Smart Sensor Systems for Aerospace Applications: From Sensor Development to Application Testing
G. Hunter, J. Xu, Larry Dungan, Benjamin J. Ward, Scott Rowe, Jacob L. Williams, Darby B. Makel, Chung-Chiun Liu, Christian J. Chang · ECS Transactions · 2008
The application of Smart Sensor Systems for aerospace applica-tions is a multidisciplinary process consisting of sensor element development, element integration into Smart Sensor hardware, and testing of the resulting sensor systems in application environments. This paper provides a cross-section of these activities for multiple aerospace applications illustrating the technology challenges in-volved. The development and application testing topics discussed are: 1) The broadening of sensitivity and operational range of sili-con carbide (SiC) Schottky gas sensor elements; 2) Integration of fire detection sensor technology into a "Lick and Stick" Smart Sensor hardware platform for Crew Exploration Vehicle applica-tions; 3) Extended testing for zirconia based oxygen sensors in the basic "Lick and Stick" platform for environmental monitoring ap-plications. It is concluded that that both core sensor platform tech-nology and a basic hardware platform can enhance the viability of implementing smart sensor systems in aerospace applications.