Tiny Wireless Networked MEMS Sensors (TWINES)

NextGen Aeronautics Inc., encouraged by Phase I accomplishments, proposes a carefully planned Phase II program to significantly mature and align the development of wireless MEMS sensors with the Air Force (AFRL/PR) requirements. At the same time, the Phase II development will be placed on an accelerated path to commercialization with a near-term focus on TWINES in a laboratory environment. Phase II goals include: maturing the sensor packaging; developing remote reprogramming and battery charging; and, testing a multi-sensor Bluetooth networked system in realistic environment. To efficiently and cost-effectively achieve Phase II goals, NextGen has teamed with ZBA, Inc, a global provider of data collection products, and the University of Southern California. The Phase II refinements and optimization will provide a significant improvement in functionality of wireless MEMS and will culminate in a value added product satisfying customer identified needs. The team will improve packaging to a swappable modular design that will allow efficient and robust transmission of data, swapping of sensor modules, and easy programmability of data acquisition parameters. Proposed software based improvements will decrease power usage resulting in a much smaller battery or longer time between recharging the battery. Such a sensor package will have a wide commercial application base.