UAV Condition Tracking System (UCTS)

International Electronic Machines Corp. (IEM), a leader in sensor-based solutions for maintenance, safety, and security, will develop the Unmanned Air Vehicle Condition Tracking System (UCTS). UCTS will consist in hardware of self-contained, miniature, very lightweight intelligent wireless Condition Monitoring Sensor Nodes (CMSNs) able to use multiple sensors of varying types to track strain, detect anomalous heating, vibration, buffet, acoustic (sound) signals such as bearing screech or grind, and other parameters, and a Central Network Processing Unit (CNPU) which will be able to gather all data from the CMSNs, process or relay the data, and integrates with onboard IMMC or similar systems. UCTS software will include CMSN and CNPU code for real-time fault detection as well as data collection and processing for long-term PHM use. Interface and “back-end” PHM processing will be developed in cooperation with Technical Data Analysis, Inc. (TDA), already known for their PHM-related work on fixed-wing and rotorcraft platforms. UCTS is also supported by Northrop Grumman, manufacturer of the Global Hawk UAV, who will provide invaluable information on this platform. UCTS will draw on nearly four million dollars of related work on wireless sensor, condition-based maintenance, energy harvesting, and related fields for NAVAIR and others.