GraceSense™ | Reducing Plant Downtime Using 24/7 IIoT- Based Vibration Monitoring

Grace Technologies Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Andy Zimmerman, explains how the IIoT centric GraceSense™ Predictive Maintenance System helps end-users optimize their maintenance budget allocations through pervasive sensing, edge computing, and cloud-based predictive analytics.

Low-power wireless sensor technology and advanced data analytics provide asset managers with deep insights into machine health to effectively prioritize resources and maximize the value of their maintenance spend. GraceSense™ technology improves overall plant reliability, safety, and maintenance metrics by remotely monitoring the asset health and sending timely notifications through SMS or email alerts when anomalous behavior is detected.

The Vibration & Temperature Node is a rugged wireless sensor with advanced edge processing and proprietary Zigbee compatible communication that monitors vibration and temperature to insightfully predict health on any rotating equipment. Multiple mounting options ensure quick deployment across applications in any industry. Easy to replace batteries deliver 3-5 years of life (dependent on use).

Presenter: Dr. Andy Zimmerman, Ph.D., CTO, Grace Technologies

Dr. Andy Zimmerman, CTO of Grace Technologies, has spent the past 15 years developing wireless sensing and cloud-based health monitoring systems for both civil infrastructure (bridges, buildings, etc.) and industrial machinery (pumps, presses, etc.). Dr. Zimmerman holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and an M.S.E. in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Michigan, and he started his own company, Civionics, in 2009 to help transition his structural health monitoring research from lab to industry.

After building a proprietary cloud-based wireless predictive maintenance platform on the back of grants and contracts from DoD, DHS, NSF, USDOT, and other corporate clients, Dr. Zimmerman sold Civionics' IP to Grace Technologies in 2018 and took a position as the Grace CTO. Since then, he has helped shape Grace's technology strategy, managed the Grace engineering department, and served as the primary architect and technical lead for the GraceSense line of Predictive Maintenance and Industrial Internet of Things technologies.