Through Wall Wireless Intelligent Sensor and Health Monitoring (TWall-ISHM) System

To support development at NASA’s Stennis Space Center (SSC) testing facilities and infrastructure for the monitoring of remote or inaccessible measurement locations, American GNC Corporation (AGNC) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) have developed the Through Wall Wireless Intelligent Sensor and Health Monitoring (TWall-ISHM) System. This technology allows deploying flexible instrumentation and health monitoring capability in fully enclosed areas such as vacuum jacketed pipelines or pressurized tanks by a non-intrusive data and energy transfer through-wall system where perforations are avoided, maintaining structural integrity of monitored systems. Major innovations and capabilities are: (a) non-intrusive sensing where holes in isolating walls are not required; (b) wireless data and power transmission through solid walls by robust ultrasound techniques; (c) self-diagnostics of piezoelectric (PZT) elements used either for ultrasound communications or as sensors; (d) embedded intelligent algorithms in the TIMs (Transducer Interface Modules), i.e. smart sensors; and (e) sensor network operation capability, i.e. smart sensors on both sides of the wall and in remote locations can communicate to a network coordinator. TWall-ISHM is an integral solution with Instrumentation and Measurement methods, advanced ultrasound communications (in addition to RF and wired communication), and health monitoring in an innovative yet practical product.