This article answers frequently asked questions about sensors in Fiix Asset Risk Predictor. Use the links below to jump to the appropriate questions:
- What is a sensor?
- What types of sensors can I use?
- What if I don't have sensors?
- How many sensors are needed?
- Can I have one asset with many sensors?
- How is it possible that the algorithm works with any type of sensor?
- What's the difference between a sensor and a sensor tag in the CMMS?
What is a sensor?
Depending on your configuration, these might not be actual sensors; they could be data tags that represent the machine and process data you want to capture, such as measurements, calculations, ratios, and fault codes.
For the sake of simplicity, these are all referred to as "sensors" in our documentation.
What types of sensors can I use?
Asset Risk Predictor (ARP) is designed to be sensor-type agnostic, meaning that it can work with all types of sensors.
Some examples include (but are not limited to):
- Vibration
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Speed (RPM)
- Current or power
- Voltage
What if I don't have sensors?
Fiix can introduce you to our network of partners who can support with installing sensors on additional equipment. Contact your Fiix representative for more information.
How many sensors are needed?
It depends on the type of asset. For a small asset, 3 sensors might be enough to detect anomalies. Typically, using more sensors leads to higher the accuracy and allows for better root cause analysis.
Can I have one asset with many sensors? For example, could I have 500 sensors on one asset?
While this is technically possible, having this many sensors on one asset makes it difficult to troubleshoot risks. Instead, we recommend splitting the large assets into "sub-assets" that correspond to different parts of the machine with their own sensors.
For example, instead of just having an extrusion line, you could create the sub-assets for the main extruder, feed hopper, cooling system, heating elements, cutting mechanism, control panels, and other relevant equipment.
How is it possible that the algorithm works with any type of sensor?
The versatility of ARP comes from its fundamental operating principle. Our system works on the concept of “normal behavior”, which is learned from repeated observations. Just as our understanding of “normal” temperature changes throughout the year—expecting colder temperatures in winter and warmer in summer—our system also understands and adapts to these patterns.
In essence, any sensor that provides data consistently creates a pattern. It doesn’t matter what kind of sensor it is, so long as it provides a regular data stream. The machine learning model is not understanding the physical phenomena the sensor is capturing; it’s analyzing the behavior pattern of the data.
What's the difference between a sensor and a sensor tag in the CMMS?
Within the CMMS, there is a distinction between a sensor tag, the unique identification data that comes from the external sensor itself, and a sensor, the associated record that represents the tag in ARP after it's been mapped. When deactivating a sensor tag, its sensor record will remain on ARP dashboard, although it'll be marked as deactivated.