AU2020254708B2

AU2020254708B2 - System and method for monitoring a plurality of vehicle or infrastructure components

Info

Publication number: AU2020254708B2
Application number: AU2020254708A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Esteban Bernal; Colin Cole; Maksym Spiryagin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-04-04
Filing date: 2020-04-03
Publication date: 2025-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-03
Also published as: AU2020254708A1; WO2020198801A1

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]

[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.

[0011] 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-

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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 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 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.

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[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

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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 The control controlportion maymay portion be associated with with be associated an electronic memory portion. 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]

[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.

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[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

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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

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.

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[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 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The

vehicle 11 in Figure 1 is a train comprising a locomotive 12 and a plurality of wagons

13 connected thereto.

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[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 11.

[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.

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[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]

[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" '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

Received 23/11/2020 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

analogue signals 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,

wherein the output signal message comprises a compressed

information signal, or a 'high' voltage analogue signal or a 'low' voltage

analogue signal; 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.

Received 23/11/2020

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 analogue voltage signals.

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 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.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the reduction in data in the output

signal message is achieved using an analogue circuit technique.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the 'high'

voltage analogue signal indicates the presence or absence of a fault and the

'low' voltage analogue signal indicates the other of the presence or absence

of a fault.

13. 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.

14. An operating parameter monitoring device for a vehicle or infrastructure

network, the operating parameter monitoring device comprising:

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an analogue calculation portion configured to receive measurements in the

form of analogue signals, including high frequency signals, from one or more

sensors and convert the measurements into an output signal message

representing the presence or absence of a fault, wherein the output signal

message comprises a compressed information signal, or a 'high' voltage

analogue signal or a 'low' voltage analogue signal;

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.

15. An operating parameter monitoring device according to claim 14 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.

16. An operating parameter device according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the

one or more sensors form part of the operating parameter monitoring device.

17. An operating parameter device according to claim 16 wherein the operating

parameter monitoring device functions as a node.

18. An operating parameter monitoring device according to any one of claims 14

to 17 wherein the operating parameter monitoring device includes a power

source in the form of one or more batteries, photovoltaic cells or energy

harvesting devices.

19. 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

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infrastructure components;

An operating parameter monitoring device configured to receive the

measurements from the one or more sensors in the form of analogue

signals, including 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, wherein the output signal message

comprises a compressed information signal, or a 'high' voltage

analogue signal or a 'low' voltage analogue signal; and

wherein the operating parameter monitoring device is configured to

transmit the output signal message electronically to one or more

recipients.