Data collection and manipulation apparatus and method

An apparatus for the collection and manipulation of performance data from a plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems having a measurable characteristic and being on respective ones of a plurality of remotely located vehicles, the performance data from each of the plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems including a value of the measurable characteristic, the presence or absence of a predetermined fault condition and a unique identifier of the component or system from which the performance data is received, the apparatus comprising:

• a communications apparatus configured to receive the performance data from the plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems;
• at least one data storage medium operatively connected to the communications apparatus and configured to store the performance data in a first database;
• and
• a processing unit operatively connected to the first database and programmed to generate from the performance data in the first database a first set of statistical data describing a failure distribution of the plurality of monitored components or systems with respect to, or as a function of, the measurable characteristic.

A maintenance system lot a vehicle having a component or system with a measurable characteristic, the maintenance system comprising:

• a sensor configured and positioned with respect to the component or system to measure, and thereby obtain a value for, the measurable characteristic, and transmit a signal indicating the value;
• at least one data storage medium;
• a database located on said at least one storage medium, the database containing statistical data describing a failure distribution for the component or system with respect to, or as a function of, the measurable characteristic;
• a microprocessor operatively connected to the sensor and said at least one storage medium, configured to receive the value of the measurable characteristic indicated by the sensor, configured to retrieve the statistical data from said at least one storage medium, and programmed to analyze in a first predetermined manner the value of the measurable characteristic and the statistical data to calculate or otherwise determine an indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system;
• and
• an interface for the microprocessor configured to transmit the indication of the remaining useful life of the component or system.

An apparatus for the collection and exploitation of performance data from a plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems each having a measurable characteristic and being on respective ones of a plurality of remotely located vehicles, the performance data from each of the plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems including a value of the measurable characteristic, the presence or absence of a predetermined fault condition and a unique identifier of the component or system from which the performance data is received, the apparatus comprising:

• a communications apparatus configured to receive the performance data from the plurality of monitored vehicular components or systems;
• at least one data storage medium operatively connected to the communications apparatus and configured to store the performance data in a first database;
• and
• a processing unit operatively connected to the first database, programmed to generate from the performance data in the first database a set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems in relation to, or as a function of, the measurable characteristic, and programmed to maintain a second database on said at least one data storage medium containing the set of statistical data.

A method of exploiting performance data, the method comprising:

• collecting performance data from a plurality of remotely-located components or systems that are subject to degradation, at a plurality of time increments or predetermined triggering events, the performance data from each component or system at each increment or triggering event including a value of a first measurable characteristic of the component or system, a unique component or system identifier, and the presence or absence of a fault condition;
• storing the performance data in a first database;
• and
• maintaining a second database containing a first set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems in relation to, or as a function of, the first measurable characteristic.

A method of exploiting performance data, the method comprising:

• collecting performance data from a plurality of remotely-located components or systems, each of the plurality of remotely-located components or systems being part of a vehicle, at a plurality of time increments or predetermined triggering events, the performance data from each component or system at each increment or triggering event including a value of a first measurable characteristic of the component or system, a unique component or system identifier, and the presence or absence of a fault condition;
• storing the performance data in a first database;
• and
• maintaining a second database containing a first set of statistical data concerning the potential failure of the components or systems in relation to, or as a function of, the first measurable characteristic.