Propellant formulations used in solid rocket motors contain highly energetic materials which employ stabilizers to protect the polymeric structure of these propellants. The stabilizer content changes with age and other environmental factors causing the propellant to become increasingly unstable with the potential to self-ignite. Therefore, there is a need to detect the stabilizer content present in order to monitor the stability of the propellant. Current methods employed require disassembly and reassembly of the solid rocket motor or some other destructive technique. To eliminate dissection or dismantlement a sensor insertion system is needed that has the ability to pass through confined areas and is capable of taking readings at multiple locations. Lynntech proposes a Hyperextending Insertion System with Sensing (HISS). A compact, low-power measurement system that can be inserted through the nozzle by means of a soft robot that can adjust its shape and dimensions to fit into tight, hard-to-reach places in order to sense the solid propellent stabilizer content at various depths/locations.
Benefit: Lynntechs proposed HISS system has great potential not only for Navy and military use, but also for commercial use, such as in non-destructive evaluation of materials or chemicals in hard-to-reach locations. With the ability to change the type of sensor/end effector, the use of this device can also be extended to a wide variety of other areas such as searching disaster areas (e.g. collapsed buildings), interrogation and neutralization of hazardous objects, exploration of archeological sites, etc. High level use cases include deploying and reconfiguring structures, navigating constrained environments, and applying forces on the environment.
Keywords: Solid Propellants, Solid Propellants, non-destructive evaluation, Soft Robot, Solid Rocket Motor, Sensor, Plasticizer, Stabilizer, Spectroscopy
