Method for Operating a Monitoring System

Abstract

A method for operating a monitoring system of at least one fastening device includes providing an identifier allocated to the at least one fastening device and a fastening property allocated to the at least one fastening device to a computer device of the monitoring system, and maintaining a digital twin of the at least one fastening device using the computer device by linking the identifier and the fastening property. The method further includes monitoring the at least one fastening device by evaluating the digital twin.

Claims

1. A method for operating a monitoring system of at least one fastening device, comprising: providing an identifier allocated to the at least one fastening device and a fastening property allocated to the at least one fastening device are provided to a computer device of the monitoring system; maintaining a digital twin of the at least one fastening device using is maintained with the aid of the computer device by linking the identifier and the fastening property; and monitoring the at least one fastening device by evaluating the digital twin.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening property is selected from a list of properties comprising: at least one of properties relating to the at least one fastening device, properties relating to a fastening environment of the at least one fastening device, properties relating to an installation of the at least one fastening device, properties relating to a maintenance or servicing of the at least one fastening device, properties relating to measured values sensed by a sensor device operably connected to the at least one fastening device, and evaluated and/or interpreted properties.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring the at least one fastening device is monitored includes: monitoring the at least one fastening device for a deviation of the fastening property from a target fastening property and/or for fulfillment by the fastening property of a fastening property criterion by evaluating the digital twin.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a machine-learning system is configured to evaluate the digital twin based on the provided fastening property.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: generating output information based on the evaluation of the digital twin; and providing the output information to a further computer device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the output information relates to a state of the at least one fastening device, a change in a state of the at least one fastening device, and/or an abnormality with respect to the state of the at least one fastening device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: sensing the identifier and the fastening property during an installation and/or during a state of the at least one fastening device when arranged in a fastening environment.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the identifier and the fastening property are repeatedly sensed and provided to the computer device.

9. A monitoring system of a fastening device, comprising: a fastening device having an identifier; and a computer device configured so as to maintain a digital twin of the fastening device, wherein the monitoring system is configured to (i) provide the identifier and a fastening property allocated to the fastening device to the computer device, (ii) maintain the digital twin of the fastening device using the computer device by linking the identifier and the fastening property, and (iii) monitor the fastening device by evaluating the digital twin.

10. The monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein: the fastening device comprises a sensor device configured to sense the fastening property and to generate corresponding measured values, the fastening device comprises an interface signally connected to the sensor device and configured so as to provide the fastening property to an external reader device, and the external reader device is configured to receive the fastening property from the interface of the sensor device.

11. The monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein the external reader device includes a tool configured to prepare and/or to carry out installation of the fastening device and/or to carry out a maintenance or servicing of the fastening device.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0070] The invention is explained in further detail in the following description with reference to embodiment examples shown in the drawings. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations. In the figures, identical reference numbers denote functionally identical elements.

[0071] The figures show:

[0072] FIG. 1 a schematic view of the monitoring system according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 2 a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the method for operating a monitoring system of a fastening device;

[0074] FIG. 3 a schematic illustration of an alternative or additional embodiment of the method for operating a monitoring system of a fastening device;

[0075] FIG. 4 a schematic illustration of an alternative or additional embodiment of the method for operating a monitoring system of a fastening device;

[0076] FIG. 5 a schematic illustration of an alternative or additional embodiment of the method for operating a monitoring system of a fastening device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT EXAMPLES

[0077] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment example of a monitoring system 10 according to the invention. The monitoring system 10 comprises a plurality of fastening devices 100, shown here as anchors for pull-resistant anchoring in a piece of masonry as the fastening environment 102. The installation of these fastening devices 100 is accomplished by a force-fit and form-fit anchoring in the fastening environment 102 by arranging and screwing the fastening devices 100 into a respective drill hole introduced in the fastening environment 102 (not shown in further detail here). Each fastening device 100 comprises a unique identifier 104 that is realized here as a number encoding. Each identifier 104 is represented in the form of a barcode 106 on a respective fastening device 100.

[0078] The monitoring system 10 further comprises a computer device 200, which is configured so as to maintain a digital twin 202 for each of fastening devices 100. Such a digital twin 202 of a fastening device 100 is created by virtually linking the identifier 104 and at least one fastening property 112 to the fastening device 100. A fastening property 112 characterizes the respective fastening device 100 and its installation in the fastening environment 102. In this embodiment example, the following fastening properties 112 can be allocated to a respective fastening device 100 in principle, and can also be determined in the context of the monitoring system: [0079] properties relating to the fastening device 100, specifically a certification, a type, a maintenance interval, and a technical specification (such as tensile strength, breaking strength) of the fastening device 100; [0080] properties relating to the fastening environment 102, specifically a material and a nature of the fastening environment 102; [0081] properties relating to the installation of the fastening device 100, specifically a type and ID of a tool 300 that is or was utilized during installation of the fastening device 100, a force profile that is or was sensed during screwing of the fastening device 100, as well as a position 108 (e.g. as GPS coordinates or as relative position data concerning a reference position (for example, at the entrance of the building); represented here by a (x,y,z) triplet) of the fastening device 100 after the installation; [0082] properties relating to the maintenance of the fastening device 100, specifically the timing and activities of a final maintenance; [0083] as well as [0084] properties sensed by the fastening device 100 by means of a sensor device 110, specifically measured values sensed by the sensor device 110, and properties evaluated and interpreted therefrom.

[0085] The sensor device 110 of each fastening device 100 is thus realized in an energy-autonomous manner by having a in particular long-lasting battery. During its operation, the sensor device 110 senses a fastening property 112 in the form of measured values, for example at an interval of one day at a time. The sensor device 110 comprises a sensor element (not shown in further detail here, however cf. DE 10 2019 211 867) in the form of a piezoelectric pressure sensor (realized as a washer here) that determines a pressure acting on the fastening device 100 during its state when arranged in the fastening environment 102. The fastening device 100 further comprises an interface 114 that is signally connected to the sensor device 110 and configured so as to provide the fastening property 112 to an external reader device 400, here either a tool 300 used in the installation or a further computer device 500, such as a smart device 500a.

[0086] Data regarding certification, type, maintenance interval, technical specification, and properties relating to the fastening environment 102 can be provided to the computer device 200, for example by a tradesman who carries out the installation of the fastening device 100 in particular via a further computer device 500, such as a smart device 500a. Alternatively or additionally, such data can also be sensed or read by measurement technology (for example, via the barcode 106 on the fastening device 100) and provided to computer device 200.

[0087] Data regarding the installation of the fastening device 100 (such as type and ID of a tool 300 used in the installation) or maintenance (time and activity of the last maintenance) can be provided to the computer device 200 manually by the tradesman who carries out the installation or maintenance the fastening device 100, or also automatically, for example via a communication interface 302 of the tool 300 that is or can be connected to the computer device 200.

[0088] In particular, the tool 300 can also function as an external reader device 400 or can integrate this function.

[0089] The components of the monitoring system 10, i.e. the fastening device 100, the reader device 400, the tool 300, and the further computer device 500, are each configured so as to be signally connected to the computer device 200 for data communication (providing data and/or retrieving data) as represented by the radio icon on each component. For this purpose, the respective device comprises at least one interface for communication.

[0090] The monitoring system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured so as to carry out the method 1000 according to the invention for operating a monitoring system 10 of at least one fastening device 100. The method 1000 is shown in FIG. 2 in the form of a process diagram. In the method step 1002, an identifier 104 allocated to the fastening device 100 and a fastening property 112 allocated to the fastening device 100 are provided to the computer device 200 of the monitoring system 10. By means of the computer device 200, in the method step 1004, by linking the identifier 104 and the fastening property 112, a digital twin 202 of the fastening device 100 is created and/or updated, i.e. maintained and managed, in the computer device 200. In the method step 1006, by evaluating the digital twin 202, the fastening device 100 is monitored. Here, the computer device 200 comprises a machine-learning system (not shown in further detail) by means of which the evaluation of the digital twin 202 is carried out, wherein the machine-learning system is configured so as to carry out the evaluation based on the provided fastening properties 112. For example, the fastening device 100 is monitored for a deviation of the fastening property 112 from a target fastening properties and for fulfillment by the fastening property 112 of a fastening property criterion by evaluating the digital twin 202. In the method step 1008, as a function of the evaluation, an output information, in particular in the form of an instruction for action, is determined by the computer device 200 and provided to a further computer device 500, for example here a smart device or a tool 300, and thus output to a user of the monitoring system 100. The output information, in particular the instruction for action, relates to a state, a change in a state, and/or abnormalities regarding the state of the fastening device 100.

[0091] Proceeding from this method 1000, various application scenarios, i.e. configurations or extensions of method 1000, are conceivable.

[0092] In FIG. 3, the alternative or additional application scenario 1100 installation support is shown. In the method step 1102, fastening properties 112 relating to the fastening device 100 are first read from a fastening device 100 to be installed, such as certification, type, biasing force, and maintenance interval. The reading is done by scanning the barcode 106 applied on the fastening device 100 with the aid of a tool 300 provided for installation or a reader device 400 or with the aid of a further computer device 500. Furthermore, via a smart device of the installer (as a further computer device 500), properties relating to the fastening environment 102, such as the material of the fastening environment 102, are input. In the method step 1104, properties relating to the installation of the fastening device 100, such as the type and ID of the tool 300, a position of the tool 300 (with the aid of a position sensing device 304, as is known in the prior art), electrical power, and torque are sensed by the tool 300. In the method step 1106, operating parameters such as the torque of the tool 300 are automatically adjusted according to the specification for the fastening device 100. Then, in the method step 1108, the aforementioned data concerning the fastening properties 112 relating to the fastening device 100, relating to the fastening environment 102, and relating to the tool 300 of the computer device 200 are provided. The latter data also comprise, in particular, a force profile and/or torque profile acquired during screwing of the fastening device 100 by means of a measuring device 306 of the tool, as well as the position 108 of the fastening device 100 obtained by adopting the position of the installation tool 300. As a result, the identifier 104 and the fastening property 112 are sensed during installation of the fastening device 100 (including preparation and post-processing of the pure operation of placing the fastening device 100). The identifier 104 of the fastening device 100 is also provided to the computer device 200. The data are stored in a digital twin 202 allocated to the fastening device 100 with the aid of the identifier 104. It is conceivable that data from multiple fastening devices 100 are merged and stored. Then, in the method step 1110, by evaluating the digital twin 202, the fastening device 100 is monitored. A summarizing evaluation of the installation is generated, which is determined as documentation of the installation process in the method step 1112 in the form of output information by the computer device 200 and provided to a further computer device 500, here in the form of a smart device, and thus output to a user of monitoring system 100.

[0093] Alternatively, it is conceivable that the application scenario installation support is modified such that the method step 1106 is not part of the method. In particular, this application scenario is then primarily used for efficient documentation.

[0094] In FIG. 4, the alternative or additional application scenario state monitoring is illustrated, which proceeds from an existing digital twin 202, for example created according to method steps 1002, 1004, of the method 1000, shown here by block 1202. Then, in the method step 1204, fastening properties 112 of a fastening device 100 are sensed along with their identifier 104 and provided to the computer device 200. Thus, the identifier 104 and the fastening property 112 are sensed during a state of the fastening device 100 when arranged in the fastening environment 102. This sensing can be provided, for example, by an automated provision, in particular by means of the sensor device 110 of the fastening device 100 and/or by a user of the monitoring system 10, in particular a tradesman tasked with the installation or the maintenance. Further, it is conceivable that further sensors can also be used, which, for example, provide fastening properties 112 relating to the fastening environment 102. The data is updated in the already existing digital twin 202 allocated to the fastening device 100 with the aid of the identifier 104. The method steps 1202 and 1204 are repeated, in particular continuously (see below). As a result, a regularly updated status is known relating to the fastening device 100 as well as the surrounding fastening environment 102 in the monitoring system 10, from which the state, trends, and warnings can then be derived by evaluating the digital twin in the method step 1206. The method step 1206 can also be carried out repeatedly, in particular continuously, such that by repeating or continuously carrying out the method steps 1204, 1206, 1208 (represented by the dashed arrow), a monitoring is achieved. In a method step 1208, a summary evaluation can be prepared, in particular in the event of changes relating to the state or other criteria, such as a specific time sequence, determined as documentation of the state of the fastening device 100 (including the fastening environment 102) in the method step 1210 in the form of an output information by the computer device 200, and provided to a further computer device 500, here in the form of a smart device, and thus output to a user of the monitoring system 10. In particular, in the event of changes or abnormalities, for example inconsistencies or exceeded thresholds, it is conceivable to output the output information to the user of the monitoring system 10 in the form of a warning and/or an alarm (for example in the form of a so-called push message). The entire method 1200 can also be run repeatedly.

[0095] Furthermore, it is conceivable that users of monitoring system 10 can selectively read out information relevant to them from the computer device 200. This data retrieval can be carried out at any time, for example with a further computer device 500, in particular a smart device.

[0096] According to the application scenario, this results in improved output results for users of the monitoring system 10. In addition to improved, in particular updated, state information as well as forecasts, for example of service life and maintenance need, more specific recommendations for action or options for action can be derived and output. Furthermore, it is conceivable to optimize outputs, in particular instructions for action, with specific rules and/or filters in order to take into account both legal requirements as well as recommendations from chambers of trades or company-internal regulations. This allows the outputs to be tailored individually, depending on the user (installer, security officer, owner, . . . ), for which the corresponding output is created.

[0097] In FIG. 5, the alternative or additional application scenario maintenance support is shown. Maintenance also refers to inspection and servicing. The method 1300 also proceeds from an existing digital twin 202, for example created according to method steps 1002, 1004 of the method 1000, represented herein by block 1302. As a result, all information required for the prescribed maintenance cycles (such as fastening type, position 108, fastening date, time since fastening date, maintenance cycle period, installation history, previous maintenance protocols, current state, and forecasts) is already available in the digital twin 202 in the computer device 200. As mentioned above, this information is accessible at any time by a user of the monitoring system 10 by means of a further computer device 500, for example by means of a smart device. In the method step 1304, as a result of an evaluation of the digital twin 202, with which (in this example) multiple fastening devices 100 are monitored, it is determined which fastening devices 100 are to be serviced, for example, based on a trend derived from the evaluation, a forecast, and/or by meeting the maintenance-relevant properties (for example, the expiry of a specified time period). The fastening devices 100 to be serviced are then determined in the method step 1306 along with the fastening properties 112, position 108, type of fastening device 100, and tool 300 in the form of output information by the computer device 200 and provided to a further computer device 500, here in the form of a smart device, and thus output to a tradesman tasked with the maintenance. Advantageously, only fastening devices 100 that have been identified to meet certain criteria (for example, expiry of a deadline) and/or particular abnormalities (such as a particular trend) need to be serviced in this manner. The efficiency in the monitoring of the fastening devices 100 can consequently be significantly increased. After carrying out the maintenance, including for example the determination of certain fastening properties 112 and/or tracking of the fastening device 100, the newly determined fastening properties 112 are again provided to the computer device 200 along with abnormalities and the date of the maintenance, indicating the identifier 104 (method step 1308). The data is updated in the method step 1310 in the already existing digital twin 202 allocated to the fastening device 100 with the aid of the identifier 104. As a result, a status of the fastening devices 100 and the surrounding fastening environment 102 in the monitoring system 10 updated after carrying out the maintenance is known, from which the state, trends, and warnings can then continue to be derived, and timely action can be taken.