Integrated Aircraft Sensor Network for Real Time Leak Detection

ABSTRACT: Aircraft damage resulting from environmental exposure and fluid leaks constitute a major portion of the costs associated with aircraft repairs and lead to significantly reduced mission readiness. The ability to identify contaminant exposure within airframes and inform maintenance personnel of leaks, corrosive environments, and chemical contaminants in difficult to access areas will allow for enhanced condition based maintenance, reducing costs and increasing aircraft availability. In order to provide the Air Force with increased visibility into airframe contamination, Luna proposes to develop a wireless network of intelligent sensors for real time characterization of environmental exposure coupled with next generation aircraft maintenance tracking tools for an end-to-end solution. The system will provide meaningful information to the aircraft maintenance crew by combining Luna"s flight tested sensor suite to measure and identify contaminants that can lead to corrosion damage with the ICARR-3D point of maintenance corrosion management tool pioneered by our development partner Mercer Engineering Research Center. The Phase I effort will focus on developing a reliable wireless sensor system integrated with advanced off-aircraft maintenance tools. A technology integration plan will be developed and the Phase I effort will conclude with a comprehensive demonstration of the real time leak detection system. BENEFIT: Corrosion and contaminant related damage costs the military and commercial aircraft operators billions of dollars each year in associated inspection and maintenance. The system developed under this effort will allow maintainers to locate contamination issues within an airframe in a timely manner and focus their efforts on correcting these conditions, rather than identifying leaks and subsequent damage at scheduled inspection intervals. By identifying contamination when it occurs, labor and costs to remediate the contamination and effect repairs will be reduced and aircraft availability will increase. Furthermore, a system that identifies the level, location, and type of contamination will allow maintainers to identify faults associated with leaks, broken seals, and other component failures that degrade aircraft safety and performance. The benefits gained by both military and commercial aircraft operators will allow for increased asset availability and reliability with minimal upfront installation investments.