Abstract: An apparatus configured to be removably attached to a vehicle includes a data collection device that is removably attachable to the vehicle. The data collection device includes an enclosure including a motion measurement sensor housed therein, and a mounting mechanism. The enclosure including the motion measurement sensor housed therein is configured to measure parameters that are used for calculating vibrational anomalies of the vehicle. The mounting mechanism is removably attached to the enclosure including the motion measurement sensor housed therein. The mounting mechanism has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the mounting mechanism has a fixative for removably attaching the mounting mechanism to the enclosure including the motion measurement sensor housed therein. The fixative is immobile with respect to the enclosure immediately upon attachment to the enclosure including the motion measurement sensor housed therein.

Abstract: Anomaly analysis is performed for a subsystem or component of a vehicle that experiences mechanical vibration during rotation of the subsystem or component using a database of trends of the axis of rotation and trends of vibrational frequencies of a plurality of different subsystems or components with known anomalies, and an artificial intelligence (AI) model. In operation, a first processor triangulates a location of the axis of rotation of the subsystem or component of the vehicle at any instance of time using motion data collected from a plurality of motion measurement sensors that are attached to the subsystem or component, thereby defining locations of the axis of rotation at a plurality of successive instances of time. A second processor determines, using the AI model and the trends of the axis of rotation in the database, points of interest from the locations of the axis of rotation of the subsystem or component at the successive instances of time.

Abstract: Anomaly analysis is performed for a plurality of subsystems or components of a vehicle that experiences mechanical vibration during operation of the vehicle using a database of vibrational profiles of a plurality of different subsystems or components of the vehicle with known anomalies, and an artificial intelligence (AI) model. Vibrational data is collected of each subsystem or component at any instance of time by a plurality of motion measurement sensors. The plurality of motion measurement sensors are located in the plurality of subsystems or components. The vibrational data is processed in the AI model to create a vibrational profile for each subsystem or component. The anomaly of each subsystem or component is identified by matching, using the AI model, the vibrational profile for each subsystem or component to a profile of an anomaly in the database.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting vibrational anomalies of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a first device and a second device. The first device is removably attachable to a wheel assembly of the vehicle and includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) configured to remotely collect acceleration data, and a microcontroller. The second device is also removably attachable to the vehicle, but is not attached to any of the wheel assemblies. The second device is configured to collect vibrational data.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to be removably attached to a tire/hub assembly of a vehicle via lug nuts of the tire/hub assembly is used to determine imbalance forces of the tire/hub assembly during motion of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a disk and a plurality of cup-shaped objects fixed at one end to the disk and extending perpendicularly outward from the disk. The plurality of cup-shaped objects are arranged a fixed radial distance from a radial center of the disk in a pattern that matches the lug nuts of the tire/hub assembly. The apparatus is mounted to the vehicle's tire/hub assembly by fitting the plurality of cup-shaped objects over the lug nuts of the tire/hub assembly. The apparatus further includes three inertial measurement units (IMU's) mounted to the disk to measure parameters that are used for calculating the imbalance forces during motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a magnitude of a mass to be placed on a wheel assembly using data from one or more inertial measurement units (IMU's). The one or more IMU's are mounted to a removably attachable object that is attached to a wheel of the vehicle in a manner that inhibits the object from coming off of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion. Each of the IMU's include an accelerometer. A set of acceleration data is collected from the one or more IMU's while the vehicle is in motion. The acceleration data is applied to a predictive model to determine the magnitude of the mass.

Abstract: An apparatus is removably attached to lug nuts of a vehicle's wheel assembly for use in determining imbalance forces of the wheel assembly during motion of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a plurality of data collection devices. Each data collection device is removably attachable to one lug nut of the same wheel. Each data collection device includes a single cup-shaped object and a motion measurement sensor. The data collection object is mounted to the vehicle's wheel by fitting the cup-shaped object over the lug nut of the wheel. The motion measurement sensor measures parameters that are used for calculating the imbalance forces during motion of the vehicle. A processor receives the measured parameters from motion measurement sensors of each of the data collection devices and uses the measured parameters to identify an instantaneous center of rotation of the wheel assembly for use in determining imbalance forces of the wheel assembly of the vehicle during motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining anomalies associated with a railcar wheel of a railcar wheelset, or a railcar bogie assembly that the railcar wheelset is part of, or a track, during motion of the railcar wheelset on a track. A wheel-mounted sensor ring is removably attached to a hub portion of a railcar wheel of a railcar wheelset. The sensor ring includes one or more sensors, such as inertial measurement units (IMU's), mounted thereto to measure parameters that are used for determining the anomalies during motion of the railcar wheel on the track. The railcar wheelset is moved on the track. The measured parameters are collected from the one or more sensors. The measured parameters are used for determining the anomalies during motion of the railcar wheel on the track.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a location to place a mass on a wheel assembly. A first set of acceleration data is collected from a plurality of inertial measurement units (IMU's) that are mounted to a removably attachable object that is attached to a wheel of the vehicle in a manner that inhibits the object from coming off of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion. The first set of acceleration data is collected while operating the vehicle at a first speed. The first set of acceleration data is used to determine an offset between a center of the object and a bearing center of the wheel assembly. A second set of acceleration data is collected from the plurality of inertial measurement units (IMU's). The second set of acceleration data is collected while operating the vehicle at second speed that is greater than the first speed.

Abstract: A method is provided for collecting measurement parameters related to imbalance forces of a tire/hub assembly of a vehicle during motion of the vehicle. An apparatus is removably attached to the tire/hub assembly of the vehicle via lug nuts of the tire/hub assembly. The apparatus includes a disk, a plurality of cup-shaped objects, and one or more inertial measurement units (IMU's) mounted to the disk. Each of the cup-shaped objects are rigidly fixed at one end to the disk and extend perpendicularly outward from the disk. The plurality of cup-shaped objects are arranged a fixed radial distance from a radial center of the disk in a pattern that matches the lug nuts of the tire/hub assembly. The one or more inertial measurement units (IMU's) are mounted to the disk and configured to measure parameters that are used for calculating the imbalance forces during motion of the vehicle.