Autonomous sensing module, a system and a method of long-term condition monitoring of structures

A system for long-term monitoring of an object comprising:

• a set of autonomous sensing modules containing at least one autonomous sensing module;
• the autonomous sensor modules are installed at locations chosen from a set of locations consisting of:
• on the monitored object, inside the monitored object, outside the monitored object, near the monitored object, under the monitored object, above the monitored object;
• each autonomous sensing module comprises:
• a set of sensors for measurements of parameters related to properties of the monitored object;
• the set of sensors generates measurement data;
• a non-volatile memory for storing measurement data generated by the set of sensors;
• a wireless communication means communicating with external wireless devices and transmitting the measurement data;
• at least one microcontroller connected to the set of sensors, to the non-volatile memory and to the wireless communication means;
• said microcontroller controls data transfer from the sensors to the non-volatile memory, from the nonvolatile memory to the wireless communication means and wireless data transmission;
• a set of batteries, including at last one rechargeable battery, to power the autonomous sensing module;
• at least one energy harvesting device harvesting energy from the environment, converting it to the electrical energy and generating electrical output;
• at least one power management unit connected to the at least one battery and to said at least one energy harvesting device;
• the power management unit conditions electrical output signal of said at least one energy harvesting device to the form suitable for battery charging;
• charges the at least one rechargeable battery using the conditioned electrical output signal;
• a continuously powered sleep-mode clock circuit;
• a sleep-mode clock periodically generates signals switching the autonomous sensing module from sleep mode to active mode;
• power consumption of the autonomous sensing module in sleep mode is significantly smaller than its power consumption in active mode;
• at least one base station communicating with and receiving measurement data from said at least one autonomous sensing module;
• said base station transfers the measurement data to at least one data processing center;
• at least one data processing center receiving data from at least one base station;
• software for collection and analysis of the measurement data, including analysis of current data, analysis of historical data for the monitored object, for at least one sensing module and for at least one base station, evaluating magnitude of changes in the monitored parameters and assessing changes in the condition of the monitored objects and associated risks related to the condition and functionality of the monitored object,
• wherein in order to provide long-term functionality and reliability of the system for long-term monitoring of an object:
• collection of the measurement data, transferring the data to data processing center and at least some data analysis is done by software and does not require human involvement;
• use of batteries, energy harvesting and power management provides an average service life of the autonomous sensing modules of at least 20 years without maintenance and repair/replacement;
• and
• the malfunctioning autonomous sensing modules and base stations are identified by said software from said analysis of the measurement data.

A method of long-term monitoring of an object comprising the steps of:

• selecting a set of parameters of the object for periodic measurements, and evaluation;
• providing a system for long-term monitoring of an object, comprising:
• a set of autonomous sensing modules;
• each autonomous sensor module being powered by at least one battery, at least one autonomous sensing module being equipped with at least one energy harvesting device and at least one autonomous sensing module having a power management unit;
• the set of autonomous sensing modules measures parameters selected for periodic measurements and generates measurement data;
• at least one base station;
• at least one data storing and processing center;
• a software for collection and analysis of the measurement data;
• deploying said set of autonomous sensing modules at locations chosen from a set of locations consisting of:
• on the monitoring object, inside the monitoring object, near the monitoring object, under the monitoring object, above the monitoring object;
• deploying said at least one base station near the set of the autonomous sensing modules;
• establishing wireless communication between the set of autonomous sensing modules and said at least one base station;
• establishing communication between said at least one base station and said at least one data storing and processing center;
• making measurements of parameters related to properties of the monitored object and generating measurement data with help of the set of autonomous sensing modules;
• harvesting ambient energy with help of said at least one energy harvesting device for compensating of average battery energy consumption by the autonomous sensing modules;
• transmitting the measurement data from the set of autonomous sensing modules to said at least base station using the established wireless communication;
• transferring the measurement data from said at least one base station to said at least one data storing and processing center using the established communication;
• analyzing the measurement data with help of the software;
• the analysis includes steps selected from the group of steps consisting of:
• analysis of most recent measurement data for said at least one autonomous sensing module;
• analysis of most recent measurement data for said at least one base station;
• analysis of most recent measurement data for the monitored object;
• evaluating the condition of said at least one autonomous sensing module based on the most recent measurement data;
• evaluating the condition of said at least one base station based on the most recent measurement data;
• evaluating the condition of the monitored object based on the most recent measurement data;
• forming historical data for said at least one autonomous sensing module based on multiple sets of measurement data acquired by this autonomous sensing module;
• forming historical data for said at least one base station based on multiple sets of measurement data collected by this base station;
• forming historical data for the monitoring object based on multiple sets of measurement data collected by the system for long-term monitoring;
• establishing a baseline for said at least one autonomous sensing module based on the first sets of measurement data;
• establishing a baseline for said at least one base station based on the first sets of measurement data;
• establishing a baseline for the monitored object based on the first sets of measurement data;
• analysis of historical data for the monitored object;
• analysis of historical data for said at least one autonomous sensing module;
• analysis of historical data for said at least one base station;
• assessing changes in condition and functionality of said at least one sensor and making decision on using data from this sensor;
• assessing changes in condition and functionality of said at least one autonomous sensing module and making decision on using data from this autonomous sensing module;
• evaluating changes in the parameters characterizing of the monitored object over time;
• assessing changes and trends in the condition of the monitored object based on the changes in the statistical parameters obtained by processing of the measurement data;
• assessing risks related to the structural stability, safety, and functionality of the monitored object;
• and combination of the above steps;
• evaluating results of analysis of the measurement data made by the software;
• periodically generating summaries describing condition of the monitored object;
• periodically generating summaries describing condition of the autonomous sensing modules, base stations and the whole system for long-term monitoring;
• providing warnings and alarms based on current condition of the monitored object and assessed trends in the condition of the monitored object,
• wherein in order to minimize the cost of ownership of the system for long-term monitoring of an object,
• a combination of battery selection, energy harvesting and power management provides at least 20 years of average service life of the autonomous sensing modules without maintenance and repair/replacement;
• analysis of the measurement data is provided by the software without human involvement;
• periodically generated summaries describing condition of the monitored object and the system for long-term monitoring of the object, warnings and alarms related to the condition of the monitored object are automatically delivered to a pre-determined set of recipients.