A digital "stethoscope" for monitoring equipment
Friday, July 20, 2012 - 08:41
in Physics & Chemistry
An intelligent diagnostic system from Siemens can monitor the condition of mechanical equipment just by analyzing the noises it makes. The system's sensors listen to machine noises in the same way that a doctor listens to a patient's heart and lungs. The system learns to tell the difference between normal and faulty operation by analyzing noises and vibrations. The sensors it requires are simple, and the system can be used on many different kinds of machines and equipment. Three prototypes of STEVE (Siemens Tremor EValuation Equipment) - as the Siemens' researchers have dubbed their system - are currently undergoing testing in power plants in Morocco and the U.S., as well as at Siemens' gas turbine test center in Berlin.