Ultra low cost wireless corrosion sensor for ground vehicles

The Army spends an estimated $2 billion to $2.5 billion per year addressing corrosion-related issues with Army ground vehicles. Corrosion also has a significant impact on force readiness. Army ground vehicles that require corrosion-related repairs are typically out of service for many months. Corrosion has also been shown to dramatically shorten vehicle life. Low cost and easy-to-use corrosion/corrosivity sensors offer the potential to dramatically reduce vehicle life cycle costs and improve readiness. Knowledge of corrosion state and environment enables more effective corrosion mitigation and prediction. To address this critical defense need, Luna Innovations proposes to develop a corrosion/corrosivity sensor system specifically designed for the rigorous operational environment of Army ground vehicles. The proposed system will be ultra low cost, passive and wireless. It will be based on commercially available technology, will not require wired or battery power, and will enable remote interrogation and placement where needed around the vehicle. Luna has assembled the highly qualified, multidisciplinary team required for a successful program and has a history of bringing novel research from the laboratory to commercial markets.