Bluetooth Wireless Monitoring out at Sea

Oceana Sensor is the developer and manufacturer of Wireless e-Diagnostics Systems which is an end-to-end wireless sensing system the acquires sensor information with the ICHM (Intelligent Component Health Monitor) and wirelessly transmits the data – utilizing Bluetooth and 802.11 communications – to an SHM (System Health Monitor) for data basing, data fusion and alarming.

In co-operation with The Sigmon Group and Antech Systems, Oceana Sensor installed its Wireless e-Diagnostics products on ventilation system components aboard the USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70). Ventilation systems were distributed throughout the ship, providing cooling load for critical equipment as well as heating and cooling for sailor occupied spaces. Traditional support of this equipment entailed maintenance on a periodic schedule or corrective action when components fail.

Real time health monitoring

Using Wireless e-Diagnostics, the ship’s LAN infrastructure was leveraged to wirelessly integrate and automate real-time health monitoring with the Navy’s on-board scheduling and maintenance software, SKED from Antech Systems.

Embedded expert rules would provide prognostics, enabling the system to recognize impending problems itself, schedule maintenance and provide necessary email notification to appropriate personnel.

The installed system – which was based on Oceana Sensor’s Wireless e-Diagnostics – featured the ICHM 20/20 data acquisition and processing node. Sensors were locally wired into the ICHM 20/20 node monitoring a wide variety of  parameters including fan vibration, inlet filter differential pressure, etc.

Wireless communication to central system 

Information was sent via Bluetooth technology to a Compartment Health Monitor (CHM) where sensor data were fused, databased and alarm thresholds were monitored. When fault conditions were detected, the CHM relayed the information across the ship’s LAN to the SKED software where the processes of work scheduling and email notification were automated.

Mobile access using a Bluetooth enabled device

Additionally, capability wass provided for the sailor to locally troubleshoot and diagnose the systems using a Bluetooth enabled handheld device, running applications to communicate with ICHM 20/20. The connectBlue Bluetooth hardware and software platform was used by Oceana Sensor to enable the Bluetooth communication in the data acquisition nodes, ICHM 20/20, and the connectBlue Serial Port Adapter was used to enable the Bluetooth communication in the CHM.

About connectBlue

connectBlue™ is a leading provider of robust Industrial and Medical wireless solutions, designed and tested for the most demanding applications and environments. Based on Bluetooth technology, Wireless LAN (WLAN) and IEEE 802.15.4/ ZigBee, connectBlue provides ready-to-use products and modules as well as custom design solutions. connectBlue has its head office in Sweden and local offices in Germany and USA. For more information, visit www.connectblue.com

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