System to monitor the health of a structure, sensor nodes, program product, and related methods

• US 7,276,703 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Berkcan, Ertugrul, Andarawis, Emad, Wojnarowski, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taningco; Marcus
• Application Number:
  US11/287,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20070114422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 250/358.1, 250/458.1, 250/459.1, 250/461.1, 307/112
• US Class Current: 250/358.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/00 Investigating the elasticity of structures, e.g. deflection of bridges or air-craft wings G01M9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0041 by determining deflection or stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0073 Fatigue
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0231 Composite or layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0258 Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2694 Wings or other aircraft parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/12 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

A system to monitor the health of a structure, sensor nodes, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system includes an array of health monitoring sensor nodes connected to or embedded within a structure to monitor the health of the structure. The health monitoring sensor nodes include sensor elements positioned to sense parameters of the structure and to provide data related to the parameters to a health monitoring sensor node data collector. The sensor nodes can each include an energy harvester to harvest energy to power the sensor node. The system also includes an energy distributing node positioned to provide energy to the sensor nodes, through the structure being monitored, to be harvested by energy harvester of the sensor nodes.

Claims

1. A system to monitor the health of a structure, the system comprising:

a structure to be monitored having a body;

at least one wireless energy harvesting apparatus connected to the body of the structure and positioned to monitor and transmit parameters of a portion of the body of the structure, the at least one wireless energy harvesting apparatus configured to harvest energy to supply electrical power thereto; and

an energy distributing apparatus connected to the body of the structure separate from the at least one energy harvesting apparatus and having a wireless energy transmitter positioned to provide energy to the at least one wireless energy harvesting apparatus.

2. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the body of the structure when in operation includes a first area having a first level of environmental energy to define an area of high environmental energy and a second area having a second level of environmental energy to define an area of low environmental energy, the first area spaced apart from the second area, a mean of the first level of environmental energy substantially greater than a mean of the second level of environmental energy;

wherein each of the at least one energy harvesting apparatus is positioned in the area of low environmental energy;

wherein the energy distributing apparatus includes an energy harvester to harvest energy; and

wherein the energy distributing apparatus is positioned in the area of high environmental energy to thereby harvest environmental energy from the body to power the energy distributing apparatus and to convert and distribute excess energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus positioned in the area of low environmental energy.

3. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the energy distributing apparatus includes a power storage device;

wherein the energy distributing apparatus is powered by the power storage device; and

wherein the energy distributing apparatus is adapted to obtain energy from the power storage device to power the energy distributing apparatus and to convert and distribute excess energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus, the distributed excess energy in the form of one of the following types of energy;

acoustic energy, radiofrequency energy, electromagnetic energy, optical energy, thermal energy, and vibration energy.

4. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the structure includes a portion of an aircraft having an aircraft power grid;

wherein the energy distributing apparatus is powered by the aircraft power grid; and

wherein the energy distributing apparatus is adapted to obtain energy from the aircraft power grid to power the energy distributing apparatus and to convert and distribute excess energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus, the distributed excess energy in the form of one of the following types of energy;

acoustic energy, radiofrequency energy, electromagnetic energy, optical energy, thermal energy, and vibration energy.

5. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the energy distributing apparatus is powered by an energy source having a first energy form;

and

wherein the energy distributing apparatus is adapted to obtain energy from the energy source to power the energy distributing apparatus and to convert and distribute excess energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus, the distributed excess energy having a second energy form.

6. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the energy distributing apparatus provides acoustic energy as an acoustic signal to a portion of the body of the structure to thereby transfer acoustic energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus;

and

wherein the at least one energy harvesting apparatus includes an acoustic energy harvester positioned to harvest a portion of the acoustic signal to convert the harvested portion of the acoustic signal to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the energy harvesting apparatus.

7. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the energy distributing apparatus provides radiofrequency energy as a radiofrequency signal to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus to thereby transfer radiofrequency energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus;

and

wherein the at least one energy harvesting apparatus includes a radiofrequency energy harvester positioned to harvest a portion of the radio frequency signal from the energy distributing apparatus to convert the harvested portion of the radiofrequency signal to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the energy harvesting apparatus.

8. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the energy distributing apparatus provides electromagnetic energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus to thereby transfer energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus;

and

wherein the at least one energy harvesting apparatus includes an electromagnetic energy harvester positioned to harvest a portion of the electromagnetic energy from the energy distributing apparatus to convert the harvested portion of the electromagnetic energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the energy harvesting apparatus.

9. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the at least one energy harvesting apparatus has an optical pathway to a portion of the energy distributing apparatus;

wherein the energy distributing apparatus provides optical energy as an optical signal to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus to thereby transfer energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus; and

wherein each of the at least one energy harvesting apparatus includes an optical energy harvester positioned to harvest a portion of the optical signal from the energy distributing apparatus to convert the harvested portion of the optical signal to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the energy harvesting apparatus.

10. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the energy distributing apparatus provides thermal energy to a portion of the body of the structure to thereby transfer thermal energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus;

and

wherein each of the at least one energy harvesting apparatus include a thermal energy harvester positioned to harvest a portion of the thermal energy from the energy distributing apparatus to convert the harvested portion of the thermal energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the energy harvesting apparatus.

11. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the energy distributing apparatus provides vibration energy to a portion of the body of the structure to thereby transfer vibration energy to the at least one energy harvesting apparatus;

and

wherein each energy harvesting apparatus of the at least one energy harvesting apparatus includes a vibration energy harvester positioned to harvest a portion of the vibration energy to convert the harvested portion of the vibration energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the energy harvesting apparatus.

12. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the system includes an interrogator having an antenna arrangement positioned to provide a signal indicative of a request for data from the at least one energy harvesting apparatus and to receive requested data therefrom;

and

wherein the at least one energy harvesting apparatus includes a first antenna positioned to receive the signal from and provide data to the interrogator and having a first preselected resonant frequency tuned to provide for substantial transmission energy efficiency, and a second antenna positioned to harvest energy and having a second preselected resonant frequency tuned to provide for substantial energy conversion efficiency, the second preselected resonant frequency selected based upon a material composition of the body of the structure, the energy conversion efficiency dependent upon the material composition of the body of the structure.

13. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the system includes an interrogator having a transmitter arrangement positioned to provide a signal indicative of a request for data from the at least one energy harvesting apparatus and to receive requested data therefrom;

and

wherein the at least one energy harvesting apparatus includes a first receiver arrangement positioned to receive the signal from and provide data to the interrogator and having a first preselected receive frequency to provide for substantial transmission energy efficiency, and a second receiver arrangement positioned to harvest energy and having a second preselected receive frequency spaced apart from that of the first preselected receive frequency to provide for substantial energy conversion efficiency, the second preselected receive frequency selected based upon a material composition of the body of the structure, the energy conversion efficiency dependent upon the material composition of the body of the structure.

14. The system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the system includes an interrogator having an optical transmitter arrangement positioned to provide an optical signal indicative of a request for data from the at least one energy harvesting apparatus and to receive requested data therefrom;

and

wherein the at least one energy harvesting apparatus includes a first optical receiver positioned to receive the optical signal from and provide data to the interrogator and having a first preselected frequency, and a second optical receiver positioned to harvest energy and having a second preselected frequency spaced apart from that of the first preselected receive frequency, the second preselected frequency providing different scatter properties than the first preselected frequency.

15. A multi-node sensor system to monitor the health of a structure, the system comprising:

a structure to be monitored having a body including both a first area having a first level of environmental energy to define an area of high environmental energy and a second area having a second level of environmental energy to define an area of low environmental energy when in operation, the first area spaced apart from the second area, a mean of the first level of environmental energy substantially greater than a mean of the second level of environmental energy;

a plurality of separate wireless energy harvesting structural health monitoring sensor nodes each connected to or embedded within the body of the structure to monitor structural health of a portion of the body of the structure and positioned in the area of low environmental energy; and

an energy distributing node connected to the body of the structure, having an energy harvester to harvest energy and a wireless energy transmitter to provide energy through the body of the structure to each of the plurality of energy harvesting structural health monitoring sensor nodes, and positioned in the area of high environmental energy to thereby obtain environmental energy from the body to power the energy distributing node and to convert and distribute excess energy through the body of the structure to the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes positioned in the area of low environmental energy.

16. The system as defined in claim 15,

wherein the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes is a first plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes;

wherein each of the first plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes is also an energy distributing node;

wherein the system includes a second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes, each also an energy distributing node;

wherein the second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes is positioned in the area of high environmental energy; and

wherein each of the first plurality of health monitoring sensor nodes is positioned to harvest energy from the environment, energy radiated from adjacent ones of the first plurality of health monitoring sensor nodes, and energy radiated from adjacent ones of the second plurality of health monitoring sensor nodes.

17. The system as defined in claim 15,

wherein the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes is a first plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes;

wherein each of the first plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes is also an energy distributing node;

wherein the system includes a second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes, each also an energy distributing node;

wherein the second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes is positioned in the area of high environmental energy; and

wherein each of the first plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes is positioned to harvest energy from that radiated from adjacent ones of the first plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes and that radiated from adjacent ones of the second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes, and not directly from that inherently produced by the environment.

18. The system as defined in claim 15,

wherein the energy distributing node distributes energy having a first form;

wherein each sensor node of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes includes a processor, a storage device to store excess power interfaced with the processor, a sensor to sense parameters of the body of the structure interfaced with the processor, memory interfaced with the processor to store sensed parameter data, a communication arrangement interfaced with the processor to receive and provide data signals, and a first energy harvester interfaced with the processor and positioned to harvest environmental energy having a second form from the body of the structure to convert the harvested vibration energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power for the sensor node; and

wherein at least one sensor node of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes also includes a second energy harvester interfaced with the processor and positioned to harvest energy distributed from the energy distributing node having the first form.

19. The system as defined in claim 18,

wherein the first form of energy includes at least one of the following types of energy:

acoustic energy, radiofrequency energy, electromagnetic energy, optical energy, thermal energy, and vibration energy;

wherein the first energy harvester includes a vibration energy harvester positioned to harvest environmental vibration energy from the body of the structure having a first frequency range to convert the harvested vibration energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power for the sensor node; and

wherein the second energy harvester includes at least one of the following;

an acoustic energy harvester positioned to harvest acoustic energy distributed to the body of the structure by the energy distributing node as an acoustic signal to convert the harvested acoustic energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node,

a radiofrequency energy harvester positioned to harvest radio frequency energy distributed from the energy distributing node as a radiofrequency signal to convert the harvested radiofrequency energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node,

an electromagnetic energy harvester positioned to harvest electromagnetic energy distributed from the energy distributing node to convert the harvested portion of the electromagnetic energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node,

an optical energy harvester positioned to harvest optical energy distributed from the energy distributing node to convert the harvested portion of the optical signal to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node,

a thermal energy harvester positioned to harvest thermal energy distributed from the energy distributing node to convert the harvested portion of the thermal energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node, and

a vibration energy harvester positioned to harvest a portion of the vibration energy distributed from the energy distributing node and having a second frequency range to convert the harvested portion of the vibration energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node.

20. The system as defined in claim 18,

wherein the first form of energy includes at least one of the following types of energy:

acoustic energy, radiofrequency energy, electromagnetic energy, optical energy, thermal energy, and vibration energy;

wherein the first energy harvester includes a thermal energy harvester positioned to harvest environmental thermal energy from the body of the structure to convert the harvested thermal energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power for the sensor node; and

wherein the second energy harvester includes at least one of the following;

an acoustic energy harvester positioned to harvest acoustic energy distributed to the body of the structure by the energy distributing node as an acoustic signal to convert the harvested acoustic energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node,

a radiofrequency energy harvester positioned to harvest radio frequency energy distributed from the energy distributing node as a radiofrequency signal to convert the harvested radiofrequency energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node,

an electromagnetic energy harvester positioned to harvest electromagnetic energy distributed from the energy distributing node to convert the harvested portion of the electromagnetic energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node,

an optical energy harvester positioned to harvest optical energy distributed from the energy distributing node to convert the harvested portion of the optical signal to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node, and

a vibration energy harvester positioned to harvest a portion of the vibration energy distributed from the energy distributing node to convert the harvested portion of the vibration energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to the sensor node.

21. The system as defined in claim 15,

wherein the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes is a first plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes;

wherein the system also includes a second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes each positioned to monitor health of another portion of the body of the structure to thereby form an array of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to monitor the health of the body of the structure;

wherein the energy distributing node is a first energy distributing node; and

wherein the system also includes a second energy distributing node connected to the body of the structure having an energy transmitter to provide energy through the body of the structure to each of the second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to thereby form an array of energy distributing nodes to provide energy to each of the first and the second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes.

22. The system as defined in claim 21,

wherein the structure is a wing of an aircraft;

and

wherein the system includes an interrogator apparatus positioned within the aircraft and in data communication with;

a first data collector connected to the wing and positioned adjacent a first subset of the first and second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to provide a signal indicative of a request for data from the first subset of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes and to receive requested data therefrom, and

a second data collector connected to the wing separate and spaced apart from the first antenna and positioned adjacent a second subset of the first and second plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to provide a signal indicative of a request for data from the second subset of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes and to receive requested data therefrom.

23. A method of providing energy to health monitoring sensor nodes connected to a structure, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a plurality of separate wireless energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes on or within a first portion of a body of a structure having insufficient environmental energy to allow desired operation of each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes defining an area of low environmental energy;

positioning an energy distributing node on or within a second portion of the body of the structure, the energy distributing node having a wireless energy transmitter to transmit excess energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting structural health monitoring sensor nodes positioned in the area of low environmental energy; and

transmitting excess energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting structural health monitoring sensor nodes by the energy distributing node to thereby provide energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to allow for desired operation of each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes during a preselected phase of activity of the structure.

24. The method as defined in claim 23,

wherein the step of positioning the energy distributing node on or within a portion of the body of the structure includes positioning the energy distributing node on or within a portion of the body of the structure having excess environmental energy necessary to allow substantially continuous operation of the energy distributing node during the preselected phase of activity of the structure;

wherein the energy distributing node includes an energy harvester to harvest environmental energy; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of harvesting energy with the energy harvester of the energy distributing node to thereby obtain environmental energy from the body to power the energy distributing node and to convert and distribute excess energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes positioned in the area of low environmental energy.

25. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing acoustic energy as an acoustic signal to a portion of the body of the structure to thereby transfer acoustic energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes; and

harvesting a portion of the acoustic signal by each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to convert the harvested portion of the acoustic signal to electrical energy to thereby provide power to each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes.

26. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing radiofrequency energy as a radiofrequency signal to the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to thereby transfer radiofrequency energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes; and

harvesting a portion of the radiofrequency signal by each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to convert the harvested portion of the radiofrequency signal to electrical energy to thereby provide power to each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes.

27. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing electromagnetic energy to the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to thereby transfer energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes; and

harvesting a portion of the electromagnetic energy by each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to convert the harvested portion of the electromagnetic energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes.

28. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing light energy as an optical signal to the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to thereby transfer energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes; and

harvesting a portion of the optical signal by each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to convert the harvested portion of the optical signal to electrical energy to thereby provide power to each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes.

29. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing thermal energy to a portion of the body of the structure to thereby transfer thermal energy to each of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes; and

harvesting a portion of the thermal energy by each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to convert the harvested portion of the thermal energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes.

30. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

providing vibration energy to a portion of the body of the structure to thereby transfer vibration energy to each of the plurality of health monitoring sensor nodes; and

harvesting a portion of the vibration energy by each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes to convert the harvested portion of the vibration energy to electrical energy to thereby provide power to each respective one of the plurality of energy harvesting health monitoring sensor nodes.