Distributed sensor system for fault detection and isolation in multistage manufacturing systems

With rapid innovations in sensing technology and the rising complexity in manufacturing processes, increasingly less expensive and smart devices with multiple heterogeneous on-board sensors, networked through wired or wireless links and deployable in large numbers, are distributed throughout complex Multistage Manufacturing Systems (MMSs). The Distributed Sensor System (DSS) provides unprecedented opportunities for fault detection and isolation. The related issues of the state-of-the-art practice, research challenges and future directions related to software infrastructure of a distributed sensor network are discussed, which include optimal design of DSSs, design criteria, data management, information processing and decision-making. Applications based on the authors' research experiences are also given.