Out of this world development may have TPMS application

A team of NASA scientists have been honoured for a development that has the potential to further increase tyre safety. The scientists, which are based at NASA’s Langley Research Center, were named winners of the 49th Annual R&D 100 Award for their work in developing the “SansEC Temperature Sensor.”

Unlike other sensors, a SansEC sensor can be designed for measurements unrelated to each other, such as like temperature and fluid level, and can easily switch from one to another or do both simultaneously. Traditional closed-circuit sensors use electrical connections that are prone to degradation or damage, but the SansEC open-circuit sensor has no conventional electrical connections – thus making it highly resilient to damage. It operates as a single component, weighs less than its closed-circuit counterparts and can be manufactured at a lower cost.

In announcing the team’s selection as this year’s winner, NASA states that the sensor promises to advance vehicle safety by improving the detection of tyre damage compared to conventional tyre pressure monitoring systems. It can be configured to measure some physical quantities or changes without exposing electrical components to harsh environments. NASA scientists originally developed SansEC as a method of having thermal insulation serve as a damage detection system for inflatable space structures.

The R&D 100 Awards salute the 100 most technologically significant products worldwide to be introduced into the marketplace over the past year. Winners of the R&D 100 Awards are selected by an independent judging panel and the editors of R&D Magazine.