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Clarkson Professor Develops System To Catch Bridge Problems
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Vibrations from heavy trucks and vehicles can put a big strain on ordinary steel and concrete bridges. But, Kerop Janoyan, a Clarkson University engineering professor, has been developing a low-cost wireless sensor system to monitor and evaluate conditions that can spot bridge problems before they become serious. "The wireless sensor technology that we're working with essentially allows you to deploy a lot of sensors very cheaply and in a very dense configuration on different kinds of structures or different kinds of structures...It allows you to find a way to get information off that system or structure," he said. The wireless technology that has been developed by the Clarkson professor uses low-cost microprocessors and transceivers to measure bridge vibration and strain. That data is then transmitted to a base station where it can be retrieved and monitored from anywhere. He says the firm, known as Timbre, is actively pursuing product development for both prefabricated bridge components and wind turbine towers. "You could apply it to industrial monitoring, medical field, battle ground applications," he said. Janoyan's fledging company was a semi-finalist in a creative business competition sponsored by the Central Upstate Regional Alliance. |
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