Multi-Sensor Wireless Platform for Static RF Powering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy systems for structural integrity sensing in vehicles, such as helicopters, face challenges in efficiently powering multiple wireless sensors due to the need for mechanical or electronic steering of RF energy exciters, which is costly and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sensor wireless identification and sensing platform (MS-WISP) that uses a static radiofrequency transmission beam to wirelessly power a sensor platform, which then collects data from multiple sensors via a multiplexer, eliminating the need for energy transfer beam steering and optimizing system time for cold start and sensor status data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical or phased array steering mechanism is used to direct RF energy to multiple sensors, then each sensor can be powered individually, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A wireless sensor platform acts as an intermediary node between the RF energy exciter and multiple integrity sensors. The platform receives RF energy wirelessly and distributes it to multiple sensors through wired connections, eliminating the need for complex steering mechanisms while enabling multiple sensors to be powered simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into functional segments: an RF energy exciter for wireless power transmission, a wireless sensor platform for receiving and distributing energy, and multiple integrity sensors for data collection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently without requiring complex coordination
2Adaptability or versatility
If RF energy exciter steering is implemented to power multiple sensors, then sensor coverage is improved, but the time required for system initialization and data collection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless sensor platform is pre-configured with multiple integrity sensors and maintains a static reception beam oriented toward the RF energy exciter. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for real-time beam steering during initialization, significantly reducing cold start time while maintaining comprehensive sensor coverage
3Device complexity
If a static transmission beam is used for RF energy transmission, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to power multiple sensors simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless sensor platform serves as an intermediary that receives RF energy through a static transmission beam and redistributes it to multiple integrity sensors via wired connections. This approach maintains the simplicity of a static transmission beam while enabling simultaneous powering of multiple sensors through the platform's distribution capability
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 MS-WISP system reduces the complexity and cost of powering multiple sensors by using a static transmission beam, allowing for efficient data collection and analytics, and significantly decreases the time required for charging and data collection across multiple sensors.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna configured to receive the radiofrequency energy signal, an energy harvesting module coupled to the antenna configured to convert the radiofrequency energy signal to charge to power the sensor platform
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for wirelessly communicating with multiple sensors. In particular, a multi-sensor platform is provided that acts as an intermediary node and can communicate with multiple integrity sensors. The integrity sensors are each coupled via a wired connection to the multi-sensor platform, and the multi-sensor platform is powered wirelessly by a radiofrequency transmitter. The radiofrequency transmitter can receive data from multiple sensors via one node, the multi-sensor platform, thus allowing the radiofrequency transmitter to have a static transmission beam.