INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC MACHINES CORPORATION — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: A1

Description

<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in">Current methods for obtaining pressure profiles on airfoils require complex pressure-scanner setups, which are expensive, very time-consuming, have multiple points of potential failure, and physically change the structure/loading on a test airfoil, especially in the case of smaller airfoils. This severely reduces the frequency at which such testing can be done, and the number of airfoils on which such testing &nbsp;can be practically performed.</p><p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in">To address these issues, IEM proposes the <strong>Low Profile Aerodynamic Testing Tape (LPATT)</strong> derived from and building upon <strong><em>millions of dollars</em></strong> in miniature wireless sensor research and <strong><em>patented and patent-pending</em></strong> technology and innovations. LPATT will be an<strong><em> ultra-thin, easily applied pressure and temperature&nbsp; wireless sensor node</em></strong> (<strong><em>other sensing parameters possible</em></strong>) that can be <strong><em>applied</em></strong> in any location with minimal time and effort and<strong><em> NO modifications</em></strong> to the airframe of any kind, with <strong><em>minimal impact</em></strong> on airstream passage. LPATT will <strong><em>match or exceed </em></strong>current-technology measurement accuracy, be <strong><em>self-powered,</em></strong> will <strong><em>store all information onboard</em></strong> and be capable of either <strong><em>real-time transmission </em></strong>of data <strong>or</strong> of transmitting the data<strong><em> later on demand</em></strong>, and may be designed with 50 or more pressure sensors with high sampling rates. Data interface between LPATT will be accomplished using a <strong><em>Data Collection Interface System (DCIS)</em></strong> to collect, process, and transmit data to outside systems.</p><p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in">The use of LPATT will <strong><em>drastically reduce the cost and time</em></strong> involved in wind-tunnel and flight test pressure sensing trials and may offer <strong><em>direct benefits in other areas</em></strong> such as providing the data for operation of <strong><em>performance adaptive aeroelastic wing shape control</em></strong>s in future aircraft designs. IEM will work with <strong><em>Dr. Michael Amitay of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute</em></strong>, &nbsp;who will provide access to and expertise with a functional laboratory wind tunnel for tests and demonstrations of LPATT prototypes.</p>