Self-Powered Sensor Node Energy Harvesting for Aircraft Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current distributed monitoring systems for aircraft lack efficient energy harvesting and power management, leading to suboptimal operation of sensor nodes due to power constraints, which affects the quality and reliability of monitoring operational states such as stresses, strains, temperatures, and pressures.

Innovation Solution

The system employs sensor nodes with self-sustaining power supplies that scavenge energy from the environment, including electromagnetic, solar, radio-frequency, vibrational, and heat energy, and incorporates a power management system that allocates energy efficiently among components, allowing nodes to operate in sleep modes or adjust monitoring parameters based on available power, ensuring optimal data collection and communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sensor nodes operate continuously to collect and transmit data, then data quality and frequency improve, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection frequencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor nodes operate in periodic cycles, alternating between active sensing/communication states and low-power sleep states. The system transmits data at specific intervals rather than continuously, allowing the node to harvest energy during idle periods and consume minimal power during sleep, thus balancing data collection frequency with power consumption constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor nodes harvest energy from their environment (vibrations, temperature differentials, RF signals) to self-sustain their operation. This self-powered capability allows the nodes to maintain continuous or near-continuous monitoring without external power sources, effectively resolving the contradiction by generating their own power on-demand

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If sensor nodes transmit data frequently, then information quality improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the sensor node monitors its own energy levels and adjusts transmission frequency accordingly. When energy is abundant, transmissions occur more frequently to maintain high information quality. When energy is scarce, the node reduces transmission frequency while maintaining operational awareness, thus balancing information quality with energy conservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission protocol is dynamic rather than static, allowing the sensor node to adapt its communication behavior based on real-time conditions including energy availability, data urgency, and network state. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the trade-off between information quality and energy consumption by transmitting only when necessary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If sensor nodes are powered continuously, then operational reliability improves, but power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidpower requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor nodes harvest and store energy in advance during periods when energy is available in the environment. Energy storage elements (capacitors or rechargeable batteries) accumulate power during low-demand periods, ensuring sufficient energy is available to maintain reliable operation during high-demand or energy-scarce periods, thus decoupling instantaneous power requirements from operational reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach enables continuous and reliable monitoring of aircraft operational states by optimizing power usage, extending sensor node functionality, and maintaining data quality even with limited power, thereby enhancing the overall monitoring system's efficiency and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric element adapted to scavange mechanical energy from vibrations of the aircraft structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a thermoelectric generator adapted to scavange heat energy from a temperature difference between an interior and an exterior of the aircraft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSeebeck effect: Seebeck Effect

Implementation Method 3

an RFID antenna adapted to scavange electromagnetic energy from RFID signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS8253587B2Power free remote sensor system data transmissions

Publication Date: 2012.08.28 LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP

AI summary

A system and method to monitor the condition of a structure is provided. In one embodiment, a sensor node can include a power supply that can scavenge available energy, a sensor for sensing conditions in the immediate environment, and a communications interface for communicating the sensed operating conditions. Readers can be used to acquire data from the sensor nodes. In one embodiment, the readers can determine if the data from the sensor nodes is an exception and, if so, determine whether trend data is sufficient.