Sensor Networks for Integration into Textile-Reinforced Composites

The integration of sensor networks into textile-reinforced composites enables monitoring of different physical values like strain, acceleration and temperature in a component. This paper presents a system concept of a modular sensor network supporting different sensor types and the wireless transmission of stored measurements. Sensor and transponder ASICs have been developed for realizing first demonstration examples. The feasibility of integration of discrete components and silicon chips was successfully verified in experiments with a composite made of glass fibers and polypropylene. Two demonstrators with fully functional integrated modules were fabricated in order to show the possibility of integrated strain monitoring and recording of impact events with wireless data transmission.