Embedded System Integrated Into a Wireless Sensor Network for Online Dynamic Torque and Efficiency Monitoring in Induction Motors

The system proposed in this paper aims at monitoring the torque and efficiency in induction motors in real time by employing wireless sensor networks (WSNs). An embedded system is employed for acquiring electrical signals from the motor in a noninvasive manner, and then performing local processing for torque and efficiency estimation. The values calculated by the embedded system are transmitted to a monitoring unit through an IEEE 802.15.4-based WSN. At the base unit, various motors can be monitored in real time. An experimental study was conducted for observing the relationship between the WSN performance and the spectral occupancy at the operating environment. This study demonstrated that the use of intelligent nodes, with local processing capability, is essential for this type of application. The embedded system was deployed on a workbench, and studies were conducted to analyze torque and system efficiency.