Modular data collection and analysis system

A vehicle diagnostics/prognostics system for collecting data relating to a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for gathering data and generating corresponding data signals indicative of the health of associated ones of the subsystems, a first one of the sensors being disposed within a first vehicle subsystem and a second one of the sensors being disposed within a second vehicle subsystem;
• a plurality of subsystem modules electrically coupled to associated ones of the sensors, a first one of the subsystem modules being coupled to the first sensor and a second one of the subsystem modules being coupled to the second sensor, said subsystem modules generating first and second subsystem health signals in response to corresponding ones of the data signals;
• and
• a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to said subsystem modules to receive and process at least one member of the group consisting of the data signals and the subsystem health signals so as to facilitate rendering a health assessment of the vehicle.

A method of determining when a vehicle having a plurality of subsystems requires maintenance, the method comprising the steps of:

• using a plurality of sensors to gather data indicative of the health of corresponding ones of the subsystems, and generate corresponding data signals based on the health data;
• providing a plurality of subsystem modules, each subsystem module being associated with a corresponding ones of the subsystems and being electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the sensors wherein one of the subsystem modules determines the lubrication health of the corresponding subsystem;
• generating, with the subsystem modules, subsystem health signals in response to corresponding ones of the data signals;
• providing a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to the subsystem modules;
• and
• generating, with the master diagnostics module and in response to the subsystem health signals, a vehicle health signal.

A method of determining when a vehicle having a plurality of subsystems requires maintenance, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating data signals with a plurality of sensors, the sensors being associated with corresponding ones of the subsystems;
• transmitting the data signals to corresponding ones of a plurality of subsystem modules;
• generating, with the subsystem modules, subsystem health signals in response to the corresponding data signals;
• transmitting the subsystem health signals to a central terminal at a location remote from the vehicle, the central terminal having a host computer for processing the subsystem health signals;
• determining, with the host computer and in response to the subsystem health signals, whether the vehicle requires maintenance;
• and
• wherein said determining step is based on a predetermined vehicle diagnostics/prognostics model.

A method of determining when a vehicle having a plurality of subsystems requires maintenance, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating data signals with a plurality of sensors, the sensors being associated with corresponding ones of the subsystems;
• transmitting the data signals to corresponding ones of a plurality of subsystem modules;
• generating, with the subsystem modules, subsystem health signals in response to the corresponding data signals;
• transmitting the subsystem health signals to a master diagnostics, wherein said master diagnostics module is a swappable plug-in module and said transmitting the subsystem health signals and the vehicle health signal steps include removing the plug-in module and placing the plug-in module in a docking station disposed at the central terminal, the docking station being configured to mechanically receive the plug-in module;
• generating, with the master diagnostics module, a vehicle health signal in response to the subsystem health signals;
• transmitting at least one member of the group consisting of the subsystem health signals and the vehicle health signal to a central terminal at a location remote from the vehicle, the central terminal having a host computer;
• and
• determining, with the host computer and in response to the at least one signal, whether the vehicle requires maintenance.

A vehicle diagnostics/prognostics system for collecting and processing data relating to a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a plurality of sensors, each sensor gathering data and generating a data signal indicative of the health of a corresponding one of the subsystems;
• a plurality of subsystem modules each electrically coupled to at least one corresponding sensor for generating a subsystem health signal in response to corresponding ones of the data signals wherein one of the subsystem modules determines the lubrication health of the lubrication corresponding system;
• a master diagnostics module electrically coupled to said subsystem modules, said master diagnostics module generating a vehicle health signal in response to the subsystem health signals;
• and
• a controller to generate a control signal in response to at least one of a group consisting of the subsystem health signals and the vehicle health signal, the control signal causing an operation parameter of at least one of the vehicle subsystems to change.