Monitoring System Including an Electronic Sensor Platform and an Interrogation Transceiver

Abstract:
A wireless monitoring system suitable for a wide range of remote data collection applications. The system includes at least one Electronic Sensor Platform (ESP), an Interrogator Transceiver (IT) and a general purpose host computer. The ESP functions as a remote data collector from a number of digital and analog sensors located therein. The host computer provides for data logging, testing, demonstration, installation checkout, and troubleshooting of the system. The IT transmits signals from one or more ESPs to the host computer to the ESPs. The IT host computer may be powered by from a common power supply and each ESP is individually powered, such as by a battery. This monitoring system has an extremely low power consumption which allows remote operation of the ESP for long periods, provides authenticated message traffic over a wireless network, utilizes state-of-health and tamper sensors to ensure that the ESP is secure and undamaged, has robust housing of the ESP suitable for use in radiation environments, and is low is cost. With one base station (host computer and interrogator transceiver), multiple ESPs may be controlled at a single monitoring site.