Distributed Wireless Sensor Network for Structural Health Monitoring of Ships

In recent years, the need for highly reliable, durable and non-intrusive systems for monitoring the health condition of naval structures becomes more and more recognized. Such Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems should be able to detect failures in their early stages so that the repairs would be less expensive or, even better, it should be able to predict the critical conditions so that preventive actions can be taken to avoid possible damage. Albido proposes a system capable of structural health monitoring, particularly of measuring high-bandwidth strain and temperature of naval structures operating in extreme environments, which uses wireless true passive sensors. Albido’s sensors will be able to make both static and oscillatory strain measurements on small or large areas. Due to its small thickness and low weight, Albido’s sensors can also be used on moving structures without disturbing the aerodynamic properties. The proposed system is low cost, low maintenance, reconfigurable, adaptive, scalable up to more than 500 sensors, easy to install on new or existing structures, and does not disrupt the environment.