description
- Background: EMD has been working with a Norwegian company for some time, developing a moisture activated sensor with an RF transmitter. The BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) RF transmitter is powered by a salt water battery. When moisture ingresses the battery housing, it comes into contact with a very dry salt impregnated separator between the anode and cathode. Once whetted, the battery starts producing energy, sufficient to power the transmitter for around 1,000 advertisements, (transmissions) over a 20-minute period. Bearing in mind a smart phone BLE receiver checks for new advertisements 5 times per second, it is most unlikely that a warning transmission will be missed. In the primary application, the system provides a warning signal to stakeholders when a tyre is worn close to the legal limit. In the secondary application, it provides the warning signal when damp has reached the unit, which is placed in a location which should remain dry. Deployments are likely in domestic, rented and office buildings, wind generators, oil rigs, dry cargo carriers. This is a challenging project - we have identified core issues which must be addressed before we can realise products. The A4I competition provides a means by which UK based SME's can access 'best in class' support. EMD will be supported by The NPL (National Physical Laboratory), who will undertake measurement and analytical tasks, which we alone could not do.