MariBrain – Ship Health Monitoring Using Wireless Sensor Networks

Περιγραφή

The goal of the project is to develop a smart wireless sensor network platform that can be used to monitor a ship status on a 24-7 basis, to apply condition based monitoring (CBM) models and services to a maritime company and to allow a maritime company to operate in an environmental friendly way. CBM is the new basic maintenance model that is adopted by most of the industries in different sectors, in order to reduce the operational cost and increase the efficiency of the production lines. Maritime companies have started to research methods and products to implement Condition Based Maintenance in their fleets only recently, mainly due to the reduction of their profits, the low experience and training of the crews in such matters, and the new satellite networks that offer global on-line data communication with the ships that make feasible the remote health monitoring.

Based on the knowledge of the partners in wireless sensor networks, optical sensors, and data modeling and handling, the project will implement and offer to the global maritime market a new innovative, reliable and low cost platform for remote health monitoring, diagnosis and prognosis of the ships‟ status, including the engines, the shafts, the pumps, the power generators, the grains and other critical parts of the engine and cargo department. The main R&D activities will be to: (i) develop new optical sensors for measurement parameters like fuel type and exhausts that cannot be measured in real time with of the self products, (ii) develop the entire wireless sensor networks including software and hardware for the ship condition monitoring, and (iii) develop an experience management system for handling, analyzing and processing the data of the sensor network and the system users.

The results of the project will lead to the production of new products and services targeted at the needs of the global maritime market for the condition monitoring and maintenance of the ships.

Role: Development of the wireless sensor network system software, with support for over-the-air programming, energy-efficient protocols, and performance monitoring.