Machine and operating environment diagnostics, detection and profiling using sound

Abstract

A method, system and program storage device are provided for machine diagnostics, detection and profiling using pressure waves, the method including profiling known sources, acquiring pressure wave data, analyzing the acquired pressure wave data, and detecting if the analyzed pressure wave data matches a profiled known source; the system including a processor, a pressure wave transducer in signal communication with the processor, a pressure wave analysis unit in signal communication with the processor, and a source or threat detection unit in signal communication with the processor; and the program storage device including program steps for profiling known sources, acquiring pressure wave data, analyzing the acquired pressure wave data, and detecting if the analyzed pressure wave data matches a profiled known source.

1 . A method for source profiling using pressure waves, the method comprising: 
 profiling known pressure wave sources;    acquiring pressure wave data;    analyzing the acquired pressure wave data; and    detecting a source if the analyzed pressure wave data matches a profiled known source.    
   
   
       2 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the detected source is indicative of a safety threat.  
   
   
       3 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the detected source is indicative of at least one of a machine or its environment, the method further comprising monitoring operating conditions or measuring properties of the machine or its environment.  
   
   
       4 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the known pressure wave sources are profiled using frequency, time or cepstral domain characteristics.  
   
   
       5 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the known pressure wave source profiles are modeled or measured for potential or actual sources, respectively.  
   
   
       6 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the pressure wave data is acquired from at least one of an onboard pressure wave sensor or a remote pressure wave sensor.  
   
   
       7 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the pressure wave data is acquired from a microphone.  
   
   
       8 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the pressure wave data is acquired from at least one of an infrasonic or ultrasonic sensor.  
   
   
       9 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein analyzing the acquired pressure wave data comprises performing a spectral, periodogram or autocorrelation analysis on the data.  
   
   
       10 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein detecting a source comprises template-matching a time or frequency domain representation of a known pressure wave source with a time or frequency domain representation of the acquired pressure wave data.  
   
   
       11 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein detecting a source comprises detecting multiple sources.  
   
   
       12 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising indicating a detected source to an operator.  
   
   
       13 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a signal indicative of a detected source to a remote location.  
   
   
       14 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the medium of the pressure waves is in plasma, gaseous (air), liquid, or solid form.  
   
   
       15 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the acquired pressure wave data is indicative of a sound that a machine component makes during operation.  
   
   
       16 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: 
 profiling the acquired data and relaying it back to at least one of a logging system, a centralized or distributed server, or a database; or    using a detected source or machine/environment audio profile for traffic enforcement or control or the generation of statistics.    
   
   
       17 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the pressure wave sensor is used for gathering audible, ultrasonic and/or infrasonic data;    the pressure sensor comprises a single sensor, multiple sensors arranged in arrays, or at least one sensor in sound dish form;    the acquired data is indicative of the sound of a machine interacting with its operating environment;    the acquired data is indicative of sounds from the environment other than from a machine itself, the method further comprising using detected sources to improve the efficiency or safety of operation of the machine or to alert its user or for determining sound event statistics;    the pressure wave sensor is placed on a machine itself for on-board detection and profiling, or remotely for recognizing events at a distance from the sound source;    analyzing the acquired pressure wave data uses any sound signal processing techniques or statistical or discriminative methods to obtain information relating to an acquired sound;    the profiled sources are indicative of sounds from many types of machines, including vehicles that operate on land, air, sea or in space;    the profiled sources are indicative of sounds from many types of machines, including machines used in the process of manufacturing such as assembly line machines, home appliances or workshop tools;    the acquired data is indicative of machine exhaust systems, engine or motor operation, tire, wheel or landing gear performance or integrity;    a detected source is indicative of a fault in the structural integrity of a machine;    a profiled known source is indicative of the repeating or cyclical nature of a sound;    detection of a source matching a repeating or cyclical profile is responsive to an autocorrelation, periodogram, cepstral and/or spectral analysis of the pressure wave signal;    the acquired data is indicative of a running engine, and a profiled source is responsive to a time delay between each piston firing in the engine, the number of pistons firing per revolution in an engine, the number of pistons present in an engine, or a defective valve or spark plug attributed to the absence or aberration of a mode or characteristic of the acquired signal;    the detected source is responsive to a sound made by at least one of a leading or a current vehicle encountering an environmental defect in the path of travel; or    the detected source is responsive to a sound made by a vehicular or machine suspension when a tire or support impacts against a pothole, defect or otherwise unusual material in the path of travel or material feed.    
   
   
       18 . A system for source profiling using pressure waves, the system comprising: 
 a processor;    a pressure wave transducer in signal communication with the processor;    a pressure wave analysis unit in signal communication with the processor; and    a source or threat detection unit in signal communication with the processor.    
   
   
       19 . A system as defined in  claim 18  wherein the pressure wave transducer comprises at least one microphone, infrasonic or ultrasonic sensor mounted on-board or remotely.  
   
   
       20 . A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform program steps for machine diagnostics, detection and profiling using pressure waves, the program steps comprising: 
 profiling known sources;    acquiring pressure wave data;    analyzing the acquired pressure wave data; and    detecting if the analyzed pressure wave data matches a profiled known source.