Non-conventional feature-based LSTM model for prediction of bearing performance degradation

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Abstract Mechanical bearings are critical in electrical machines, such as motors and generators. They provide support and facilitate the movement of rotating components in these machines. They are essential to the operation of electrical machinery cause they provide support, reduce friction, ensure proper alignment, and improve overall reliability and efficiency. The appropriate selection, installation, and maintenance of these bearings allow the longevity of such machines. The maintenance and the extent of usage determine the usefulness of the bearings. In predictive maintenance and condition monitoring, accurately predicting the level of bearing degradation holds significant importance for strategizing maintenance tasks, reducing downtime, and avoiding unforeseen breakdowns. This study centers on predicting the level of bearing degradation through the application of neural networks, focusing mainly on non-conventional features, rather than the usual features like kurtosis, and skewness. The dataset utilized is sourced from NASA and includes diverse time series signals that provide insights into the entire lifespan of the bearing. In this investigation, advanced machine learning techniques, long-short term memory (LSTM) in particular, are employed to harness the intricate patterns within the bearing dataset, aiming to improve the accuracy of the predictions.