Sensor validation using minimum mean square error estimation

Sensor fault can be detected and corrected in a multichannel measurement system with enough redundancy using solely the measurement data. A single or multiple sensors can be estimated from the remaining sensors if training data from the functioning sensor network are available. The method is based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimation, which is applied to the time history data, e.g. accelerations. The faulty sensor can be identified and replaced with the estimated sensor. Both spatial and temporal correlation of the sensors can be utilized. Using the temporal correlation is justified if the number of active structural modes is larger than the number of sensors. The disadvantages of the temporal model are discussed. Experimental multichannel vibration measurements are used to verify the proposed method. Different, and also simultaneous, sensor faults are studied. The effects of environmental variability and structural damage are discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.