Weapon System Intermittent Fault Detection

ABSTRACT: Weapon systems or other high value electrical systems within the US military are all subject to wiring faults and degradation. Additionally, weapon systems are kept in service longer because of shrinking defense budgets, further compounding the risks associated with wiring systems. The ability to detect and provide the location of existing wiring problems or pending failures is critical. LiveWire Test Labs demonstrated during SBIR phase I that its Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometer technology provided critical wiring diagnostic information and proved viable the use of this technology to detect and report the location of intermittent faults and anomalous electrical system conditions. Under SBIR Phase II LiveWire will develop an integrated weapon system diagnostic solution that will operate in real-time and provide wiring system health data within realistic weapon system operating conditions. The research will focus on maximizing intermittent fault location accuracy and providing a reactive coupling technique as specified by the Air Force. Additionally, LiveWire will address platform specific issues such as communication protocols, wiring topography, source and load characteristics, and existing prognostic indicators or metrics. The integration of spread spectrum reflectometry into a weapon system will be fully demonstrated and specified, ultimately leading to implementation on specific high value systems within the US military arsenal. BENEFIT: LiveWire has developed cutting edge technology that operates in"real-time"to detect and locate intermittent fault conditions in live sensitive and high noise environments (e.g. live LV and MV electrical power lines, communication lines, sensor lines, as well as other cable and wiring applications). LiveWire products and services reduce maintenance, troubleshooting, and monitoring costs, increase system reliability, and can extend the useful life of systems and structures by providing accurate monitoring and suggestive troubleshooting of system health.