Wireless Sensing for Bearing Monitoring and Rotor Balance

Recent advances in wireless sensing have enabled a new vision for Health and Usage Management Systems (HUMS). Reduction of wiring through the use of wireless data links provides an opportunity to make HUMS systems lighter, less complex, less expensive, and thus more attractive to operators, particularly in retrofit applications. As a result, wireless technology may extend the use of HUMS and ultimately allow for the lowering of fleet maintenance costs. This paper presents the recent advances towards practically feasible wireless sensors for HUMS. Accelerometer and azimuth sensors were developed to support the Bearing Monitoring and Rotor Balance applications. The TRL-6 prototype units were developed by Goodrich and tested on a laboratory test bed and in flight aboard a Bell Model 407 helicopter. The test results demonstrate performance levels sufficient to perform HUMS functions. This paper discusses sensor design and testing and outlines the viability of full commercial wireless accelerometers for HUMS.