Development of a Maintenance System Based on Web and Mobile Technologies

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper reports the development of an e-monitoring and maintenance system based on web technology and mobile device, PDA. Rarity of experts led to the application of artificial intelligence and later, distributed artificial intelligence for condition monitoring and diagnosis of machine condition. Recently, web technology along with wireless communication is emerging as a potent tool in maintenance. It facilitates obtaining of the desired information by the relevant personnel at any time wherever he may be. The paper first describes the web and mobile architecture that formed the basis of the system and ICT tools used to communicate among the different layers in the architecture/system and its various client machines. It is followed by the demonstration of the use of the system with a faulty bearing simulated signal. A mobile emulator was used to perfect the system for different requirements and the same was then tested on the PDA. INTRODUCTION The basis of condition based maintenance is condition monitoring. It involves the acquisition of data, processing, analysis, interpretation and extracting useful information from it. It provides the maintenance personnel with the needed resources to identify a deviation from predetermined values. In the case of a deviation normally, diagnosis is done to determine the cause of it. Finally, a decision, regarding when and what maintenance tasks are to be performed, is taken. The prognosis is done to foresee a failure as early as possible and be able to plan the maintenance task in advance, (Jantunen, 2003). The decision support systems that have been used to help maintenance department to address this matter have changed and developed over time. In the 1980s, expert system was used and in the 1990s various techniques like the Neural Network and Fuzzy Logic were used in condition monitoring (Warwick, et al., 1997; Wang, 2003). Distributed artificial intelligence has also been used in condition monitoring after the advent of Internet during the late 1990s (Rao, et al., 1996; Rao, et al., 1998a; Rao, et al., 1998b; Reichard, et al., 2000). In this process recently, web technology and agent technology have started to appear in maintenance and condition monitoring. First review on the subject appeared in 2006 (Campos & Prakash, 2006). These technologies got wider acceptance because of the agents' capability to operate on distributed open environment like the Internet or corporate Intranet and access heterogeneous and geographically distributed databases and information sources (Sycara, 1998; Feng, et al., 2004). The developments in mobile technology, mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) in conjunction with the maturity of the wireless communication and web technologies have made it easier for the maintenance personnel to access the desired information remotely and at will. As such, the enterprises that choose to use these technologies are to gain competitive edge in the market. Arnaiz et al. 2006 provide an outline of the enabled tools and technologies available to the maintenance engineer, i.e. when e-maintenance is applied. They also provide an overview of mobile computing devices. Piggin and Brandt (2006) give an overview of the applications of wireless technology and also things to consider when implementing wireless internet for industrial application. Industrial applications of these technologies are few and even less in condition monitoring and maintenance. Yao, et al. (2005) made successful attempt to use PDA and PC-based platforms to control and monitor a PLC (programmable logic controller) controlled manufacturing system, namely, a drill machine. Wang, et al. (2007) report a remote fault diagnostic system using Internet and mobile devices. The present work reports the development of a remote monitoring system that uses Internet and mobile device, PDA. The approach to build the system was prototype approach. The system was tested with the simulated signal of a faulty rolling element bearing. …