US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

The United States of America Army Corps of Engineers As Represented by

George L Mason

James A Evans

Falih H Ahmad

Jim Evans

Richard W Haskins

Joseph B Dunbar

A system and associated method permit remote monitoring of subsurface structure for purposes of early detection and location of hidden anomalies, e.g., water seepage in levees. Anomalies may be due to sand boils or displacement of underlying soil. Representative systems provide continuous monitoring via two complementary means: parallel pairs of ported (leaky) coaxial cables and a fiber optic cable, each pair of coaxial cables associated with a fiber optic cable. A fiber optic system, with associated light source, processor and display, together with an RF system, provides data to a remote location via telemetry or cellular phone, or both. The fiber optic cable(s) allow monitoring of displacement and vibrations within the structure. The ported coaxial cables, with associated RF source, using the same processor, display and telemetry used with the fiber optic sub-system, provide data for monitoring moisture change correlated to changes in the dielectric constant of surrounding material.

Remote sensor system for monitoring the condition of earthen structure and method of its use

A flexible piezoelectric-based transducer, mounted on a circumference of a rotating object senses acoustical energy traversing portions of the object. In a preferred embodiment, the transducer is affixed, using a suitable adhesive, within the enclosed portion of a wheel/tire assembly. The transducer senses acoustical energy, e.g., ultrasonic transmissions, generated by the tire contacting the road surface at its contact patch and, without need of external power, translates it to an electrical current and communicates it for further processing. Because the acoustical impedance of the tire casing changes with temperature, hot spots within the tire, as well as other characteristics of the tire's operation, can be detected. Further, any Doppler shift which occurs due to the rotating medium may be compensated for since the rate of tire rotation may be made known via a speed sensor. A position sensor may also be employed to indicate the position of the hot spot.

System and method for determining the status of an object by insonification

A radar system for vehicle tire testing and analysis may be mounted within the casing of a vehicle tire to measure the location of the inner casing of the tire (tire deformation) as well as the location of the tire/soil interface (tire footprint). The radar system of the present invention may also be used to determine soil characteristics by analyzing the reflected signals. The present invention may have particular use in testing tires for use with on- or off-road surfaces. However, the present invention may also be used to monitor tire deformation, traction, footprint, and soil characteristics.

Ultra-wide band soil/tire interaction radar

A digital computer computes the optimum air pressure in the tires of a vehicle which minimizes fuel consumption, tire wear, and road deterioration, and transmits to a pressurized air supply system an output signal for adjusting the tire pressure to this optimum tire pressure. The computer uses input from sensors including both vehicle speed and acceleration.

Central tire inflation controller

A ground condition monitor includes a housing for disposal underground, a power source disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and in communication with the power source and with a plurality of sensors. The sensors are adapted to receive signals from the controller and in response thereto to send electromagnetic excitation signals into surrounding earth, receive reflective electromagnetic signals from the surrounding earth, and feed the reflective signals to the controller, which is adapted to convert the reflective signals to data indicative of electromagnetic properties of the surrounding earth, and to transmit the data. The monitor further includes a telemeter in communication with the power source and disposed in the housing for receiving the data from the controller and transmitting the data to a remote station, and an antenna extending from the housing for disposition in part above the surface of the earth, and adapted to transmit the data from the telemeter to the remote station, to receive signals from the remote station, and to transmit the signals received from the remote station to the controller.

Growing community of inventors

Vicksburg, MS, United States of America

George L Mason