En-ComE: Energy Harvesting Powered Wireless Monitoring Systems Based on Integrated Smart Composite Structures and Energy-Aware Architecture

英国宇航系统公司在EPSRC的支持下，向大学发起了一项挑战，要求它们开发可应用于新的和有抱负的飞机项目的新技术。特别是，持续绿色飞行器(PERGAVE)概念是一种未来的无人驾驶飞行器(UAV)，还不是一种飞机设计，它可以维持至少几个月的任务，最终超过一年的持续时间。在这方面，PERGAVE是一种高度灵活的HALE(高空长耐力)飞机，具有每个PERGAVE设计概念特有的振动和气动弹性特性。NASA已经开发了预测Hale飞机飞行动力学的方法。像这样的操作配置文件将需要车载系统极低的能源需求，以满足耐久性和环境目标。它还需要对结构和系统进行全面的状况监测(如振动和加载)以及环境参数测量(如温度、电离辐射水平和剂量)，以使操作员能够在执行任务的每个阶段评估飞机的生存能力。该项目将通过在集成的智能复合材料机身结构中开发能量收集供电的无线数据链路和实时条件和环境传感器节点来应对PERGAVE挑战。这些节点将以能源自主的方式运行，不需要电源或电池，因此它是真正的能源自主。这项研究有以下五个工作包：WP1：系统设计规范和架构的需求捕获和研究WP2：将能量收集元件集成到复合结构WP3：用于整个系统优化的多物理建模和模拟WP4：低功耗无线传感器节点的开发WP5：技术演示的测试WPS将专门针对可部署的实时能源自主无线传感通信系统的设计和演示，该系统可用于结构健康监测和环境参数测量，与BAE系统公司的下一代无人驾驶飞行器计划保持一致。这项工作在英国是独一无二的，它将采用系统级规范和设计方法，将优化与新的能量收集技术相结合，旨在灵活地部署在具有无线传感的制造复合材料结构中，所有这些结构都集成在一个新的能源和电力管理架构中。这提供了端到端能力，不仅适用于PERGAVE车辆，还适用于在恶劣环境(如离岸风电场)中需要远程资产状况监控的其他应用。该项目的主要创新之处在于实施了组合材料和结构设计、优化和制造工艺，我们增强的能量收集技术和高效的能源感知和能量流动控制机制，有可能成为未来飞行器的自给式、轻量化和无线健康监测系统的原型。这项研究将基于研究人员在克兰菲尔德大学的无线传感能量收集、传感器和航空航天监测以及复合材料制造、兰开斯特大学的飞机和复合材料结构建模和优化以及中央兰开夏大学的电离辐射监测方面的记录，以承担这一时机和具有挑战性的项目。该项目的合作伙伴是BAE系统公司军用航空信息和先进技术中心、AgustaWestland有限公司、TRW、DSTL、EPSRC全寿命工程服务创新制造国家中心。这些合作伙伴代表航空航天、国防和汽车行业。航空航天、航空和国防KTN和Zartech组织作为传播合作伙伴支持IMPACT活动。

BAE Systems with the support of EPSRC have launched a challenge to universities to develop novel technologies that can be applied to new and aspirational aircraft programmes. In particular, the Persistent Green Air Vehicle (PERGAVE) concept is a future unmanned air vehicle (UAV), not yet an aircraft design, which can sustain missions of at least months' and ultimately more than a year's duration. In this respect, PERGAVE is a highly flexible HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) aircraft, with vibration and aeroelastic characteristics specific to each PERGAVE design concept. Methodologies have been developed by NASA to predict flight dynamics of HALE aircraft. An operational profile such as this will require extremely low energy demands from on-board systems to meet both the endurance and environmental targets. It will also require comprehensive condition monitoring of structures and systems (e.g. vibration and loading) as well as environmental parameter measurement (e.g. temperature, ionizing radiation levels and doses) to allow operators to assess the viability of the aircraft at every stage of its mission. This project will respond to the PERGAVE challenge by developing energy harvesting powered wireless data links and real time condition and environmental sensor nodes in an integrated smart composite airframe structure for monitoring. The nodes will operate in an energy autonomous manner, without the need for power supplies or batteries and therefore it is truly energy autonomous. The research has the following five work packages:WP1: Requirement capture and study of the system design specifications and architectureWP2: Integration of the energy harvesting element into the composite structureWP3: Multiphysical modelling and simulation for optimisation of the whole systemWP4: Development of low power consumption wireless sensor nodesWP5: Testing of the technology demonstratorThe WPs will specifically target design and demonstration of a deployable real time energy autonomous wireless sensing communication systems that can be used for structural health monitoring and environmental parameter measurement aligned to the next generation, unmanned air vehicle programme in BAE Systems. Uniquely in the UK, this work will take a system level specification and design approach combining optimisation with novel energy harvesting technology designed for flexible deployment in manufactured composite structures with wireless sensing, which are all integrated in a novel energy and power management architecture. This provides end-to-end capability that will be suitable not only for the PERGAVE vehicle but also for other applications requiring remote asset condition monitoring in harsh environments (e.g. off-shore wind farms). The principal novelty of the project lies in the implementation of combined materials and structures design, optimisation and manufacturing processes, our enhanced energy harvesting technology and efficient energy-aware and energy-flow control mechanism, which has the potential to be prototyped as a self-powered, light weight and wireless health monitoring system for future air vehicles. The research will build on investigator track records on energy harvesting with wireless sensing, sensors and aerospace monitoring, and composite manufacturing at Cranfield University, aircraft and composite structural modelling and optimization at Lancaster University, and ionizing radiation monitoring at the University of Central Lancashire to undertake this timing and challenging project. The project partners are BAE Systems in Military Air&Information and Advanced Technology Centre, AgustaWestland Ltd, TRW, dstl, EPSRC National Centres for Innovative Manufacturing in Through-life Engineering Services. These partners represents aerospace, defence and automotive sectors. There are Aerospace, Aviation & Defence KTN and Zartech organisations as dissemination partners to support the impact activities.