Smart, Universal, and Intelligent Vibration Sensor System

To address the Navy need for ultra-reliable ice/crack detection sensor technology, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Smart, Universal, and Intelligent Vibration Sensor (SUNIVIS) system. This proposed device is based on an ultrareliable self-diagnostic acoustic vibration sensor integrating a highly reliable noncontacting wireless communication link for real-time detection, analysis, and prediction. The SUNIVIS will use an innovative torsion vibration sensor with a small low power consuming microcontroller, which has 8-bit processor architecture and 11 channels of analog-to-digital (ADC) at 10 bit resolution, and a serial data interface for the wired communication link at up to 256 Kbps. The wireless link will communicate with ISM 2.4 GHz (or 915 MHz for lower data rates) frequency radio. The innovation in SUNIVIS will enable the self-diagnostic vibration sensors to be installed in unreachable or hazardous areas. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of SUNIVIS by demonstrating the detection of ice and cracks in metal and plastic composite sheet without the need to machine contour the lower surface. In Phase II POC plans to develop a fully working sensor system with an inexpensive microcontroller, serial data interface, analog interface, wireless/wired communication interface, and smart reporting embedded software.