Sensor fault detection systems and methods thereof

1. A method for detecting a sensor fault, the method comprising:

identifying with an assessment processing device one or more of a plurality of tools to use with at least one of a plurality of data acquisition systems based on data obtained from, at least one characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of data acquisition systems, wherein the plurality of tools comprise at least a cross-correlation tool; wherein utilizing the cross-correlation tool comprises:

identifying with the assessment processing device baseline data;

determining with the assessment processing device which portion of data related to the obtained data is used for the baseline data;

utilizing with the assessment processing device the identified one or more tools on the obtained data to determine at least one confidence rating, wherein the at least one confidence rating is determined based on the data obtained from the relationship between and the at least one characteristic of the plurality of data acquisition systems; and

determining and providing with the assessment processing device an operational status for the at least one of the plurality data acquisition systems based on at least the one determined confidence rating.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of tools comprise two or more of a limit detection tool, a slope calculation tool, and an auto correlation tool.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the limit detection tool and wherein the utilizing the limit detection tool further comprises:

obtaining with the assessment processing device at least one of an upper boundary and a lower boundary for the obtained data from the at least one of the data acquisition systems;

comparing with the assessment processing device the obtained data against at least one of the upper boundary and the lower boundary; and

determining with the assessment processing device a limit confidence rating based on the comparison.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the slope calculation tool and wherein the utilizing the slope calculation tool further comprises:

obtaining with the assessment processing device at least a maximum change rate for the obtained data from the at least one of the data acquisition systems;

comparing with the assessment processing device a rate of change of the obtained data against the obtained maximum change rate; and

determining with the assessment processing device a slope confidence rating based on the comparison.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the autocorrelation tool and wherein the utilizing the autocorrelation tool further comprises:

obtaining with the assessment processing device a maximum allowable difference between the obtained data and a time shifted version of the obtained data as a function of an amount of a time shift;

comparing with the assessment processing device a difference between the obtained data and the time shifted version of the obtained data against the maximum allowable difference; and

determining with the assessment processing device an autocorrelation confidence rating based on the comparison.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the utilizing the cross-correlation tool further comprises:

obtaining with the assessment processing device a maximum allowable difference between the obtained data and the related data;

comparing with the assessment processing device a difference between the obtained data and the related data against the maximum allowable difference; and

determining with the assessment processing device a cross-correlation confidence rating based on the comparison.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising determining with the assessment processing device a transducer rating for the at least one of the data acquisition systems, wherein the determining and providing the operational status is further based on the determined transducer rating.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising measuring with the assessment processing device noise associated with obtained data from the at least one of the data acquisition systems, wherein the determining and providing the operational status is further based on the measured noise.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for detecting a sensor fault comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:

identifying one or more of a plurality of tools to use with at least one of a plurality of data acquisition systems based on data obtained from and at least one characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of data acquisition systems, wherein the plurality of tools comprise at least a cross-correlation tool; wherein utilizing the cross-correlation tool comprises:

identifying baseline data;

determining which portion of data related to the obtained data is used for the baseline data;

utilizing the identified one or more tools on the obtained data to determine at least one confidence rating, wherein the at least one confidence rating is determined based on the data obtained from the relationship between and the at least one characteristic of the plurality of data acquisition systems; and

determining and providing an operational status for the at least one of the plurality data acquisition systems based on at least the one determined confidence rating.

10. The medium as set forth in claim 9 wherein the plurality of tools comprise two or more of a limit detection tool, a slope calculation tool, and an autocorrelation tool.

11. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the limit detection tool and wherein the utilizing the limit detection tool further comprises:

obtaining at least one of an upper boundary and a lower boundary for the obtained data from the at least one of the data acquisition systems;

comparing the obtained data against at least one of the upper boundary and the lower boundary; and

determining a limit confidence rating based on the comparison.

12. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the slope calculation tool and wherein the utilizing the slope calculation tool further comprises:

obtaining at least a maximum change rate for the obtained data from the at least one of the data acquisition systems;

comparing a rate of change of the obtained data against the obtained maximum change rate; and

determining a slope confidence rating based on the comparison.

13. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the autocorrelation tool and wherein the utilizing the autocorrelation tool further comprises:

obtaining a maximum allowable difference between the obtained data and a time shifted version of the obtained data as a function of an amount of a time shift;

comparing a difference between the obtained data and the time shifted version of the obtained data against the maximum allowable difference; and

determining an autocorrelation confidence rating based on the comparison.

14. The medium as set forth in claim 9 wherein the utilizing the cross-correlation tool further comprises:

obtaining a maximum allowable difference between the obtained data and the related data;

comparing a difference between the obtained data and the related data against the maximum allowable difference; and

determining a cross-correlation confidence rating based on the comparison.

15. The medium as set forth in claim 9 further comprising determining a transducer rating for the at least one of the data acquisition systems, wherein the determining and providing the operational status is further based on the determined transducer rating.

16. The medium as set forth in claim 9 further comprising measuring noise associated with obtained data from the at least one of the data acquisition systems, wherein the determining and providing the operational status is further based on the measured noise.

17. A sensor fault detection apparatus comprising:

an identification system in an assessment processing device that identifies one or more of a plurality of tools to use with at least one of a plurality of data acquisition systems based on data obtained from and at least one characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of data acquisition systems, wherein the plurality of tools comprise at least a cross-correlation tool; wherein utilizing the cross-correlation tool comprises:

a data search system in the assessment processing device that identifies baseline data;

a boundary system in the assessment processing device that determines which portion of data related to the obtained data is used for the baseline data;

a confidence system in the assessment processing device that utilizes the identified one or more tools on the obtained data to determine at least one confidence rating, wherein the at least one confidence rating is determined based on the data obtained from the relationship between and the at least one characteristic of the plurality of data acquisition systems; and

an operational status system in the assessment processing device that determines and provides an operational status for the at least one of the data acquisition systems based on at least the one determined confidence rating.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the plurality of tools comprise two or more of a limit detection tool, a slope calculation tool, and an autocorrelation tool.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the limit detection tool and wherein the limit detection tool further comprises:

a boundary system in the assessment processing device that obtains at least one of an upper boundary and a lower boundary for the obtained date from the at least one of the data acquisition systems; and

a comparison system in the assessment processing device that compares the obtained data against at least one of the upper boundary and the lower boundary;

wherein the confidence system determines a limit confidence rating based on the comparison.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the slope calculation tool and wherein the slope calculation tool further comprises:

a boundary system in the assessment processing device that obtains at least a maximum change rate for the obtained data from the at least one of the data acquisition systems; and

a comparison system in the assessment processing device that compares a rate of change of the obtained data against the obtained maximum change rate;

wherein the confidence system determines a slope confidence rating based on the comparison.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein one of the two or more tools comprises the autocorrelation tool and wherein the autocorrelation tool further comprises:

a boundary system in the assessment processing device that obtains a maximum allowable difference between the obtained data and a time shifted version of the obtained data as a function of an amount of a time shift; and

a comparison system in the assessment processing device that compares a difference between the obtained data and the time shifted version of the obtained data against the maximum allowable difference; and

wherein the confidence system determines an autocorrelation confidence rating based on the comparison.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the utilizing the cross-correlation tool further comprises:

a boundary system in the assessment processing device that obtains a maximum allowable difference between the obtained data and the related data; and

a comparison system in the assessment processing device that compares a difference between the obtained data and the related data against the maximum allowable difference;

wherein the confidence system determines a cross-correlation confidence rating based on the comparison.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 further comprising a transducer rating system in the assessment processing device that determines a transducer rating for the at least one of the data acquisition systems, wherein the operational status system determines and provides the operational status further based on the determined transducer rating.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 further comprising a noise measurement system in the assessment processing device that measures noise associated with obtained data from the at least one of the data acquisition systems, wherein the operational status system determines and provides the operational status further based on the measured noise.