This gadget will tell you what's wrong with your machine

If you've ever tried to diagnose a car problem just by listening to it run, you've got a sense of what a startup called Augury is doing. Only instead of having human ears pay attention, it's analysing vibrations and ultrasonic sounds to figure out what's ailing bulky machines.

The company, based in New York and Haifa in Israel, uses an iPhone app, gadget and sensor to record motors and pumps, and then compares the data to existing machine recordings to determine whether or not the one being analysed is working properly, or what the issue is if it's not.

For now, Augury is concentrating on diagnoses for commercial buildings' heating, ventilation and cooling systems. CEO and co-founder Saar Yoskovitz says Augury can point out issues like a bearing that's ripe for replacement or a need for lubrication or realignment simply by listening in.

"We can predict when it's going to be critical and when you'll need to start thinking of repairing it," says Yoskovitz.

The Auguscope records a machine's vibrations and ultrasonic sounds, which are then analysed remotely. Technicians can also move the sensor to different parts of the machine and record spots, in order to pinpoint where a problem is located.

Eventually, Yoskovitz hopes Augury's capabilities will be built right into consumer appliances, making it possible for your washing machine or refrigerator to let you know when a part needs to be replaced.