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Weapon System Intermittent Fault Detection

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-09-M-2026
Agency Tracking Number: F083-113-2526
Amount: $99,949.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF083-113
Solicitation Number: 2008.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2009-06-15
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-03-17
Small Business Information
5330 South 900 East Suite 150
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
United States
DUNS: 142116404
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Paul Smith
 President
 (801) 293-8300
 psmith@livewiretest.com
Business Contact
 Paul Smith
Title: President
Phone: (801) 293-8300
Email: psmith@livewiretest.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The objective of this proposal is to develop a feasible design for intermittent electrical fault detection and location for a weapons system using analog S/SSTDR for continual monitoring. We have already demonstrated the feasibility of the basic S/SSTDR technology for live aircraft in flight where analog real-time, randomly occurring, anomalous or intermittent age-related failure events are commonly not reproducible on the ground.  In this project we will address the specific design considerations for full system deployment in both airborne and ground-based systems.  This will include location, size, and weight of the sensors, power management (battery, power scavenging, etc.), data acquisition (wireless, infrared, etc.), feedback, and analysis (on board / off board), assessment of the required speed of acquisition and testing, the decision structure for responding to detected events. BENEFITS: POTENTIAL AIR FORCE COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS  The system being designed for this project is a weapon system test and maintenance method that is focused on finding intermittent faults and problems associated with age and incidental damage in an electrical wiring system.  In addition to all weapon systems, all aircraft could benefit from similar application of the technology.  This technology offers significant improvements in maintenance strategy for any application where there are intermittent electrical failures where the root cause is not easily found. POTENTIAL NON-AIR FORCE COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS  In addition to the Air Force applications, similar opportunities naturally exist in the commercial aerospace industry as well. This project paves the way for future in-flight wiring health management including potential prognostic health management applications.  The first generation of in-flight sensors will be used to monitor systems for existing damage as well as to collect data for later prognostic applications.   But aircraft are not the only applications needing this technology.  Communication systems, overland power distribution, other types of transportation vehicles (trains, buses, large industrial equipment, automobiles, ships, etc.), consumer electronics, housing, large buildings and other structures, large control and monitoring systems, etc.  Virtually every aspect of our lives are touched by electrical systems with aging wiring challenges, and this technology can radically change the maintenance paradigm in all of these applications.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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