Publication - Wireless condition monitoring integrating smart computing and optical sensor technologies
RESEARCH

Wireless condition monitoring integrating smart computing and optical sensor technologies

Research Area:  
    
Type:  
In Proceedings

 

Year: 2013
Authors: Christos Emmanouilidis; C. Riziotis
Book title: Proceedings of the 8th World Congress on Engineering Asset Management, WCEAM 2013
Organization: ISEAM
Date: 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2013
Abstract:
Condition monitoring is increasingly benefitting from the application of emerging technologies, such mobile computing and wireless sensors, including photonics sensors. The latter can be applicable to diverse application needs, due to their versatility, low costs, installation and operational flexibility, as well as unique safety and reliable operation characteristics in real industrial environments of excessive electromagnetic interference and noise. Coupling the monitoring flexibility offered by photonics technologies, with the data transmission flexibility of wireless networking provides opportunities to develop hybrid wireless sensor solutions incorporating optical sensors into wireless condition monitoring architectures. This paper presents ongoing work within an integrated architecture for condition monitoring and maintenance management support, exploiting the added value of optical technology, inherently safe with respect to electromagnetic compatibility. The reported results are part of a collaborative project involving technology providers in wireless sensor networking, embedded systems and maintenance engineering, as well as research organizations active on photonics technologies and informatics for wireless and intelligence-enabled engineering asset management. The industrial test cases are from a lifts manufacturing industry, focusing on both production facilities assets, as well as on the end-product, that this a complete lift installation. The photonic platform of plastic optical fibers was selected due to its versatility and suitability for rapid customization and prototyping. The platform can serve diverse sensing and monitoring needs, ranging from physical parameters as strain and displacement in machinery parts to chemical or biochemical monitoring of industrial-grade coolants. Use of novel nanostructured optical materials together with laser-based micromachining techniques enabled the functional enhancement through rapid prototyping of the optical fibers towards highly customizable sensors. The integration of the sensing elements within the wireless sensor network architecture offers substantial flexibility for industrial applications.
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