Reconfigurable Structural and Aerodynamic State Sensing System For Multi-Functional Structures

A reconfigurable structural and aerodynamic state sensing system will be developed for determining the internal states such as temperature, strain, loads, deformations, shape and damage, as well as external states such as stagnation point, separation point and surface pressure profile. The effort will require development of instrumentation and integration techniques for interfacing distributed, dissimilar sensors with intelligent measurement electronics subsystems to provide direct aerostructural feedback for deformation compensation and structural health monitoring. Emerging sensor fabrication technologies such as direct write and thin film electronics will be used to enable reconfigurable sensor arrays that are embeddable, low cost, and redundant. Tao Systems'''''''''''''''' high sensitivity, large bandwidth, active sensor circuit design uniquely combined with a programmable switching network will be used to configure and operate strain gauges, temperature, hot-film and pressure sensors, and accelerometers with minimal power consumption and increased accuracy. The proposed technology will lead to increased distributed sensor reliability without sacrificing sensor bandwidth, sensitivity or multi-functionality for obtaining sub-millisecond response structural and aerodynamic state. BENEFIT: The proposed technology is applicable to all classes of future military vehicles (small UAV''''s to transports) featuring unitized composite airframe construction. This technology would be applicable to commercial transportation systems that utilize composite structures such as aircraft, ships, automobiles, trucks, etc. It will also find application in wind turbine blades and rotorcraft systems.