In a connected world, remote diagnostics are the way of the future, and the incorporation of wireless sensors that support next-generation diagnostic solutions solves numerous problems in various markets. Even in the oil and gas industry - one of the slowest to embrace the industrial internet of things (IIoT) - remote diagnostics has been the driving force behind wider adoption of IIOT technologies, as it has proven to boost operational efficiency.
What is Remote Diagnostics?
Remote diagnostics is a collection of technologies that act together to monitor a machine or system’s health and report or diagnose problems or deficiencies through a remote interface. The IoT has vastly expanded the role of remote diagnostics technologies, which is now penetrating the healthcare, automotive and oil and gas industries, as well as being integrated into a plethora of industrial and commercial products and systems.
Healthcare Industry
One might not think of the human body as a machine or a system, but in fact it consists of numerous systems, including the circulatory, digestive, respiratory and muscular systems, just to name a few. Each of these is subject to failure and as next-generation technologies are incorporated into medical intervention techniques, the incorporation of remote diagnostics is becoming standard practice.
Pacemakers may be the lowest hanging fruit. Patients with these implanted devices need to monitor the body’s response to the low-energy electrical pulses used to normalize the heartbeat, as well as monitor the status of the implanted device. Boston Scientific's Latitude is a connected system that interacts with these implanted devices. It supplies valuable feedback to a healthcare provider between office visits and has been on the market for the better part of a decade.
Additional healthcare technologies equipped with remote diagnostics include Nuubo's cutting-edge wearable electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor and the development of a smart patch for diabetics. Nuubo's ECG monitor facilitates prolonged monitoring periods to improve diagnosis accuracy and efficiency, while the smart patch being developed by researchers at the University of Bath looks to revolutionize glucose monitoring techniques with the ability to send updates to a mobile app.
Automotive Industry
It’s no secret that service contracts and regular maintenance procedures are the cash cow for many automotive manufacturers. Cost of vehicle ownership extends beyond monthly loan payments, and in response to the enlarged overhead associated with the vehicle itself, manufacturers are looking towards remote diagnostics to improve preventative maintenance scheduling and extend the life of the vehicle.
Reliance on error codes stored inside the memory of the onboard electronic controls unit can be augmented by incorporating remote diagnostic capabilities. Instead of fearing the check engine light, in-depth data can be supplied to the operator or relayed to the technician.
Luxoft is one of several companies that provide remote diagnostic capabilities to the automotive market. Its solution is offered in a small footprint and is compatible with many platforms. It is offered with an app that allows the user to gain diagnostic data about their vehicles from a smart device.
Oil & Gas Industry
Heating systems are paramount to the oil and gas industry, and the scaled-up network of temperature sensing, process heating and temperature management solutions encompasses a significant portion of operating expenses. To improve system reliability, safety and process control accuracy, suppliers are integrating connected solutions.
Chromalox, an industry leader in large-scale electric heating systems, has exemplified the capabilities of remote diagnostics with its new C2i Technology. The intelligent network of advanced control technologies, component products and solutions addresses system risks and supports process optimization through remote diagnostics.
C2i Technology is more than a remote diagnostics platform, but it does monitor component health, allowing industrial facilities to avoid unplanned maintenance, reduce equipment downtime and improve system reliability. It delivers continuous predictive analysis monitoring and provides proactive alerts that help facility managers avoid potentially emerging system issues, which is an ideal capability of a remote diagnostics platform.
Conclusion
Remote diagnostics is a growing field and as more and more connected devices come to market, the list of use cases grows as well. As the IIoT stands to penetrate almost every market and every industry, the role of remote diagnostics will expand likewise, supporting autonomous capabilities and increasing operational efficiency.
