SENSOR FOR PHYSICAL STRUCTURE MONITORING
A sensor capable of monitoring the condition of a physical structure is provided. The sensor may be comprised of a plurality of flexible conductive segments arranged in a geometric pattern. The sensor also includes nodes within the geometric pattern. The sensor monitors the condition of a physical structure by monitoring the electrical resistance within the flexible conductive segments. Additional secondary sensors may also be included within the geometric pattern of the sensor. A processor may use the information from the flexible conductive segments and any secondary sensors to assess the condition of the physical structure.
1 . A system, comprising:
an electrically insulating substrate;
a conductive circuit coupled to the substrate, wherein the conductive circuit comprises a pattern of conductive sections coupled between nodes on the substrate; and
a processor that executes instructions to perform operations, the operations comprising: assessing electrical signals in the conductive sections of the conductive circuit.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises flexible non-conductive material.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one wireless transmitter coupled to the processor.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is configured to be attached to a physical structure.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive sections comprise a conductive polymer.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive circuit comprises a first conductive section and a second conductive section, wherein the first conductive section is oriented in a different direction from the second conductive section.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery coupled to the processor.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise assessing one or more physical properties of a physical structure based on the electrical signals assessed in the conductive sections of the conductive circuit.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the physical structure is a pipeline.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the physical structure is a bridge component.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor located within the conductive circuit.
12 . A sensor comprising:
a plurality of flexible conductive segments, wherein the plurality of flexible conductive segments are arranged in a geometric pattern;
a plurality of nodes disposed upon the plurality of flexible conductive segments; and
a processor configured to assess an electrical resistance within the plurality of flexible conductive segments.
13 . The sensor of claim 12 , further comprising a secondary sensor disposed within the plurality of flexible conductive segments, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the secondary sensor.
14 . The sensor of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to assess a condition of a physical structure using the electrical resistance assessed within the plurality of conductive segments and a monitored condition of the secondary sensor.
15 . The sensor of claim 12 , further comprising a substrate, wherein the substrate is non-conductive.
16 . The sensor of claim 12 , further comprising a protective layer, wherein the protective layer is non-conductive and configured to protect the sensor from an environment.
17 . The sensor of claim 14 , wherein the physical structure is a pipeline.
18 . The sensor of claim 14 , wherein the physical structure is a bridge component.
19 . A method of monitoring a physical structure, the method comprising:
disposing a sensor upon a physical structure, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of flexible conductive segments arranged in a geometric pattern;
monitoring, by utilizing a processor, an electrical resistance in the plurality of conductive segments to assess a condition of the physical structure; and
reporting the condition of the physical structure using the processor.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
disposing a secondary sensor within the plurality of flexible conductive segments arranged in the geometric pattern, wherein the secondary sensor has an output; and
further monitoring, by utilizing the processor, the condition of the physical structure based on the output of the secondary sensor.