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Project number
25057
Organization
Ridgetop Group
Offering
ENGR498-F2024-S2025
Preventing train derailments is a critical challenge in railroad maintenance. It requires advanced monitoring systems that can detect potential issues before they escalate into catastrophic failures. The existing Sentinel Motion Internet of Things (IoT) system addresses this challenge by monitoring vibration and temperature data from railcar wheel bearings. While it is effective in identifying critical faults, its current IoT hub device is constrained by a limited transmission range. This project enhances the Sentinel Motion system by extending its data collection and transmission capabilities to improve predictive maintenance.
The team developed a vibration-powered, wireless train network (WTN) node which meets low size, weight and power constraints. The WTN node serves as an intermediate network host between Ridgetop’s Sentinel Gateway IoT hub and RotoSense sensor nodes. In this role, the WTN node facilitates seamless data collection and transmission. An integrated SAM R21 microcontroller efficiently routes data packets across multiple communication interfaces while optimizing power consumption for maximum operational longevity. A piezoelectric transducer array-based vibration energy harvesting system powers the device and incorporates safeguards against extreme vibrations and excessive voltages. This ensures complete energy self-sufficiency while facilitating communication.
The team developed a vibration-powered, wireless train network (WTN) node which meets low size, weight and power constraints. The WTN node serves as an intermediate network host between Ridgetop’s Sentinel Gateway IoT hub and RotoSense sensor nodes. In this role, the WTN node facilitates seamless data collection and transmission. An integrated SAM R21 microcontroller efficiently routes data packets across multiple communication interfaces while optimizing power consumption for maximum operational longevity. A piezoelectric transducer array-based vibration energy harvesting system powers the device and incorporates safeguards against extreme vibrations and excessive voltages. This ensures complete energy self-sufficiency while facilitating communication.