PAGE TITLE
Overview
PAGE SUMMARY With the increasing reliability of wireless systems, many industries are opting to replace old hardwired systems with wireless ones. Wireless systems offer lower cost, higher flexibility systems that can be deployed in some applications where wired systems would be too cumbersome. Despite the benefits of wireless systems, their deployment in industrial environments can be difficult. A high number of metal barriers such as walls, metal containers and pipes can block wireless signals from their intended paths. The curvature of these barriers present a number of challenges that affect not only the physical development of the system, but also the development of the communication schemes.
In the light of these drawbacks, the research team at Drexel has now developed a new technique of ultrasonic through metal communication system capable of transmitting data across curved barriers. Ultrasonic through metal communication systems are an effective solution for transmitting data across a metal barrier when the structural integrity of the barrier cannot be compromised by physically penetrating it. Drexel’s developed prototype system allows for ultrasonic through metal communication across the wall of a steel tube approximately 48 mm in diameter and 12 mm in thickness. Primary challenges of transducer contact, curvature effect on echoes, and alignment were addressed through the use of radial mode piezoelectric transducers, transducer "horns", and Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs). The developed system is very robust with negligble losses due to changes in alignment, and achieves max data rates of approximately 600kbps without echo equalization.
APPLICATIONS
TITLE: Applications
Industrial environments: Through metal communication across non-flat barrier such as pipes and the walls of pressure vessels
Military applications: Communication across naval vessels, submarines etc
Mining: Communication across drill castings or pipe walls
ADVANTAGES
TITLE:Advantages
Robust: Successful communication demonstrated in barriers of upto 12mm thickness
High data rate: Demonstrated data rates of 1kbps, capable of achieving max data rates of approximately 600kbps
Non-Destructive: Maintains mechanical integrity of the metallic barrier
IP STATUS
Intellectual Property and Development Status
Issued United States Patent - 10,594,409
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10594409B2/en?oq=10%2c594%2c409
Contact Information
Robert McGrath
Sr. Associate Vice Provost
215-895-0303
rbm26@drexel.edu