Wireless Brake and Tire Monitoring System (WBTMS)

The Wireless Tire and Brake Monitoring System (WTBMS) is designed to take real time measurements of key tire and brake parameters during and immediately post landing and relay them to ground operators. This data will provide insight into the conditions experienced by Air Force equipment during landing, but more importantly will provide a quick and accurate way of making "go/no go" decisions on approaching an aircraft, greatly increasing ground crew safety during testing. In Phase I, the necessary sensor technologies were validated, and a sub-miniature data gathering, processing, and transmitting module was designed. In order to create a deployable device based on these electronics, Phase II will address the mechanical and integration issues necessary to ensure the survival of the electronics package in the challenging thermal and mechanical environment of the landing strut. A rigorous test regime utilizing conditions as close to a real landing as possible in a laboratory setting will be used to prepare the WTBMS for operational use. BENEFIT: Catastrophic tire failure during aircraft testing poses an unacceptable risk to personnel and material. Currently to mitigate that risk, a "cool down" waiting period, usually about 45 minutes, is used between trial runs, reducing the efficiency of flight and ground testing. If measurement of key landing parameters (tire temperature, brake stack temperature and tire pressure) were automated, it would allow both increased levels of safety when approaching the aircraft, and better optimized testing schedules. Technologies exist to provide such measurements, but both lack sufficient range to reduce risk, and has not been designed to function and survive in the extreme conditions necessary for testing of military aircraft. Templeman Automation''s Wireless Tire and Brake Monitoring System will provide measurement of key landing parameters and meet military aircraft testing needs.