Abstract: A method for operating and maintaining a wind farm comprising a plurality of wind turbines includes determining an odometer for one or more components of at least one of the pluralities of wind turbines in the wind farm, the odometer representing operational usage of the component(s). The method also includes tracking the operational usage for the component(s) using the odometer and a usage threshold. Further, the method includes predicting an expected time frame for one or more preventative maintenance actions based on a comparison of the tracked operational usage and the usage threshold. Moreover, the method includes triggering scheduling of the one or more preventative maintenance actions when the prediction indicates that the tracked operational usage will exceed the usage threshold. In addition, the method includes shutting down the wind turbine or idling the wind turbine once the one or more preventative maintenance actions are scheduled.

Abstract: A method for preventing a pitch bearing failure of a pitch system of a wind turbine includes monitoring, via at least one sensor, one or more electrical signals of a pitch motor of a pitch drive mechanism of the pitch system that drives a pitch bearing of the pitch system. The method also includes analyzing, via the controller, the one or more electrical signals of the pitch motor so as to remove noise and amplify outliers. Moreover, the method includes estimating bearing friction of the pitch bearing using the analyzed one or more electrical signals of the pitch motor. As such, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action when the estimated bearing friction of the pitch bearing indicates an anomaly in the pitch bearing.

Abstract: A method for preventing a pitch bearing failure of a pitch system of a wind turbine includes monitoring, via at least one sensor, one or more electrical signals of a pitch motor of a pitch drive mechanism of the pitch system that drives a pitch bearing of the pitch system. The method also includes analyzing, via the controller, the one or more electrical signals of the pitch motor so as to remove noise and amplify outliers. Moreover, the method includes estimating bearing friction of the pitch bearing using the analyzed one or more electrical signals of the pitch motor. As such, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action when the estimated bearing friction of the pitch bearing indicates an anomaly in the pitch bearing.

Abstract: A method for operating and maintaining a wind farm comprising a plurality of wind turbines includes determining an odometer for one or more components of at least one of the pluralities of wind turbines in the wind farm, the odometer representing operational usage of the component(s). The method also includes tracking the operational usage for the component(s) using the odometer and a usage threshold. Further, the method includes predicting an expected time frame for one or more preventative maintenance actions based on a comparison of the tracked operational usage and the usage threshold. Moreover, the method includes triggering scheduling of the one or more preventative maintenance actions when the prediction indicates that the tracked operational usage will exceed the usage threshold. In addition, the method includes shutting down the wind turbine or idling the wind turbine once the one or more preventative maintenance actions are scheduled.

Abstract: A method for detecting a fault in a direct current (DC) battery of a pitch system includes receiving, via a server, a plurality of voltage signals of the battery over at least one time period. The method also includes storing, via a database of the server, the plurality of voltage signals of the battery for the predetermined time period. Further, the method includes determining, via the server, a state of the battery as a function of the plurality of voltage signals. When the state of the battery is indicative of a battery fault, the method includes implementing a corrective action for the battery.

Abstract: A method for detecting damage in a bearing coupled to a rotating shaft of a rotary machine includes receiving one or more measurement signals from one or more first sensors for monitoring movement of the rotating shaft in one or more directions over a time period. The method also includes removing an effect of one or more environmental and/or operating conditions of the rotary machine from the one or more measurement signals over the time period. After removing, the method includes analyzing changes in the one or more measurement signals from the one or more first sensors, wherein changes in the one or more measurement signals above a predetermined threshold or of a certain magnitude are indicative of a damaged bearing. Moreover, the method includes implementing a corrective action when the changes in the one or more measurement signals are above the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for detecting a fault in a direct current (DC) battery of a pitch system includes receiving, via a server, a plurality of voltage signals of the battery over at least one time period. The method also includes storing, via a database of the server, the plurality of voltage signals of the battery for the predetermined time period. Further, the method includes determining, via the server, a state of the battery as a function of the plurality of voltage signals. When the state of the battery is indicative of a battery fault, the method includes implementing a corrective action for the battery.

Abstract: A method for detecting damage in a bearing coupled to a rotating shaft of a rotary machine includes receiving one or more measurement signals from one or more first sensors for monitoring movement of the rotating shaft in one or more directions over a time period. The method also includes removing an effect of one or more environmental and/or operating conditions of the rotary machine from the one or more measurement signals over the time period. After removing, the method includes analyzing changes in the one or more measurement signals from the one or more first sensors, wherein changes in the one or more measurement signals above a predetermined threshold or of a certain magnitude are indicative of a damaged bearing. Moreover, the method includes implementing a corrective action when the changes in the one or more measurement signals are above the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for mitigating damage in a rotor blade of a plurality of rotor blades of a wind turbine includes receiving a plurality of acceleration signals from the plurality of the rotor blades in at least one direction. The method also includes generating a spectral density for each of the plurality of acceleration signals. Further, the method includes determining blade energies for each of the plurality of rotor blades based on the spectral densities for each of the plurality of acceleration signals for at least one predetermined frequency range. Moreover, the method includes comparing the blade energies to at least one of each other or a predetermined damage threshold. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action when one or more of the blade energies vary from each other by a predetermined amount or one or more of the blade energies exceed the predetermined damage threshold.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling a wind turbine to minimize rotor blade damage includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors indicative of at least one blade parameter of the rotor blade over a predetermined time period. The method also includes trending the sensor data for the predetermined time period with respect to at least one wind parameter. Further, the method includes determining at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data. Moreover, the method includes comparing the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data to an operating threshold. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action if the comparison of the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data and the operating threshold indicates blade damage is occurring or is likely to occur.

Abstract: A method for mitigating damage in a rotor blade of a plurality of rotor blades of a wind turbine includes receiving a plurality of acceleration signals from the plurality of the rotor blades in at least one direction. The method also includes generating a spectral density for each of the plurality of acceleration signals. Further, the method includes determining blade energies for each of the plurality of rotor blades based on the spectral densities for each of the plurality of acceleration signals for at least one predetermined frequency range. Moreover, the method includes comparing the blade energies to at least one of each other or a predetermined damage threshold. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action when one or more of the blade energies vary from each other by a predetermined amount or one or more of the blade energies exceed the predetermined damage threshold.

Abstract: A braking system operable independent of driver input, where the braking system includes a primary brake system, a secondary brake system, a primary controller controlling fluid pressure in the primary brake system, and a secondary controller controlling fluid pressure in the secondary brake system independently of the primary controller. There is also an actuator which is part of the primary brake system, where the actuator is controlled by the primary controller. A reservoir is in fluid communication with both the primary brake system and the secondary brake system, to supply fluid to both the primary brake system and the secondary brake system. The primary controller selectively actuates the actuator to control the fluid pressure in the primary brake system independently of driver input, to provide braking capability to a fully autonomous driving vehicle.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling a wind turbine to minimize rotor blade damage includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors indicative of at least one blade parameter of the rotor blade over a predetermined time period. The method also includes trending the sensor data for the predetermined time period with respect to at least one wind parameter. Further, the method includes determining at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data. Moreover, the method includes comparing the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data to an operating threshold. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action if the comparison of the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data and the operating threshold indicates blade damage is occurring or is likely to occur.

Abstract: A braking system operable independent of driver input, where the braking system includes a primary brake system, a secondary brake system, a primary controller controlling fluid pressure in the primary brake system, and a secondary controller controlling fluid pressure in the secondary brake system independently of the primary controller. There is also an actuator which is part of the primary brake system, where the actuator is controlled by the primary controller. A reservoir is in fluid communication with both the primary brake system and the secondary brake system, to supply fluid to both the primary brake system and the secondary brake system. The primary controller selectively actuates the actuator to control the fluid pressure in the primary brake system independently of driver input, to provide braking capability to a fully autonomous driving vehicle.

Abstract: A storage system and method for identifying a faulty link the storage system is disclosed. The storage system includes a plurality of target devices and at least one expander configured to communicatively couple a plurality of initiators to the plurality of target devices. Each initiator of the plurality of initiators monitors occurrences of link disruptions independently, wherein upon detecting occurrences of a predetermined number of link disruptions within a predetermined time period, a reporting initiator reports a detection of a faulty link in the multi-initiator topology and requests an arbitrator to identify at least one peer initiator in the multi-initiator topology that shares at least one shared link with the reporting initiator. This reporting initiator and its peer initiators then jointly execute a common diagnostic process to identify the faulty link in the multi-initiator topology.

Abstract: A storage system and method for identifying a faulty link the storage system is disclosed. The storage system includes a plurality of target devices and at least one expander configured to communicatively couple a plurality of initiators to the plurality of target devices. Each initiator of the plurality of initiators monitors occurrences of link disruptions independently, wherein upon detecting occurrences of a predetermined number of link disruptions within a predetermined time period, a reporting initiator reports a detection of a faulty link in the multi-initiator topology and requests an arbitrator to identify at least one peer initiator in the multi-initiator topology that shares at least one shared link with the reporting initiator. This reporting initiator and its peer initiators then jointly execute a common diagnostic process to identify the faulty link in the multi-initiator topology.

Abstract: A storage system and method for preventing propagation of link reset among initiators in the storage system is disclosed. The method includes issuing a link reset command by the initiator, and entering the initiator into a back-off period immediately following the issuing of the link reset command. The initiator remains idle for the entire duration of the back-off period and resumes its operations at the end of the back-off period.