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Embedded Component Health Management for Rotorcraft

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W911W6-10-C-0016
Agency Tracking Number: A092-019-1547
Amount: $119,804.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A09-019
Solicitation Number: 2009.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2009-10-15
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-04-15
Small Business Information
459 Hurricane Lane Suite 102
Williston, VT 05495
United States
DUNS: 161852074
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Steven Arms
 President
 (802) 862-6629
 swarms@microstrain.com
Business Contact
 Sarah Lynch
Title: Contracts Specialist
Phone: (802) 862-6629
Email: slynch@microstrain.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Embedded usage tracking of helicopter rotating components, combined with active radio frequency identification (RFID) has the potential to reduce maintenance costs, reduce weight, maximize structural life, & enhance safety. Energy harvesting used with advanced, micro-power wireless sensing electronics, enables the realization of truly autonomous sensing and recording. The objective of this SBIR is to develop a comprehensive and networked health management capability that can be embedded directly into a rotorcraft component. This Phase I SBIR effort includes development and demonstration of embedded energy harvesting radio frequency identification (EH-RFID) nodes with capabilities of unique identification, performance monitoring, on board storage of component usage history, and remaining useful life. One of the unique aspects of this Phase I SBIR proposal is that the EH-RFID sensor nodes will be designed to consume very little energy. This facilitates continuous operation using highly miniaturized energy harvesters. This approach greatly reduces the barriers to embedded sensor installation. EH-RFIDs shall be compatible with existing wireless sensor data aggregators (WSDAs), which feature an open architecture interface to HUMS boxes. However, EH-RFID nodes will also be designed to perform autonomously on aircraft which may not have an installed HUMS system.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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