No abstract

No abstract

The U.S. Department ofTransportation sought out the development oftechnologies to enhance infrastructure health monitoring. Specifically, the agency requested methods to improve data collection of sensor measurements over distributed points on highway bridges. The current methods of data collection used hard wire connections for data transmission, which resulted in increased labor and installation costs. Furthermore, the hardwire connections hinder the mobility ofthe data collection units and the ability to quickly measure a number of distributed points. In response to this problem , Invocon, Inc. designed a static, wireless, data acquisition and communications network (entitled INVONETTM) as an experimentation tool to evaluate the performance of bridge structures under transient loads. The network incorporates two-way, RF, spread spectrum communications between distributed nodes or units and a central collection unit. Spread spectrum technology reduces potential interference from other RF sources while operating at low transmit power levels that preserve battery life and will not interfere with other communications.A need exists to monitor the structural health of highway bridges on a daily basis. Accurate bridge health assessment requires data collection over a widely dispersed area throughout the entire bridge structure. This distributed data collection must incorporate various sensors to measure stress and strain, vibration and temperature. When the information collected from these sensor monitoring points is processed and compiled at a central collection point, managers and engineers can derive valuable information about the health and welfare ofthe bridge structure.The current problem in the measurement process involves the data transmission process. The sensors, installed all over the superstructure, must be connected to a central data collection point with wire. Therefore, long runs ofwire must be strung throughout the bridge in order to pass the data from the sensors to a data collection point. The use of wire causes many difficulties. First of all, the installation of the wire is an inherently laborious and time-consuming process. Second, the long cable runs that pass data are susceptible to RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) and EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) that can degrade the quality ofthe data. Third, data collection points are difficult to move. Fourth, the inherent capacitive and inductive reactance of long cable runs distort low level analog signals and require more power to drive digital signals.One method exists which addresses these difficulties. The chosen solution is to digitally encode the sensor data at the point of collection and then pass that data from the distributed data collection points to the central data collection point by means ofradio frequency transmission. This would enable the remote data collection points to be 'wireless." Located anywhere on the bridge, they could be installed and moved without the encumbrance ofhardwired connections. Digitizing the data on the spot ...

The successful development and market insertion of a financially successful new product requires technology, marketing, manufacturing, and luck. This paper suggests various steps in the process that are critical to success. More specifically, the paper deals with the special problems encountered by small business. The analysis is presented in light of the Small Business Innovative Research program (SBIR) which is an effort by the US government to enable the development of new high technology products and the successful establishment of business enterprises that will ultimately contribute to the GNP and tax base. It is not an entitlement program. Competition for contracts is fierce. The paper identifies a chain of events that must be successfully navigated in order to insure small enterprise survival and profitable product insertion into the US business base. A model program is used to define and describe how each step in the process was accomplished toward the ultimate success of the product. This model is an actual SBIR derivative event that has resulted in a successful product that not only completely satisfied the customer demands but also resulted in the spin-off of a family of other products that have since been sold into other commercial applications.

The successful development and market insertion of a financially successful new product requires technology, marketing, manufacturing, and luck. This suggests various steps in the process that are critical to success.More specifically, the paper deals witb the special problems eDcouDtered by small busiDess. Tbe aDalysis is preseDted in ligbt of tbe Small BusiDess InnovativeResearch program (SBIR) whicb is an etTort by tbe US government to eDable tbe developmeDt of new higb tecbnology products and the successful establisbmeDt of business enterprises tbat will ultimately contribute to tbe GNP and tax base. It is Dot aD entitlement program.CompetitioD for contracts is fierce. Tbis ideDtifies a cbain of events that must be successfully Davigated in order to iDsure small eDterprise survival aDd profitable product insertion into tbe US business base. A model program is used to define aDd describe how eacb step in tbe process was accomplished toward the ultimate success of tbe product. This model is an actual SBIR derivative eveDt tbat bas resulted in a successful product tbat not only completely satisfied the customer demands, but also resulted iD tbe spin-otT of a family of other products tbat have since beeD sold into other commercial applications.