Predictive Diagnostics of Rotating Machinery by an Energy Harvesting Wireless "Bat Detector" Node

Abstract

We have developed a low-power method of collecting sound and vibration in the ultrasonic band by applying the “bat detector”, which is used to detect bats by converting ultrasonic waves into low-frequency waves, to a wireless sensor terminal. The bat-detector wireless sensor node has low power consumption and can be permanently operated with energy harvesting by indoor illumination light. Using the developed bat detector wireless sensor node, we were able to measure the quality deterioration of bearings and observe an increase in the frequency of ultrasonic pulse wave generation due to bearing deterioration. Monitoring of early failure by wireless sensor nodes is expected.