Smart Autonomous Miniaturized Contamination Condition Sensor with Embedded Prognostics

LURACO Technologies, Inc. proposes to develop a low-cost, accurate, and smart Multi-tasked Sensor (MultiSENS) that can be used to sense both the filter health as well as the fluid conditions. MultiSENS will directly replace the current Delta P indicator that is being used on current legacy aircrafts without interfering with the current wiring harnesses or system modification. MultiSENS can measure the differential pressure across the filter and determine the filter condition and predict the schedule for filter replacement. The basic function of MultiSENS is to automatically analyze and report the filter and oil condition. The proposed MultiSENS will be a complete, stand-alone sensing device that uses a MEMS multi-sensor chip to measure the pressure, dielectric constant, and temperature of fluid. MultiSENS will monitor the fluid and filter continuously or at scheduled intervals. The data captured by MultiSENS will be available for download via its data port, which implements a military-compatible communication protocol.