In recent years, the need for highly reliable, durable and non-intrusive systems for monitoring the health condition of naval structures becomes more and more recognized. Of particular importance is the condition based maintenance of Navy rotating machinery (motors, generators, pumps, gear systems, etc.). Such Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems should be able to detect failures in their early stages so that the repairs would be less expensive or, even better, it should be able to predict the critical conditions so that preventive actions can be taken to avoid possible damage. Albido proposes a novel system capable of structural health monitoring, particularly of measuring high-bandwidth torque of naval rotating machinery operating in extreme environments, which uses wireless true passive sensors. Albidos sensors will be able to make both static and dynamic torque measurements on small or large shafts. Due to its small thickness and low weight, Albidos sensors can be used on moving structures without disturbing the aerodynamic properties. The proposed system is low cost, low maintenance, reconfigurable, adaptive, scalable, easy to install on new or existing structures, and does not disrupt the environment.
Benefit: The proposed technology allows sensors to be placed on various rotating structures to monitor their structural health. The sensors are inexpensive and a multitude of them can be used and monitored simultaneously. The technology is ubiquitous, that means it is applicable to many DoD platforms and a wide variety of components such as gas turbine and piston engine components, transmission parts, etc. The proposed wireless technology is easy to install and reconfigure, which makes it very adaptive to any specific application. In the commercial field, Albidos sensors are attractive for structural health monitoring of commercial naval and aerospace structures and components (e.g. jet engines), power plant turbo generators, wind turbines and more. However, since Albidos sensors are also low cost, many consumer applications are attractive. Automotive and other industries can also benefit from this type of sensors.
Keywords: torque sensor, torque sensor, Strain sensor, Distributed Sensor Network, structural health monitoring, conformal sensor, passive sensor, Wireless sensor, Condition Based Maintenance
