SENTIENT -SENsors To Inform and Enable wireless NeTworks

Lead Participant: HW COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

Abstract

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.

Lead Participant

Project Cost

Grant Offer

HW COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED £455,739 £ 273,443
 

Participant

ULTRA ELECTRONICS LIMITED £93,838 £ 46,919
BAE SYSTEMS (OPERATIONS) LIMITED £250,815 £ 125,407
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER £151,440 £ 151,440
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY £143,922 £ 143,922
AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED £100,000 £ 50,000
TWI LIMITED £189,425 £ 189,425
INNOVATE UK
NEDEAS LTD £185,036 £ 111,021

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