Unmanned Air Vehicles Diagnostics/Prognostics

An integrated Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) diagnostics/prognostics system will improve the affordability, survivability, and service life of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) by ensuring the performance and reliability of high value, critical components on-board the UAV. The detection, monitoring and prediction of structural and material degradation are critical diagnoses for maintaining efficiency and battle readiness. Using its existing SHM system platform presently being field tested by Boeing and Delta Air Lines, Analatom proposes to develop an integrated central health management system for UAVs using a combination of MEMS strain gauges, Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) corrosion sensors and a Texas Instruments (TI) MSP430 microprocessor for lower weight, power and cost requirements and higher sensitivity than conventional sensors. Data transmission and downloading will be accomplished through either a hardwired approach, or through wireless data links when assessment for final system implementation is completed. Use of Motorola neuRFonTM chip for a wireless, self-organizing network that has low power requirements would be investigated and pursued. The envisioned system will meet the cost and weight requirements for UAV applications by multiplexing low cost, microfabricated MEMS strain gauges, corrosion sensors; and data acquisition, processing and subsequent data transmission via wired or wireless interface for data downloading.