Using wireless sensor technologies for sense and respond logistic applications

With advances in processing power of embedded smart sensors, it is possible to incorporate enough intelligence into a small package to enhance capacities of legacy platforms while reducing data flow requirements. In addition, wiring is expensive, heavy, vulnerable, and adds an additional layer of complexity to a vehicle's design. Therefore, the integration of a wireless interface into these sensors make equipment upgrades more attractive due to ease of installation. Wireless sensing approaches provide a robust data backbone which is immune to physical damage near adjacent machinery or compartment spaces. Wireless sensing approaches are very cost effective when the cost of additional wiring is high and weight reduction is important. In today's competitive markets, the goal is to cut cost and reduce manning. This means simultaneously cutting spending on maintenance as well as ensuring equipment malfunctions do not occur. With reductions in maintenance schedules and the number technicians needed to perform required maintenance actions, a new health monitoring system needs developed that can not only diagnosis faults but can also place a request for parts and materials as well as schedule manpower needed to perform the repair action before the machine causes an unplanned failure. This paper discusses such an autonomous health monitoring system. Our team developed and demonstrated a new system design approach that can diagnosis and track overall machinery health, inform operators shortly before maintenance action is needed, place orders for parts needed to perform the specific repair or maintenance action and schedule needed manpower for repair action. This embedded wireless system was integrated into legacy Navy supply and maintenance systems. This paper discusses the wireless device, architecture, and processing used to meet the new objective of a sense and respond applications.