SBIR Phase I: Digital Oil Level Indicator Feasibility Study

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是通过数字化监测联合收割机中的油位，为农业市场提供长期解决方案，以解决漏油导致部件过早磨损的问题。该产品适用于农业、采矿、建筑、船舶、化学品储存、军用车辆和水储存等许多行业。建议的产品将预先警告设备操作员低润滑水平，从而节省客户的维修或更换新系统的资金。建议的项目将满足数字监控润滑油水平的需求，同时实时产生高度准确的测量。该解决方案将是非接触式的，不像目前的解决方案，提供一个单一的低水平报警或依赖于手动检查。该原型将被放置在模拟和实时环境中，以研究耐久性，准确性，稳定性，寿命，可靠性和易于安装。目标包括：（1）找到一个解决方案/配置，以准确地监测快速电平变化;（2）验证硬件是否能够承受恶劣条件（极端温度、高振动）;（3）软件测试;以及（4）分析不同的储液器，了解产品如何轻松安装。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值进行评估，更广泛的影响审查标准。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to provide the agriculture market a long-term solution to the problem of premature wear on components from oil leaks by digitally monitoring oil levels in combines. The proposed product could be adapted to many industries including agriculture, mining, construction, marine water craft, chemical storage, military vehicles, and water storage. The proposed product will preemptively warn equipment operators of low lubrication levels thereby saving customers money from repairs or replacement of new systems.The proposed project will address the need of digitally monitoring oil lubrication levels while producing a highly accurate measurement in real-time. The solution will be non-contacting unlike current solutions that provide a single low-level alarm or rely on manual checks. The prototype will be put in a simulated as well as real-time environment to investigate endurance, accuracy, stability, longevity, reliability and ease of installation. Objectives include: (1) Find a solution/configuration to accurately monitor rapid level changes; (2) Verify the hardware can withstand harsh conditions (extreme temperatures, high vibration); (3) Software testing; and (4) Analyze different reservoirs to see how the product can be easily mounted.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.