or may be removably connected via one or more mechanical fasteners or the like.
  • Any number of operating parameter monitoring devices may be associated with each vehicle in a train consist, and one or more operating parameter monitoring devices may be located on each vehicle or infrastructure component. Even more preferably, at least one operating parameter monitoring device is associated with each piece of non-powered rolling stock in relatively large train consists.
  • Operating parameter monitoring device including one or more sensors may be associated with the same component in each piece of rolling stock.
  • an operating parameter monitoring device may be associated with one or more axles of each piece of rolling stock.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may sense vibration, temperature or a combination of the two.
  • operating parameter monitoring devices may be associated with different components in different pieces of rolling stock.
  • the one or more sensors within the operating parameter monitoring device may measure any suitable operating parameters, and it will be understood that the operating parameters could also include one or more vehicle response parameters.
  • the one or more sensors may measure operating parameters such as kinematic parameters (e.g. velocity, acceleration, momentum etc.), vibration, temperature and the like, or any suitable combination thereof.
  • the one or more sensors may comprise accelerometers, speedometers,
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may comprise, or be otherwise associated with, up to 10 sensors. Any suitable combination of sensors may be provided such as one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more temperature sensors, one or more strain sensors, one or more image analysis sensors (to analyse image data) and so on.
  • the one or more sensors may acquire measurements of the one or more parameters on a continuous basis.
  • the one or more sensors may acquire measurements of the one or more parameters at regular or irregular time intervals.
  • the time intervals may vary depending on the parameter being measured.
  • the previous one or more measurements of a parameter indicate that the parameter is
  • the time interval between measurements may be shortened to more closely monitor the parameter.
  • the time intervals between measurements may vary due to external factors, such as climatic conditions, the speed on a section of track and so on.
  • the measurements of the one or more parameters acquired by the one or more sensors are transmitted to an operating parameter monitoring device.
  • the measurements may be transmitted electronically to the operating parameter monitoring device.
  • the operating parameter monitoring advice may be located on the vehicle or may be located remote to the vehicle.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may be located relatively close to the route of the vehicle, for instance on a post, pole, building or similar structure, signal box or the like adjacent to the track or road on which the vehicle is travelling.
  • one or more operating parameter monitoring devices may be located on the vehicle and one or more operating parameter monitoring device may be located remote to the vehicle.
  • each sensor, or each plurality of sensors may be associated with its own operating parameter monitoring device or node.
  • each sensor within an operating parameter monitoring device will transmit the measurements directly to other components of the operating parameter monitoring device.
  • the sensors will be located as close as possible to other components of the operating parameter monitoring device in order to minimise the weight of the operating parameter monitoring device by reducing the amount of wiring and/or components required.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device includes an analogue calculation portion.
  • the analogue calculation portion may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention the analogue calculation portion may be configured to determine whether the measurements of the operating parameters indicate presence or absence of a fault.
  • the analogue calculation portion may be configured to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle component fault (such as overheating, failure or damage), the presence (or absence) of operating conditions outside normal and/or optimal operating conditions (such as vehicle instability or derailment), trends in operating parameters and/or the presence or absence and/or values or trends in a specific operating parameter or condition of interest.
  • fault is intended to mean any of a vehicle component fault, the presence or absence of operating conditions outside normal and/or optimal operating conditions, trends in operating parameters and the presence or absence and/or values or trends in a specific operating parameter or condition of interest.
  • the analogue calculation portion may comprise a hardware analogue computing device, for instance with an analogue computing circuit suitable for the specific monitoring application in which the operating parameter monitoring device is to be used.
  • the analogue computing circuit may be customised for the specific situation in which it is to be used.
  • the analogue calculation portion may be configured to compare the measurements of the one or more parameters against predetermined values of the operating parameters that reflect normal operating conditions.
  • the predetermined values may be a single value, a range of values (e.g. with an upper and/or lower limit) or the like.
  • the measurements may be compared against the predetermined values in order to detect a fault.
  • the analogue calculation portion may calculate a change in the measurements of the operating parameters (over any suitable period of time) and/or the rate of change of the measurements of the operating parameters and the change and/or rate of change may be compared against the predetermined values in order to detect a fault.
  • the predetermined values may be set in the hardware of the analogue calculation portion.
  • the predetermined values may be stored in electronic memory associated with, and accessible to, a control portion of the operating parameter monitoring device.
  • the analogue calculation portion may be adapted to receive an electronic control signal via a communication portion of the operating parameter monitoring device against which the measurements received from the one or more sensors may be compared.
  • the measurements may be transmitted by the one or more sensors in the form of an analogue or digital signal, and in particular an analogue or digital voltage signal.
  • the analogue calculation portion transforms the signal received from the one or more sensors into the output signal message.
  • the output signal message may be configured to indicate the presence or absence of a fault.
  • the output signal message may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention the output signal message may comprise a compressed information signal.
  • the compressed information signal may include a relatively small amount of electronic information in the form of data relating to the operating parameters, the sensors and/or the measurements.
  • the output signal message may simply indicate the presence of absence of a fault.
  • the output signal message may comprise either a‘high’ voltage signal or a‘low’ voltage signal. It is envisaged that the‘high’ voltage signal may represent either the presence or absence of a fault, while the‘low’ voltage signal may represent the other of the presence or absence of a fault.
  • ‘high’ voltage signal and‘low’ voltage signal do not necessarily mean that the signals are of a high voltage and a low voltage. Instead, it is envisaged that the‘high’ voltage signal’ will have a higher voltage than the‘low’ voltage signal.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may also comprise a control portion.
  • the control portion may be adapted to receive the output signal message from the analogue calculation portion and transmit (or manage the transmission of) the output signal message to the one or more recipients.
  • the output signal message may be received from the analogue calculation portion using any suitable technique.
  • the analogue calculation portion and the control portion may be electronically connected to one another via one or more cords, wires, cables or the like.
  • the control portion may be wirelessly connected to the analogue calculation portion and adapted to receive the output signal message via Bluetooth, WiFi or the like.
  • the control portion may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control portion may comprise a microcontroller.
  • the measurements are received from the one or more sensors in a form that includes high frequency signals. These high frequency signals may be in the form of highly resolved data.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may be configured to reduce the data received from the one or more sensors into information in the form of the output signal message.
  • the highly resolved data received from the sensors into an output signal message indicating only either the presence or absence of a fault (using analogue computing circuits)
  • the data volume will be significantly reduced.
  • the volume of data contained in the output signal message is significantly lower by at least one order of magnitude than the volume of data that would be contained in the measurements if the measurements were acquired using digital data acquisition.
  • the volume of data contained in the output signal message may be at least two orders of magnitude lower than the volume of data contained in the measurements.
  • Digital data if used, must be measured at rates of between 10 and 100 times the frequencies expected in the measured signal to prevent aliasing and/or magnitude loss. It is envisaged that data in the order of megabytes may be received from the sensors and converted into an output signal message comprising information in the order of bytes.
  • the invention has specific relevance to accelerometer measurements which include high frequency signal components.
  • the reduction in data may be achieved using any suitable analogue circuit technique. This may be achieved by, for instance, designing an analogue circuit to produce mathematical processes required for the analogue signals. It is envisaged that the circuits will therefore provide analogue signal processing to transform the sensor analogue voltage output into a high/low voltage signal to be read by the control portion.
  • the present invention will consume relatively low quantities of electrical power and may be relatively low cost in comparison to prior art devices. It is envisaged that the low cost of the present invention may be achieved through both the cost of the components of the operating parameter monitoring device and also ongoing operational costs.
  • the control portion may comprise, or be electronically associated with, a communication portion.
  • the communication portion may be of any suitable form, although it is envisaged that the communication portion may be adapted to transmit the output signal message to the one or more recipients.
  • the communication portion may also be adapted to receive electronic signals (for instance, control signals, or signals from the one or more recipients).
  • the communication portion may comprise a transceiver.
  • the control portion may be associated with an electronic memory portion.
  • the electronic memory portion may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention the electronic memory portion may be configured to receive and store the output signal message from the control portion.
  • the sensors, analogue calculation portion, control portion, communication portion and/or electronic memory portion may be associated with a power source.
  • a power source Any suitable power source may be provided, such as one or more batteries, photovoltaic cells or the like.
  • the power source may be any device configured for electrical energy harvesting, such as a device configured to transform vibrational energy into electrical energy.
  • the power source may comprise an energy harvesting device and, in a specific embodiment, a vibrational energy harvesting device.
  • the power source may comprise a power source located on the vehicle, such as a wired power supply and the like.
  • the one or more recipients may be of any suitable from, and may be human or machine recipients.
  • the output signal message may be transmitted to an electronic device associated with a user.
  • the user may be any suitable type, such as the operator of the vehicle (either located in the vehicle or remotely therefrom), a control room operator, a mechanic or similar maintenance personnel or the like, or any suitable combination thereof.
  • the electronic device associated with the user may be of any suitable form.
  • the electronic device may be a computer, computing tablet, mobile telephone, smart watch or the like, or any suitable combination thereof.
  • the output signal message may be received by the electronic device and displayed in human readable format on an interface such as a screen, control panel or the like.
  • the output signal message (particularly when a fault has been detected) may generate a visual signal, such as a siren or alert, a flashing screen, a vibratory signal or the like in order to alert the user to the output signal message.
  • the output signal message may be received by an electronic component such as a server, DCS, expert system or the like.
  • the electronic component may be configured to automatically adjust the operation of the vehicle in order to ameliorate a fault, or may generate a signal in order to alert a user to the presence of the output signal message, particularly when the output signal message indicates the presence of a fault.
  • analogue calculation portion configured to receive measurements in the form of high frequency signals from one or more sensors and convert the
  • analogue computing circuit representing the presence or absence of a fault
  • a control portion configured to receive the output signal message from the analogue calculation portion
  • a communication portion wherein, upon receipt of the output signal message from the analogue calculation portion, the control portion actuates the communication portion to transmit the output signal message to one or more recipients.
  • monitoring device may further include an electronic memory portion. It is envisaged that the electronic memory portion may be configured to receive the output signal message from the control portion and store the output signal message in electronic memory.
  • the analogue calculation portion is adapted to receive measurements from one or more sensors.
  • the one or more sensors may be located remote to the operating parameter monitoring device and configured for electronic communication therewith. Alternatively, the one or more sensors may form part of the operating parameter monitoring device.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may include a power source.
  • Any suitable power source may be provided, such as one or more batteries, photovoltaic cells or the like.
  • the power source may be a device configured for electrical energy harvesting.
  • the power source may comprise an energy harvesting device, such as, but not limited to, a vibrational energy harvesting device.
  • the power source may comprise a power source located on the vehicle, such as a wired power supply and the like.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device may comprise a node and, in particular, a self-contained and self-sufficient node).
  • the invention resides broadly in a system for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle or infrastructure network, the system comprising:
  • One or more sensors configured to acquire measurements of one or more operating parameters of one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components;
  • An operating parameter monitoring device configured to receive the measurements from the one or more sensors in the form of high frequency signals and convert the measurements into an output signal message indicating the presence or absence of a fault in the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using an analogue computing circuit; and wherein the operating parameter monitoring device is configured to transmit the output signal message electronically to one or more recipients.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a system and method for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a system and method for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a schematic representation of an operating parameter monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a schematic representation of an operating parameter monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a system and method 10 for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle 1 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the vehicle 1 1 in Figure 1 is a train comprising a locomotive 12 and a plurality of wagons 13 connected thereto.
  • An operating parameter monitoring device 14 is associated with each of the wagons 13.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device 14 includes one or more sensors configure to measure one or more parameters related to the operation of the wagon 13 with which it is associated.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device 14 converts these measurements into an output signal message 15 indicating either the presence or absence of a fault (including operating parameters outside normal or optimal operating conditions).
  • the output signal messages 15 are then transmitted by the operating parameter monitoring device 14 to an adjacent operating parameter monitoring device 14 or to a recipient in the form of servers 16 located either on the locomotive 12 or remote to the vehicle 1 1.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a system and method 10 for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a plurality of operating parameter monitoring devices may be associated with each of the wagons 13 and, more specifically, components of the wagons 13.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a pair of operating parameter monitoring devices 14a located on the body of the wagon.
  • an operating parameter monitoring device 14b is located on the bogie frame of the wagon 13 and an operating parameter monitoring device 14c is located on the wheel set axlebox of the wagon 13.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of an operating parameter monitoring device 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the operating parameter monitoring device 14 comprises a pair of sensors 17 adapted to take measurements of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle (not shown in this Figure).
  • the measurements taken by the sensors 17 are transmitted to a analogue calculation portion 18 adapted to detect a fault (including operating parameters outside normal or optimal operating conditions) based on the
  • the analogue calculation portion 18 determines the presence or absence of a fault based on a comparison of the measurements taken by the sensors 17 to predetermined values (or ranges of values) of the operating parameters representing normal or optimal operating conditions. [0056] The measurements are generated as analogue or digital voltage signals that represent the operating parameter(s).
  • the analogue calculation portion 18 converts the signal received from the sensors 17 into an output signal message 19 in the form of either a‘high’ or‘low’ voltage compressed information signal indicating the presence of absence of a fault.
  • the output signal message 19 is transmitted to a control portion 20 in the form of a microcontroller which stored the output signal message 19 in electronic memory 21 and then transmits the output signal message 19 to a communication portion 22 in the form of a transceiver.
  • the communication portion 22 transmits the output signal message 19 to one or more recipients 16 in the form of one or more electronic devices.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a schematic representation of an operating parameter monitoring device 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates the analogue calculation portion 18 of an operating parameter monitoring device 14.
  • the analogue calculation portion 18 receives measurements in the form of electronic signals 23 from a pair of sensors (not shown in this Figure).
  • the analogue calculation portion 18 receives an external control signal 24 indicating the normal or optimal value (or range of values) of the operating parameters measured by the sensors (not shown in this Figure).
  • the analogue calculation portion 18 conducts a comparison of the
  • the analogue calculation portion 18 converts the measurements 23 into an output signal message 19 providing compressed information in the form of either a‘high’ voltage signal or a‘low’ voltage signal indicating the presence of absence of a fault or operating conditions outside normal or optimal operating conditions.
  • the output signal message 19 is compressed such that the high resolution data received from the sensors (not shown in this Figure) is converted into information, thereby reducing the size (in terms of bytes of information) that must be transmitted by the device 14 to the recipients (not shown in this Figure).

Abstract

A method for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle or infrastructure network, the method comprising the steps of: a) Associating one or more sensors with one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components; b) Acquiring measurements of one or more operating parameters of the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using the one or more sensors; c) Transmitting the measurements of the one or more operating parameters to an operating parameter monitoring device; d) Converting the measurements into an output signal message indicating the presence or absence of a fault in the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using the operating parameter monitoring device; and e) Transmitting the output signal message electronically to one or more recipients.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A PLURALITY OF VEHICLE OR INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001 ] The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring operating conditions in vehicles and distributed networks. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of safety and advanced maintenance planning of road and railway vehicles and distributed networks requiring large numbers of sensor nodes, and more specifically to a low-cost and low-power system and method for on board real-time detection of faults, abnormal operating conditions and other condition monitoring applications.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Condition monitoring techniques are commonly used in many industries, including railways and road transport, to increase efficiency by enabling prognosis and implementation of advanced planning of maintenance tasks and to enhance safety by continuously diagnosing the asset health condition. The majority of condition monitoring systems used in railways are static wayside systems that record and analyse vehicle response and operational data of the trains that pass the static system. This wayside condition monitoring approach is inherently limited as is not able to provide continuous real-time diagnosis of individual vehicles, since it does not produce any information between sensing points, which is the majority of the time the vehicle is operating.
[0003] Some attempts, in the form of on-board Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), have been made to overcome this. However, a major limitation of condition monitoring WSNs deployed on-board railway vehicles (and some applications of distributed networks requiring large numbers of sensor nodes) is the lack of power supply and communications in the majority of unpowered rolling stock, and the difficulties associated with providing a power supply from a powered vehicle to an unpowered vehicle, thereby increasing costs and reducing the convenience of installing and operating such systems.. [0004] The cost and difficulty of installing, operating and maintaining such systems is increased further when it is necessary to scale a distributed network to the order of thousands of sensor nodes to achieve significant monitoring capabilities, such as in railway operations. To achieve this sensor nodes forming the WSN must have efficient power managing or energy harvesting technologies to provide real safety and efficiency improvements. Furthermore, the individual cost of the sensor node hardware and installation must be low enough to allow massive WSN
deployments.
[0005] From a data and information point of view, a challenge arises when thousands of assets, vehicles and vehicle components are being continuously monitored. Each sensor node in a WSN generates a considerable amount of data which must be processed, stored, and transmitted, requiring proportional
computational, memory and power resources.
[0006] Thus, there would be an advantage if it were possible to provide a low power and low cost system and method for achieving functional and scalable WSNs that used efficient signal and data processing techniques to enable improved planning of maintenance activities and improved system efficiencies.
[0007] It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to a sensor node system and method which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned
disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.
[0009] With the foregoing in view, in a first aspect the invention resides broadly in a method for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle or infrastructure network, the method comprising the steps of: a) Associating one or more sensors with one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components; b) Acquiring measurements of one or more operating parameters of the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using the one or more sensors; c) Transmitting the measurements of the one or more operating parameters to an operating parameter monitoring device in a form including high frequency signals; d) Converting the measurements into an output signal message indicating the presence or absence of a fault in the one or more vehicle
components and/or infrastructure components using an analogue computing circuit of the operating parameter monitoring device; and e) Transmitting the output signal message electronically to one or more recipients.
[0010] The vehicle may be of any suitable form. For instance, the vehicle may include a wheeled vehicle, an aircraft, an aquatic vehicle or the like. More preferably, the vehicle may be a vehicle that operates on rails, such as a tram, train, cable car, funicular or the like. Most preferably, the vehicle comprises a train. The train may be of any suitable type, although it is envisaged that the train may comprise one or more locomotives and one or more unpowered carriages or wagons.
[001 1 ] The vehicle components may be of any suitable form. For instance, the vehicle components may comprise a wheel, axle, suspension frame, a part of the body of a locomotive, carriage or wagon and so on. As previously stated, one or more sensors may be associated with one or more infrastructure components. The infrastructure components may be of any suitable type such as, but not limited to, one or more rails, sleepers, signal boxes, points, posts or poles, overhead wires or the like.
[0012] In use, the one or more sensors may be located remotely to the operating parameter monitoring device and electronically associated therewith. More
preferably, however, the one or more sensors may form a portion of the operating parameter monitoring device. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention, the operating parameter monitoring device may be in the form of a substantially self- contained device. It is envisaged that, when the operating parameter monitoring device is associated with a vehicle component and/or infrastructure component, the operating parameter monitoring device functions as a node. The operating parameter monitoring device may be associated with the vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using any suitable technique. For instance, the operating parameter monitoring device may be integrally formed with the components, may be fixedly connected to the components (for instance, a joining technique, heat treatment, adhesives or the like) or may be removably connected via one or more mechanical fasteners or the like.
[0013] Any number of operating parameter monitoring devices may be associated with each vehicle in a train consist, and one or more operating parameter monitoring devices may be located on each vehicle or infrastructure component. Even more preferably, at least one operating parameter monitoring device is associated with each piece of non-powered rolling stock in relatively large train consists.
[0014] Operating parameter monitoring device including one or more sensors may be associated with the same component in each piece of rolling stock. For instance, an operating parameter monitoring device may be associated with one or more axles of each piece of rolling stock. In this embodiment, the operating parameter monitoring device may sense vibration, temperature or a combination of the two. Alternatively, operating parameter monitoring devices may be associated with different components in different pieces of rolling stock.
[0015] The one or more sensors within the operating parameter monitoring device may measure any suitable operating parameters, and it will be understood that the operating parameters could also include one or more vehicle response parameters. For instance, the one or more sensors may measure operating parameters such as kinematic parameters (e.g. velocity, acceleration, momentum etc.), vibration, temperature and the like, or any suitable combination thereof. Thus, the one or more sensors may comprise accelerometers, speedometers,
anemometers, temperature sensors, vibration sensors, pressure sensors and the like, or any suitable combination thereof. [0016] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the operating parameter monitoring device may comprise, or be otherwise associated with, up to 10 sensors. Any suitable combination of sensors may be provided such as one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more temperature sensors, one or more strain sensors, one or more image analysis sensors (to analyse image data) and so on.
[0017] The one or more sensors may acquire measurements of the one or more parameters on a continuous basis. Alternatively, the one or more sensors may acquire measurements of the one or more parameters at regular or irregular time intervals. In this embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that the time intervals may vary depending on the parameter being measured. In addition, if the previous one or more measurements of a parameter indicate that the parameter is
approaching unacceptable operating conditions and/or failure, the time interval between measurements may be shortened to more closely monitor the parameter. In other embodiments of the invention, the time intervals between measurements may vary due to external factors, such as climatic conditions, the speed on a section of track and so on.
[0018] The measurements of the one or more parameters acquired by the one or more sensors are transmitted to an operating parameter monitoring device.
Preferably, the measurements may be transmitted electronically to the operating parameter monitoring device. The operating parameter monitoring advice may be located on the vehicle or may be located remote to the vehicle. In embodiments of the invention in which the operating parameter monitoring device is located remote to the vehicle, it is envisaged that the operating parameter monitoring device may be located relatively close to the route of the vehicle, for instance on a post, pole, building or similar structure, signal box or the like adjacent to the track or road on which the vehicle is travelling. In some embodiments of the invention, one or more operating parameter monitoring devices may be located on the vehicle and one or more operating parameter monitoring device may be located remote to the vehicle. [0019] In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, each sensor, or each plurality of sensors, may be associated with its own operating parameter monitoring device or node.
[0020] It is envisaged that each sensor within an operating parameter monitoring device will transmit the measurements directly to other components of the operating parameter monitoring device. Preferably, the sensors will be located as close as possible to other components of the operating parameter monitoring device in order to minimise the weight of the operating parameter monitoring device by reducing the amount of wiring and/or components required.
[0021 ] Preferably, the operating parameter monitoring device includes an analogue calculation portion. The analogue calculation portion may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention the analogue calculation portion may be configured to determine whether the measurements of the operating parameters indicate presence or absence of a fault. For instance, the analogue calculation portion may be configured to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle component fault (such as overheating, failure or damage), the presence (or absence) of operating conditions outside normal and/or optimal operating conditions (such as vehicle instability or derailment), trends in operating parameters and/or the presence or absence and/or values or trends in a specific operating parameter or condition of interest.
[0022] Thus, it will be understood that throughout this specification, the term “fault” is intended to mean any of a vehicle component fault, the presence or absence of operating conditions outside normal and/or optimal operating conditions, trends in operating parameters and the presence or absence and/or values or trends in a specific operating parameter or condition of interest.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the analogue calculation portion may comprise a hardware analogue computing device, for instance with an analogue computing circuit suitable for the specific monitoring application in which the operating parameter monitoring device is to be used. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the analogue computing circuit may be customised for the specific situation in which it is to be used. [0024] In some embodiments of the invention, the analogue calculation portion may be configured to compare the measurements of the one or more parameters against predetermined values of the operating parameters that reflect normal operating conditions. The predetermined values may be a single value, a range of values (e.g. with an upper and/or lower limit) or the like.
[0025] It is envisaged that the measurements may be compared against the predetermined values in order to detect a fault. Alternatively, the analogue calculation portion may calculate a change in the measurements of the operating parameters (over any suitable period of time) and/or the rate of change of the measurements of the operating parameters and the change and/or rate of change may be compared against the predetermined values in order to detect a fault. The predetermined values may be set in the hardware of the analogue calculation portion. Alternatively, the predetermined values may be stored in electronic memory associated with, and accessible to, a control portion of the operating parameter monitoring device. In further embodiments of the invention, the analogue calculation portion may be adapted to receive an electronic control signal via a communication portion of the operating parameter monitoring device against which the measurements received from the one or more sensors may be compared.
[0026] It is envisaged that the measurements may be transmitted by the one or more sensors in the form of an analogue or digital signal, and in particular an analogue or digital voltage signal. Preferably, the analogue calculation portion (and more, precisely, an analogue computing circuit forming at least a portion of the analogue calculation portion) transforms the signal received from the one or more sensors into the output signal message. Preferably, the output signal message may be configured to indicate the presence or absence of a fault. The output signal message may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention the output signal message may comprise a compressed information signal. In this embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that the compressed information signal may include a relatively small amount of electronic information in the form of data relating to the operating parameters, the sensors and/or the measurements. Alternatively, the output signal message may simply indicate the presence of absence of a fault. Thus, in some embodiments of the invention, it is envisaged that the output signal message may comprise either a‘high’ voltage signal or a‘low’ voltage signal. It is envisaged that the‘high’ voltage signal may represent either the presence or absence of a fault, while the‘low’ voltage signal may represent the other of the presence or absence of a fault.
[0027] It will be understood that the terms‘high’ voltage signal and‘low’ voltage signal do not necessarily mean that the signals are of a high voltage and a low voltage. Instead, it is envisaged that the‘high’ voltage signal’ will have a higher voltage than the‘low’ voltage signal.
[0028] The operating parameter monitoring device may also comprise a control portion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control portion may be adapted to receive the output signal message from the analogue calculation portion and transmit (or manage the transmission of) the output signal message to the one or more recipients. The output signal message may be received from the analogue calculation portion using any suitable technique. For instance, the analogue calculation portion and the control portion may be electronically connected to one another via one or more cords, wires, cables or the like. Alternatively, the control portion may be wirelessly connected to the analogue calculation portion and adapted to receive the output signal message via Bluetooth, WiFi or the like. The control portion may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control portion may comprise a microcontroller.
[0029] As previously stated, the measurements are received from the one or more sensors in a form that includes high frequency signals. These high frequency signals may be in the form of highly resolved data. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating parameter monitoring device may be configured to reduce the data received from the one or more sensors into information in the form of the output signal message. By converting the highly resolved data received from the sensors into an output signal message indicating only either the presence or absence of a fault (using analogue computing circuits), it is envisaged that the data volume will be significantly reduced. Thus, the volume of data contained in the output signal message is significantly lower by at least one order of magnitude than the volume of data that would be contained in the measurements if the measurements were acquired using digital data acquisition. More preferably, the volume of data contained in the output signal message may be at least two orders of magnitude lower than the volume of data contained in the measurements. Digital data, if used, must be measured at rates of between 10 and 100 times the frequencies expected in the measured signal to prevent aliasing and/or magnitude loss. It is envisaged that data in the order of megabytes may be received from the sensors and converted into an output signal message comprising information in the order of bytes. Specifically, the invention has specific relevance to accelerometer measurements which include high frequency signal components.
[0030] The reduction in data may be achieved using any suitable analogue circuit technique. This may be achieved by, for instance, designing an analogue circuit to produce mathematical processes required for the analogue signals. It is envisaged that the circuits will therefore provide analogue signal processing to transform the sensor analogue voltage output into a high/low voltage signal to be read by the control portion.
[0031 ] By reducing the volume of data received to a low data volume output signal message, it is envisaged that the present invention will consume relatively low quantities of electrical power and may be relatively low cost in comparison to prior art devices. It is envisaged that the low cost of the present invention may be achieved through both the cost of the components of the operating parameter monitoring device and also ongoing operational costs.
[0032] The control portion may comprise, or be electronically associated with, a communication portion. The communication portion may be of any suitable form, although it is envisaged that the communication portion may be adapted to transmit the output signal message to the one or more recipients. In some embodiments of the invention, the communication portion may also be adapted to receive electronic signals (for instance, control signals, or signals from the one or more recipients). Thus, in this embodiment of the invention, the communication portion may comprise a transceiver.
[0033] The control portion may be associated with an electronic memory portion. The electronic memory portion may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention the electronic memory portion may be configured to receive and store the output signal message from the control portion.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensors, analogue calculation portion, control portion, communication portion and/or electronic memory portion may be associated with a power source. Any suitable power source may be provided, such as one or more batteries, photovoltaic cells or the like. In other embodiments of the invention, the power source may be any device configured for electrical energy harvesting, such as a device configured to transform vibrational energy into electrical energy. Thus, the power source may comprise an energy harvesting device and, in a specific embodiment, a vibrational energy harvesting device. In other embodiments, the power source may comprise a power source located on the vehicle, such as a wired power supply and the like.
[0035] As previously stated, the output signal message is transmitted
electronically to one or more recipients. The one or more recipients may be of any suitable from, and may be human or machine recipients.
[0036] In some embodiments, the output signal message may be transmitted to an electronic device associated with a user. The user may be any suitable type, such as the operator of the vehicle (either located in the vehicle or remotely therefrom), a control room operator, a mechanic or similar maintenance personnel or the like, or any suitable combination thereof. The electronic device associated with the user may be of any suitable form. For instance, the electronic device may be a computer, computing tablet, mobile telephone, smart watch or the like, or any suitable combination thereof.
[0037] The output signal message may be received by the electronic device and displayed in human readable format on an interface such as a screen, control panel or the like. In other embodiments, the output signal message (particularly when a fault has been detected) may generate a visual signal, such as a siren or alert, a flashing screen, a vibratory signal or the like in order to alert the user to the output signal message. [0038] In other embodiments of the invention, the output signal message may be received by an electronic component such as a server, DCS, expert system or the like. The electronic component may be configured to automatically adjust the operation of the vehicle in order to ameliorate a fault, or may generate a signal in order to alert a user to the presence of the output signal message, particularly when the output signal message indicates the presence of a fault.
[0039] It is envisaged that the analogue calculation portion, the control portion and the communication portion may be provided within a housing. Thus, in a second aspect, the invention resides broadly in an operating parameter monitoring device comprising: an analogue calculation portion configured to receive measurements in the form of high frequency signals from one or more sensors and convert the
measurements into an output signal message using an analogue computing circuit representing the presence or absence of a fault; a control portion configured to receive the output signal message from the analogue calculation portion; and a communication portion wherein, upon receipt of the output signal message from the analogue calculation portion, the control portion actuates the communication portion to transmit the output signal message to one or more recipients.
[0040] In some embodiments of the invention, the operating parameter
monitoring device may further include an electronic memory portion. It is envisaged that the electronic memory portion may be configured to receive the output signal message from the control portion and store the output signal message in electronic memory.
[0041 ] As previously stated, the analogue calculation portion is adapted to receive measurements from one or more sensors. The one or more sensors may be located remote to the operating parameter monitoring device and configured for electronic communication therewith. Alternatively, the one or more sensors may form part of the operating parameter monitoring device.
[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating parameter monitoring device may include a power source. Any suitable power source may be provided, such as one or more batteries, photovoltaic cells or the like. In other embodiments of the invention, the power source may be a device configured for electrical energy harvesting. Thus, the power source may comprise an energy harvesting device, such as, but not limited to, a vibrational energy harvesting device. In other embodiments, the power source may comprise a power source located on the vehicle, such as a wired power supply and the like. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention, the operating parameter monitoring device may comprise a node and, in particular, a self-contained and self-sufficient node).
[0043] In a third aspect, the invention resides broadly in a system for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle or infrastructure network, the system comprising:
One or more sensors configured to acquire measurements of one or more operating parameters of one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components;
An operating parameter monitoring device configured to receive the measurements from the one or more sensors in the form of high frequency signals and convert the measurements into an output signal message indicating the presence or absence of a fault in the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using an analogue computing circuit; and wherein the operating parameter monitoring device is configured to transmit the output signal message electronically to one or more recipients.
[0044] Although the invention has been described in terms of monitoring the operating conditions of a vehicle, it will be understood that the invention could be used equally for monitoring the operating conditions of a fleet of vehicles, an infrastructure network and so on. [0045] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.
[0046] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0047] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed
Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:
[0048] Figure 1 illustrates a system and method for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] Figure 2 illustrates a system and method for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0050] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic representation of an operating parameter monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0051 ] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic representation of an operating parameter monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0052] Figure 1 illustrates a system and method 10 for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle 1 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 1 1 in Figure 1 is a train comprising a locomotive 12 and a plurality of wagons 13 connected thereto. [0053] An operating parameter monitoring device 14 is associated with each of the wagons 13. In this embodiment, the operating parameter monitoring device 14 includes one or more sensors configure to measure one or more parameters related to the operation of the wagon 13 with which it is associated. The operating parameter monitoring device 14 converts these measurements into an output signal message 15 indicating either the presence or absence of a fault (including operating parameters outside normal or optimal operating conditions). The output signal messages 15 are then transmitted by the operating parameter monitoring device 14 to an adjacent operating parameter monitoring device 14 or to a recipient in the form of servers 16 located either on the locomotive 12 or remote to the vehicle 1 1.
[0054] Figure 2 illustrates a system and method 10 for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this Figure, it may be seen that a plurality of operating parameter monitoring devices may be associated with each of the wagons 13 and, more specifically, components of the wagons 13. In particular, Figure 2 illustrates a pair of operating parameter monitoring devices 14a located on the body of the wagon. In addition, an operating parameter monitoring device 14b is located on the bogie frame of the wagon 13 and an operating parameter monitoring device 14c is located on the wheel set axlebox of the wagon 13.
[0055] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic representation of an operating parameter monitoring device 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operating parameter monitoring device 14 comprises a pair of sensors 17 adapted to take measurements of one or more operating parameters of the vehicle (not shown in this Figure). The measurements taken by the sensors 17 are transmitted to a analogue calculation portion 18 adapted to detect a fault (including operating parameters outside normal or optimal operating conditions) based on the
measurements. The analogue calculation portion 18 determines the presence or absence of a fault based on a comparison of the measurements taken by the sensors 17 to predetermined values (or ranges of values) of the operating parameters representing normal or optimal operating conditions. [0056] The measurements are generated as analogue or digital voltage signals that represent the operating parameter(s). The analogue calculation portion 18 converts the signal received from the sensors 17 into an output signal message 19 in the form of either a‘high’ or‘low’ voltage compressed information signal indicating the presence of absence of a fault. The output signal message 19 is transmitted to a control portion 20 in the form of a microcontroller which stored the output signal message 19 in electronic memory 21 and then transmits the output signal message 19 to a communication portion 22 in the form of a transceiver. The communication portion 22 transmits the output signal message 19 to one or more recipients 16 in the form of one or more electronic devices.
[0057] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic representation of an operating parameter monitoring device 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, Figure 4 illustrates the analogue calculation portion 18 of an operating parameter monitoring device 14. In this Figure, the analogue calculation portion 18 receives measurements in the form of electronic signals 23 from a pair of sensors (not shown in this Figure). In this embodiment, the analogue calculation portion 18 receives an external control signal 24 indicating the normal or optimal value (or range of values) of the operating parameters measured by the sensors (not shown in this Figure). The analogue calculation portion 18 conducts a comparison of the
measurements 23 received from the sensors (not shown in this Figure) against the values contained in the control signal 24 to determine whether the operating parameters are within or outside normal operating conditions (or a fault is present). The analogue calculation portion 18 converts the measurements 23 into an output signal message 19 providing compressed information in the form of either a‘high’ voltage signal or a‘low’ voltage signal indicating the presence of absence of a fault or operating conditions outside normal or optimal operating conditions. The output signal message 19 is compressed such that the high resolution data received from the sensors (not shown in this Figure) is converted into information, thereby reducing the size (in terms of bytes of information) that must be transmitted by the device 14 to the recipients (not shown in this Figure). [0058] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word‘comprising’ and its derivatives including‘comprises’ and‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.
[0059] Reference throughout this specification to‘one embodiment’ or‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases‘in one embodiment’ or‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more
combinations.
[0060] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle or infrastructure network, the method comprising the steps of: a) Associating one or more sensors with one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components; b) Acquiring measurements of one or more operating parameters of the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using the one or more sensors; c) Transmitting the measurements of the one or more operating parameters to an operating parameter monitoring device in the form of high frequency signals; d) Converting the measurements into an output signal message indicating the presence or absence of a fault in the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components using an analogue computing circuit of the operating parameter monitoring device; and e) Transmitting the output signal message electronically to one or more recipients.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more vehicles components comprise a wheel, axle, suspension frame, or a part of the body of a locomotive, carriage or wagon.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the one or more
infrastructure components comprise one or more rails, sleepers, signal boxes, points, posts or poles, or overhead wires.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the one or more operating parameters including kinematic parameters, vibration, strain, image data or temperature.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the one or more sensors form part of the operating parameter monitoring device.
6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the one or more sensors transmit the measurements to the operating parameter monitoring device in the form of an analogue or digital voltage signal.
7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the operating parameter monitoring device comprises an analogue calculation portion, a control portion and a communication portion.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the analogue calculation portion
comprises a hardware analogue computing device.
9. A method according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the analogue calculation portion transforms the measurements into the output signal message.
10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the output signal message comprises a compressed information signal, or a‘high’ voltage signal or a‘low’ voltage signal.
1 1 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein volume of data contained in the output signal message is at least two orders of magnitude lower than a volume of data contained in the measurements.
12. A method according to claim 1 1 wherein the reduction in data in the output signal message is achieved using an analogue circuit technique.
13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the output signal message comprises either a‘high’ voltage signal or a‘low’ voltage signal indicating the presence of absence of a fault.
14. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the output signal message is transmitted to an electronic device associated with a user.
15. An operating parameter monitoring device comprising: a analogue calculation portion configured to receive measurements from one or more sensors and convert the measurements into an output signal message representing the presence or absence of a fault; a control portion configured to receive the output signal message from the analogue calculation portion; and a communication portion, wherein, upon receipt of the output signal message from the analogue calculation portion, the control portion actuates the communication portion to transmit the output signal message to one or more recipients.
16. An operating parameter monitoring device according to claim 15 wherein the operating parameter monitoring device further includes an electronic memory portion configured to receive output signal message from the control portion and stored the output signal message in electronic memory.
17. An operating parameter device according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the one or more sensors form part of the operating parameter monitoring device.
18. An operating parameter device according to claim 17 wherein the operating parameter monitoring device functions as a node.
19. An operating parameter monitoring device according to any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the operating parameter monitoring device includes a power source in the form of one or more batteries, photovoltaic cells or energy harvesting devices.
20. A system for monitoring operating conditions of a vehicle or infrastructure network, the system comprising:
One or more sensors configured to acquire measurements of one or more operating parameters of one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components; An operating parameter monitoring device configured to receive the measurements from the one or more sensors and convert the measurements into an output signal message indicating the presence or absence of a fault in the one or more vehicle components and/or infrastructure components; and wherein the operating parameter monitoring device is configured to transmit the output signal message electronically to one or more recipients.
PCT/AU2020/050331 2019-04-04 2020-04-03 System and method for monitoring a plurality of vehicle or infrastructure components WO2020198801A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

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Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2019901155 2019-04-04
AU2019901155A AU2019901155A0 (en) 2019-04-04 Smart Sensor Node Device and Method for Detecting Faults and Abnormal Operating Conditions On-Board Railway Vehicles
AU2020900085A AU2020900085A0 (en) 2020-01-13 Smart sensor node device and method for detecting faults and abnormal conditions on-board vehicles and distributed networks
AU2020900085 2020-01-13

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