While wireless sensor development has traditionally focused primarily on consumer and commercial markets, its application in industrial markets is generally more technically challenging due to the need for a higher level of robustness and tolerance to harsh environment conditions. Large scale deployment of wireless sensors in power plants had been limited due to temperature control of electronics, high temperature tolerance of energy harvesters, reliability supplying voltage to the sensors, and energy harvester mechanical robustness. KCF Technologies has developed a way to enable continuous wireless vibration monitoring implemented onto high-temperature pieces of power plant equipment. Furthermore, these robust, high-temperature energy harvesters can power sensors with no outside power other than the thermal and vibrational energy they convert to electricity.

Funding source: US Department of Energy SBIR 2010

Reducing maintenance requirements and extending the life of military equipment are Navy-wide needs. For Navy rotorcraft, cost and maintenance savings are realized by improving the assessment of the health of dynamic components and management of their past, current, and projected life. Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) are addressing this need for some components on rotorcraft. Current HUMS monitor only the most life critical components because of installation costs, weight, complexity, and possibility of wire failure. Wireless sensing is an emerging technology that is enabling cost reduction and increased sensing for military and industrial needs. However, batteries render the solutions infeasible because of weight and maintenance concerns. KCF Technologies has developed vibration power harvesting devices for self-powered sensors using single-crystal piezoelectric materials.

Funding source: US Naval Air Systems Command SBIR N07-076