Wirelessly Activated Remote DAQ for Space (WARDS)

IC2 proposes to develop a battery-operated, ultra-low power, small form factor wireless data-acquisition (DAQ) system which has been appropriately hardened for use in spacecraft and other space systems. This system will support a variety of different sensor types and include the ability to remain dormant for at least two years while also remaining capable of rapid activation on demand. Once activated, the system will continually acquire sensor data for at least 30 days. The proposed system utilizes a distributed wireless sensor network to mitigate the challenges related to sensor installation, including technological, logistical, weight, and cost barriers. Because the proposed system uses wireless communication, it provides the end-user with the ability to deploy more sensors due to a relaxation of cable routing and weight requirements. Limiting the cable routing requirements reduces installation effort over current systems and provides for substantially more flexible sensor placement options. The primary target application for the system is instrumentation for spacecraft and other space systems, while other applications requiring environmentally hardened ultra-low power wireless instrumentation could also be supported by the system’s capabilities. Funding will be used to further establish target specifications and requirements based on NASA input and design constraints, enhance and environmentally harden the Phase I prototype, characterize the results, and perform a system-level deployment at an application-specific site.