Handheld Electronics EHM Sensor Probe for Determination of Remaining Useful Life

National Aeronautical and Space Administration's (NASA) Aviation Safety Program "seeks capabilities furthering the practice of proactive safety management." One area of particular interest is the prognostication of Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of avionic systems. In response, Nokomis is proposing to develop an Electronic Health Monitoring (EHM) Sensor Unit which would be able provide accurate estimates of the RUL of avionic systems. This sensor module would identify changes in the unintended Radio Frequency (RF) emissions of various flight-system electronic components to determine the current health state and predict the future reliability of the scanned system. Designed as a handheld unit which would allow for system scans of components while installed in the aircraft, the EHM Sensor Unit would be capable of scanning and returning real-time RUL prediction results. This real-time capability would allow for frequent maintenance monitoring, including during the brief turnaround periods experienced at the gate. This technology would allow NASA, as well as flight-system and aviation maintenance providers, to better monitor the electronic health of these critical avionic components, as well as better predict their future lifespan, allowing for systems to be repaired or replaced prior to an unanticipated failure.