Virtual sensor for virtual asset

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for monitoring a physical asset using virtual sensors sensing data of a virtual asset corresponding to the physical asset. In one example, the method includes executing a virtual model in virtual space, the virtual model including a digital model of a physical asset located in physical space and being executed based on sensor data sensed of an operation of the physical asset, determining a position of a virtual sensor on a structure of the virtual model, sensing an observable attribute of the virtual model in virtual space at the position of the virtual sensor on the structure of the virtual model, the observable attribute of the virtual model in virtual space corresponding to an actual attribute of the physical asset in physical space, and transmitting information about the virtually sensed attribute sensed via the virtual sensor to a system associated with the physical asset.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing system comprising:
 a network interface configured to receive sensor data that is sensed in association with an operation of a physical asset in physical space; and   a processor configured to execute a virtual model in virtual space, the virtual model comprising a digital model of the physical asset and being executed based on the received sensor data, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a position of a virtual sensor on a structure of the virtual model, sense an observable attribute of the virtual model in virtual space at the position of the virtual sensor on the structure of the virtual model, the observable attribute of the virtual model in virtual space corresponding to an actual attribute of the physical asset in physical space, and transmit information about the virtually sensed attribute sensed via the virtual sensor to a system associated with the physical asset.   
     
     
         2 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual model comprises a three-dimensional (3D) simulation of the physical asset. 
     
     
         3 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to attach the virtual sensor to a virtual component of the virtual model which corresponds to a physical component of the physical asset. 
     
     
         4 . The computing system of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to embed virtual sensor within an interior of the virtual component which is not accessible to a physical sensor on the corresponding physical component of the physical asset. 
     
     
         5 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the observable attribute sensed by the virtual sensor comprises one or more of a movement, a force, a strain, a pressure, a sound, and a radiation, observed from the virtual model in virtual space. 
     
     
         6 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to output the virtual model for display via a user interface, and detect a command, via the user interface, for attaching the virtual sensor at the position on the virtual model. 
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect, via the user interface, a selection of a type of data to be sensed by the virtual sensor from among a plurality of types of data. 
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to assign a unique identifier to the virtual sensor based on the position of the virtual model at which the virtual sensor is attached. 
     
     
         9 . The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request from an application for registering with the virtual sensor based on the unique identifier, and transmit the virtually sensed movement to the registered application. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 executing a virtual model in virtual space, the virtual model comprising a digital model of a physical asset located in physical space and being executed based on sensor data sensed of an operation of the physical asset;   determining a position of a virtual sensor on a structure of the virtual model;   sensing an observable attribute of the virtual model in virtual space at the position of the virtual sensor on the structure of the virtual model, the observable of the virtual model in virtual space corresponding to an actual attribute of the physical asset in physical space; and   transmitting information about the virtually sensed attribute sensed via the virtual sensor to a system associated with the physical asset.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the virtual model comprises a three-dimensional (3D) simulation of the physical asset. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises attaching the virtual sensor to a virtual component of the virtual model which corresponds to a physical component of the physical asset. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises embedding the virtual sensor within an interior of the virtual component which is not accessible to a physical sensor on the corresponding physical component of the physical asset. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the sensing of the observable attribute comprises sensing one or more of a movement, a force, a strain, a pressure, a sound, and a radiation, observed from the virtual model in virtual space. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying the virtual model via a user interface, and detecting a command, via the user interface, for attaching the virtual sensor at the position on the virtual model. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , further comprising detecting, via the user interface, a selection of a type of data to be sensed by the virtual sensor from among a plurality of types of data. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , further comprising assigning a unique identifier to the virtual sensor based on the position of the virtual model at which the virtual sensor is attached. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving a request from an application for registering with the virtual sensor based on the unique identifier, and transmitting the virtually sensed movement to the registered application. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions that when executed cause a computer to perform a method comprising:
 executing a virtual model in virtual space, the virtual model comprising a digital model of a physical asset located in physical space and being executed based on sensor data sensed of an operation of the physical asset;   determining a position of a virtual sensor on a structure of the virtual model;   sensing an observable attribute of the virtual model in virtual space at the position of the virtual sensor on the structure of the virtual model, the observable of the virtual model in virtual space corresponding to an actual attribute of the physical asset in physical space; and   transmitting information about the virtually sensed attribute sensed via the virtual sensor to a system associated with the physical asset.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the virtual model comprises a three-dimensional (3D) simulation of the physical asset, and the observable attribute comprises one or more of a movement, a force, a strain, a pressure, a sound, and a radiation, observed from the virtual model in virtual space.