Through Wall Wireless Intelligent Sensor and Health Monitoring (TWall-ISHM) System

NASA's strategic needs include those related to flexible instrumentation capable of monitoring remote or inaccessible measurement locations within Stennis Space Center (SSC) testing facilities. Looking to support the advancement of NASA SSC's infrastructure, American GNC Corporation (AGNC) and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) are proposing the Through Wall Wireless Intelligent Sensor and Health Monitoring (TWall-ISHM) System. Distinctive TWall-ISHM system core capability is monitoring remote and/or inaccessible measurement locations constrained or completely sealed by barriers (such as metallic walls, composite structures, or even concrete layers) where wiring through the barrier (wall or enclosed structure) is not an option. TWall-ISHM system's key advantages are: (a) non-intrusive sensing scheme, meaning that perforations through the isolating wall are not required; (b) capability of wireless data and power transmission through the wall by robust ultrasound techniques; (c) Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) elements self-diagnostics (those used either for ultrasound communication or as sensors); (d) embedded intelligent algorithms within Transducer Interface Modules (TIM, i.e. smart sensors); (e) Network Capable Application Processor (NCAP) with high level analysis, more powerful algorithms, and standard communications; and (f) sensor network operation capability, i.e. several smart sensors on both sides of the wall and in remote locations can communicate to the NCAP.