SENTIENT -SENsors To Inform and Enable wireless NeTworks

SENTIENT (SENsors To Inform & Enable wireless NeTworks) aims to advance aircraft structural health management (SHM) using wireless sensor hetworks, WSN. Its key innovations are:(1)Small, light, low cost, low power demand sensors, (2) Quick and flexible installation, (3) More sensors in places not practical for wired installation. The main project objectives are: (1)Develop low/ self-powered WSN for SHM with sensor energy harvesting, (2)Create a SHM process validation prototype for visualising the health of an airframe structure. The main benefits are: a reduction in aircraft downtime, improved safety and weight reduction as ~30% of electrical wires are potential candidates for a wireless substitute.The expanded wide area coverage of wireless sensor networks can bring further important benefits: • More data can be collected and more reliably across interfaces between moving parts, • Simpler designs can be developed for lighter more efficient aircraft.The potential impacts are: • Societal – increased safety and less flight departure delays, • Environmental – reduced weight and CO2, • Economic – savings in fuel, less maintenance downtime.