METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE MASS OF AN OBJECT

Abstract

A method for monitoring the mass of an object (10) is provided, the method comprising the steps of: (i) applying a vibratory force to the object (10) so that the object vibrates in whole or in part, (ii) providing a sensor or sensors (14) configured to measure vibrations of the object in response to the force, (iii) measuring vibration data from the sensor(s) (14), and (iv) comparing the vibration data or a parameter derived therefrom to reference data or one or more reference parameters, so as to determine the mass of the object or an indication that the mass of the object (10) differs from that indicated by the reference data or one or more reference parameters. Preferably, the object (10) is a vehicle. The vibratory force may be provided by an integral vehicle component, for example a vehicle engine (12).

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the mass of an object, the method comprising the steps of: (i) applying a vibratory force to the object, so that the object vibrates in whole or in part, (ii) providing a sensor or sensors configured to measure vibrations of the object in response to the force, (iii) measuring vibration data from the sensor(s), and (iv) comparing the vibration data or a parameter derived therefrom to reference data or one or more reference parameters, so as to determine the mass of the object or an indication that the mass of the object differs from that indicated by the reference data or one or more reference parameters.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein steps (iii) and (iv) are repeated over time so as to determine whether or not the mass of the object changes over time.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measured vibration data comprises displacement, time, velocity or acceleration, or any combination thereof.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the derived parameter is the frequency of oscillation.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the derived parameter is a distribution value obtained by applying a distribution function to the vibration data.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the distribution value is obtained from two of velocity, displacement and acceleration.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the distribution function is a measure of deviation, for example standard deviation.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the distribution function is a correlation function, preferably a linear correlation function.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the linear correlation function is the Pearson Correlation function.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor or sensors are an accelerometer, a laser, or an optical imaging system, or any combination thereof.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor or sensors are arranged remotely from the object.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor or sensors are located on the object.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the object is a vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the vibratory force is applied by a source of vibrations that is integral to the object.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the vibratory force is applied by a vehicle engine.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining that the object is substantially at rest before measuring the vibration data.

17. A system for monitoring the mass of an object, the system comprising an object, a source of vibrations for applying a vibratory force to said object in whole or in part, a sensor or sensors configured to measure vibrations of the object in response to the force, and a processor configured to compare the vibration data or a parameter derived therefrom to reference data or one or more reference parameters, so as to determine the mass of the object or an indication that the mass of the object differs from that indicated by the reference parameter(s).

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the sensor or sensors are an accelerometer, a laser, or an optical imaging system, or any combination thereof.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the system comprises a sensor for determining whether or not the object is substantially at rest.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein the object is a vehicle.

21. A system according to claim 17, wherein the source of vibrations is a source integral to the object.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the source is a vehicle engine.

23. The use of a vehicle engine as a source of vibrations in a method to determine the mass, or change in mass, of said vehicle.

24. A method for calibrating the mass of an object, said method comprising the steps of: a. applying a vibratory force to an object of known mass so that the object vibrates in whole or in part; b. providing a sensor or sensors configured to measure vibrations of the object in response to the force; c. optionally applying an additional known load mass to the object; d. measuring vibration data from the sensor(s) and optionally deriving a one or more parameters therefrom.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein steps c) and d) are repeated to obtain a desired range of calibration values.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the object is a vehicle and the vibratory force is applied by the vehicle engine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

[0060] FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic side views of an unloaded and loaded vehicle (respectively) illustrating the method of the invention;

[0061] FIGS. 2a and 2b are plots showing a plurality of displacement versus velocity values for (respectively) an unloaded and a loaded vehicle;

[0062] FIG. 3 is a plot of the Pearson Ratio versus load mass, derived from displacement and velocity values such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0063] The schematic drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] FIG. 1a schematically shows an object which is a vehicle 10. An accelerometer 14 is fixed within vehicle 10 using any suitable means. As the engine 12 of vehicle 10 runs at idle, it causes the vehicle 10 to vibrate in three dimensions x, y, z. The vehicle 10 is stationary with regard to linear motion, as indicated by the GPS location sensor 18.

[0065] The accelerometer 14 is used to measure the vibration of the vehicle 10 in response to idling engine 12 in an x, y and z direction in terms of both displacement and time. The frequency of the oscillation is then derived from the displacement and time measurements. The frequency of oscillation is used as a reference parameter.

[0066] In FIG. 1b, the vehicle 10 is loaded with a mass 16 located on the rear seat of the vehicle. This causes the vibration of the vehicle 10 in response to the idling engine 12 to change. A second frequency of oscillation of the loaded vehicle 10 is then derived from the displacement and time measurements measured by accelerometer 14.

[0067] When the frequency of oscillation of the vehicle 10 with additional mass 16 is compared, for example using a processor 20, with the reference value of the frequency of oscillation of the unloaded vehicle 10, they will not match indicating that the mass of loaded vehicle 10 differs from that of the unloaded vehicle 10.

[0068] The method of the invention has been used to monitor the mass of a vehicle when loaded with different masses. An Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer was fixed to the dashboard of a Ford Fiesta passenger vehicle. The accelerometer was used to measure a plurality of displacement and velocity values over a period of 20 seconds, while the 1.0 litre petrol engine was idling and the vehicle was unloaded. The values were measured in an x, y and z direction and the resultant root mean square values of displacement and velocity were calculated using processor 20. FIG. 2a shows a plot of the resultant displacement versus resultant velocity values of the vehicle before it was loaded.

[0069] A first mass of 50 kg was positioned on the rear seat of the vehicle, and the accelerometer readings were repeated. FIG. 2b shows the corresponding plot of the resultant displacement and resultant velocity values for the loaded vehicle.

[0070] It can be seen by comparing the plots of FIGS. 2a and 2b that the distribution of the displacement and velocity values is different for the vehicle when unloaded (FIG. 2a) than for the vehicle when loaded with a 50 kg mass (FIG. 2b). Thus, the distribution of the displacement and velocity values is affected by the change in loading of the vehicle. The relationship between the change of mass of the vehicle and the relative change of the velocity displacement values is also indicated by the Pearson Ratio, which changes from 0.69 for the unloaded vehicle to 0.8 for the vehicle when loaded with a 50 kg mass.

[0071] The experiment was repeated for second and third masses of 100 kg and 150 kg respectively located on the rear seat of the vehicle. Depending on the loading of the vehicle, vibration data were recorded over approximately 200 to 1200 periods of oscillation.

[0072] The Pearson Correlation function was separately applied to each of the plurality of displacement and velocity datasets resulting in a Pearson Ratio for the vehicle when unloaded, and when carrying each of the first, second and third masses.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a plot of the Pearson Ratio against vehicle mass for a vehicle when unloaded and when loaded with 50 kg, 100 kg and 150 kg of additional mass. Analysis of FIG. 3 shows a relationship between vehicle load mass and the derived Pearson Ratio. Therefore, the Pearson Ratio can act as a suitable reference parameter for deriving the mass of an object, for example the mass of a vehicle, or for determining whether the mass has changed.

[0074] It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modification of detail can be made within the scope of the invention. Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

[0075] Moreover, the invention has been described with specific reference to monitoring the mass of vehicles, for example in the transportation and haulage industry. It will be understood that this is not intended to be limiting and the invention may be used more generally to measure or monitor the mass of objects. For example, the invention may be used in fields such as security or space. Additional applications of the invention will occur to the skilled person.