SBIR-STTR Award

Development of an Aircraft Nodal Data Acquisition System (ANDAS) is proposed. The proposed methodology employs the development of a very thin (135?m) hybrid microminiature sensor assembly (MSA) incorporating a micro-electro-mechanical-sensor (MEMS) array, a short-haul radio transceiver, a data mux, memory, power management module, a replaceable battery cartridge, and an antenna. Various MSA packaging concepts will be evaluated using modified MEMS and commercially available ICs (in die form). A final packaging design for batch fabrication in Phase II will be developed. The MSA would be designed as a cement-and-forget-device (except for the battery). A cpomactPCI modular host would manage the MSA nodes as a part of a scatternet/piconet arrangement. The host will be almost entirely made up of COTS hardware and software. Cost estimates for MSA and the host system will be provided.

Development of an Aircraft Nodal Data Acquisition System (ANDAS) based upon the short haul Zigbee networking standard is proposed. It employs a very thin (135 um) hybrid microminiature sensor assembly (MSA) and a host module with USB interface. At several nodes on the aircarft, MSAs are cemented for measurement. They transmit the measured data to the host module plugged into a PC. The MSA incorporates an integrated sensor (capable of measuring pressure, temperature, acceleration and surface strains), a microcontroller, a Zigbee transceiver and a battery for power. The host module incorporates a microcontroller and a Zigbee transceiver. In Phase I these modules were designed after trade-off analyses and experimental evaluation of the sensors and networking hardware. Based upon the design, the PCB packages for the MSA and the host module were built for initial characterization and testing during Phase II. In this phase the MSA design would be refined as a cement-and-forget-device (except for the battery).