Hierarchical Sensor Node Protection for Fire Deployment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency rescue sensor nodes face challenges in deployment, resistance to catastrophic environments, effective environmental information acquisition, and high costs, with existing solutions either insulating sensor modules from the environment or failing to provide adequate protection against collisions and extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
A wireless sensor node with a hierarchical protection structure featuring a primary sealed ABS spherical inner shell filled with EPE cushioning foam, a flame-retardant and thermal-insulating nanometer aerogel layer, and a secondary strengthened spherical nylon outer shell with rubber dampers and vent holes, allowing full environmental contact while ensuring core module insulation and robust collision resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fully closed packaging manner is used to protect the sensor module, then the protection performance is improved, but the sensor module is insulated from the external environment, making it difficult to acquire environmental information
Solution Approach 1:
The protection structure is divided into two independent parts: a sealed protection shell for core circuit modules and an open protection structure for the sensor module. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the sealed shell protects electronics while the open structure enables environmental sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the protection structure have different sealing characteristics. The core circuit module area is fully sealed for protection, while the sensor module area is open to the environment for accurate sensing. This local differentiation of quality resolves the contradiction between protection and sensing.
2Device complexity
If only buffering springs are used for collision protection, then the structure is simple, but the damping requirement cannot be met during violent collision, causing node hardware modules to be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The protection structure combines buffering springs with EPE foam filling material. The springs provide elastic rebound force while the EPE foam provides viscous damping. This composite approach enhances collision resistance beyond what either material could achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The EPE foam is pre-filled into the protection shell to provide immediate cushioning protection. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when collision occurs, the sensor module and core circuits are already protected by the foam's energy-absorbing properties.
3Reliability
If metal springs are used for buffering protection, then the damping performance is improved, but the metal springs absorb electromagnetic waves, reducing communication quality of the node
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses EPE foam, a flexible polymeric material, instead of metal springs. This flexible material provides the necessary damping performance while being electrically insulating, thus preventing electromagnetic wave absorption and maintaining communication quality.
4Device complexity
If no flame-retardant and thermal-insulating layer is disposed, then the structure is simple, but the buffering protector cannot work normally in special application environments such as a fire disaster
Solution Approach 1:
The protection structure incorporates a nanometer aerogel insulation blanket, which provides both flame retardancy and thermal insulation. This composite material approach enables the sensor node to survive in fire disaster environments while maintaining the relatively simple overall structure.
5Reliability
If the spherical shell is connected through welding, then the sealing performance is improved, but it is adverse to assembly, disassembly, and reuse, and increases costs
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical shell is divided into an upper half and a lower half that can be separately assembled. This segmentation, combined with threaded connection, allows the shell to be disassembled for sensor replacement or battery replacement, enabling reuse while maintaining sealing performance through the thread engagement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hierarchical protection structure enables reliable deployment, accurate environmental data acquisition, maintains communication quality, and adapts to extreme conditions like fires, while reducing costs through a split-type design and efficient material usage.
Implementation Method 1
gaps in the ABS spherical inner shell are filled with EPE cushioning foam
Implementation Method 2
a flame-retardant and thermal-insulating layer made of a nanometer aerogel insulation blanket is covered on the outside of the ABS spherical inner shell
Implementation Method 3
an inner wall of the spherical nylon outer shell and an outer wall of the ABS spherical inner shell are connected and supported by a group of rubber dampers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a wireless sensor node with a hierarchical protection structure, including a node hardware circuit and a node hierarchical protection structure. The node hardware circuit includes a sensor module, a data processor module and a wireless communication module, and the node hierarchical protection structure includes a primary sealed protection structure and a secondary strengthened protection structure; the primary sealed protection structure includes an ABS spherical inner shell; the data processor module and the wireless communication module are disposed in the ABS spherical inner shell; gaps in the ABS spherical inner shell are filled with EPE cushioning foam; a flame-retardant and thermal-insulating layer made of a nanometer aerogel insulation blanket is covered on the outside of the ABS spherical inner shell; the secondary strengthened protection structure includes a spherical nylon outer shell with vent holes; the spherical nylon outer shell and the ABS spherical inner shell are connected with each other through support of rubber dampers; and the sensor module is disposed in the spherical nylon outer shell. The node according to the present invention can be deployed by ejection, is highly adaptive to catastrophes, can acquire environmental information effectively, and has relatively low costs.