This theme focuses on developing robust sensors systems with low-energy consumption for real-time and autonomous safety management of infrastructure systems, especially remote and hard-to-access structures. We will develop ubiquitous positioning technologies supported by Internet of Things (IoT) sensors that are flexible and can conform to complex contours. To enable wireless connectivity miniaturised energy harvesting and storage devices will also be developed. The IoT sensors systems will gather critical information needed to assess stability, identify discontinuity, structural damage, and degradation.
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1.1: Low Cost, Long Lifespan Sensors for Infrastructure Systems
Introduction
Recent advances in sensor technology have significantly altered condition assessment and monitoring of infrastructure demonstrating the potential of sensors to achieve real-time monitoring and autonomous safety management. A major impediment in the wide-spread adoption of internet-of-things (IoT) sensors (Subtheme 1.3) in infrastructure systems, particularly in remote and inaccessible locations and in embedded systems, has been the long- life of sensors and power source needed for the whole life cycle.
Innovation
This subtheme will develop, demonstrate and deploy long-life, self-powered, fit-for-purpose sensors by extending our recent innovations in flexible sensors and foldable energy storage device, which can be cost-effectively manufactured by 3D additive manufacturing. We will focus on engineering the sensors and energy storage devices to achieve long lifespan matching that of the infrastructure system. To reduce and/or to avoid replacement of power sources, we will also develop new vibration energy harvesters by triboelectric nanogenerator, which has been demonstrated over the past decade to reach an energy conversion efficiency of ~70% and total efficiency of 85%, significantly higher than traditional vibration energy harvesting devices. The development will be of great interest to a host of industries ranging from construction and mining industries to oil and gas, and energy transmission sectors.
Outcome
High endurance, self-powered IoT sensors for whole-of-life monitoring of infrastructure
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1.2: Ubiquitous positioning and connectivity
Introduction
Positioning and connectivity are critical to monitoring, processing of data and communication with autonomous systems (Subtheme 2.1). There are many technologies available or under development for positioning, and connectivity. However, no single technology is currently available to meet the positioning requirement for different environments. An example is the Global Navigation Satellite System [GNSS], which is ideal for outdoor positioning, but not for indoors or underground applications
Innovation
This subtheme will develop a unique positioning and connectivity platform, suited to all applications, based on cutting edge technologies such as GNSS, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Long Range (LoRa), and WiFi. The system will provide seamless connectivity and positioning capabilities, including: i) a mechanism to automatically switch from one positioning technology to another positioning technology when the environment changes, ii) an interface to convert the protocols used by different sensors, and iii) integration of several communication technologies. Empirical tests will be carried out in different scenarios such as underground mines, open spaces and indoor environments. In addition, a highly innovative algorithm will be developed to establish an absolute coordinate system and accurate underground positioning eliminating the need for “looping”. Finally, an automated algorithm based on machine learning (with Subtheme3.2) will be developed which will process the remotely collected and georeferenced 3D data for stability assessments (with Subtheme 3.1) and identification of discontinuity planes, discontinuity spacing and trace lengths.
Outcome
An accurate positioning system combining GNSS, UWB, BLE and Inertial Measurement Unit; a first real LoRa based mesh network for data collection; a hybrid communication system using Narrowband IoT (NBIoT), enhanced Machine Type Communication (eMTC), Long Term-Evaluation (LTE), LoRa, WiFi, BLE, and possibly 5G; suitable sensors to monitor the change of the infrastructure; a mobile robot based sensing system to monitor the environment (specifically the underground mining environment); an automated algorithm for object recognition, change detection and deformation monitoring through multi-sensor data.
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1.3: IOT sensing platform
Introduction
An IoT platform is essential for handling tasks such as data collection, device communication, situation awareness, AI-based analytics (Subtheme 3.3) etc. The current IoT platforms (such as IBM Watson IoT Platform) lack progressivity and are not flexible enough to adapt to the changing requirements of the project from the proof of concept through to the fully developed system. There is a need to build a platform with all the mainstream communication methods and with a capability to customize the emerging methods. The platform should be able to recognise complex event patterns and provide accurate built-in positioning utilising AI for a quick response for corrective action.
Innovation
This subtheme will develop an innovative IoT platform adopting a scalable framework that fits a project’s size at all stages and provides a variety of communication methods including Advanced Massage Queuing Protocol (AMQP), google Developed Remote Procedure Calls (gRPC), Massage Queuing Telemetry (MQTT) etc., based on networks such as WiFi, LoRa, NBIoT, and LTE. The work will allow customisation depending on project needs. The built-in positioning engine, developed in Subtheme 1.2, will also be integrated.
A critical innovation in this platform will be its ability to use advanced AI methods implemented in a novel processing engine to achieve even driven capabilities. Furthermore, the platform will be able to operate in a hybrid public/private cloud environment enabling software-defined IoT to facilitate data acquisition, analysis and control, and the management of users and devices.
Outcome
A new scalable IoT platform that meets the requirements of the Hub’s POs; blockchain as an extended service channel to improve the data security and reliability; software-defined network toolchains, including command-line interface applications and the related software development kit (SKDs); an event-driven locating service with asset tracking and management features.