SBIR-STTR Award

LURACO Technologies, Inc. proposes to develop a low-cost, accurate, and smart Multi-tasked Sensor (MultiSENS) that can be used to sense both the filter health as well as the fluid conditions. MultiSENS will directly replace the current Delta P indicator that is being used on current legacy aircrafts without interfering with the current wiring harnesses or system modification. MultiSENS can measure the differential pressure across the filter and determine the filter condition and predict the schedule for filter replacement. The basic function of MultiSENS is to automatically analyze and report the filter and oil condition. The proposed MultiSENS will be a complete, stand-alone sensing device that uses a MEMS multi-sensor chip to measure the pressure, dielectric constant, and temperature of fluid. MultiSENS will monitor the fluid and filter continuously or at scheduled intervals. The data captured by MultiSENS will be available for download via its data port, which implements a military-compatible communication protocol.

Keywords:
Sensor, Mems Sensor, Intelligent Mems, Oil Analysis, Data Processing, Mems Multisensor

The current filter health indicator used in Army aircraft (in particular AH-64 and UH-60 helicopters) is based on a mechanical design concept that was developed over four decades ago. This device is purely mechanical without any smart electronic indicators, ability to provide information about the fluid condition and temperature, data storage capability, or intelligent prognostics. The current indicator is not reliable since it is sensitive to vibrations, which may cause it to issue premature or no alarm signals. In turn, these inaccurate alarms may result in either premature or overdue fluid replacement. The military wastes time and money by unnecessarily replacing fluids when an alarm sounds prematurely, or by replacing damaged critical components due to a high fluid contamination level when the alarm does not sound at all. MultiSENS provides the Army with an automated and smart solution to enable specific maintenance for each aircraft to be completed based on fluid and filter states. MultiSENS provides the user with LED indications of unsafe fluid contamination levels, temperature, and filter differential pressure. Sensor data is stored within the MultiSENS device, and is downloadable to an analysis tool so that the user can identify fluid and fluid filter deterioration trends.

Keywords:
Oil Quality Monitoring, Energy Harvesting, Mems, Temperature, Pressure.