Aircraft Battery Diagnostic and Prognostic System Navy STTR FY2007 Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2007 Topic No.: N07-T002 Topic Title: Aircraft Battery Diagnostic and Prognostic System Proposal No.: N074-002-0179 Firm: GEM Power, LLC 10444 Corporate Drive Suite G Redlands, California 92374 Contact: John James Phone: (909) 796-9089 Web Site: www.gempower.biz Abstract: Batteries are used to perform such mission critical functions as; start engines and auxiliary power units (power requirement), provide emergency back-up power for essential avionics equipment (energy requirement) and assure ground power capability for maintenance and preflight checkout. GEM Power, LLC will demonstrate the feasibility of the development and integration of an on-board passive diagnostic and prognostic technology for the F/A-18 aircraft and its M8565/4-1 batteries. This approach will result in batteries being used for their full useful life and identify batteries in need of replacement prior to battery and equipment failure. Unscheduled down time and associated costs will be eliminated while mission readiness and safety are increased. Using the diagnostic and prognostic algorithms developed for its battery charging technology as the foundation, GEM Power will develop the algorithmic approach for a passive monitoring system that would "listen" to signals between the battery and the various on-board devices being powered to determine battery airworthiness. The University of California Riverside's College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) will provide software development and hardware recommendations for implementation of the overall passive system. Information as to the electrical requirements and configuration of the F/A-18 will be provided by Boeing Phantom Works. Benefits: The current practice in the maintenance of aviation batteries is to replace batteries on a scheduled maintenance cycle. It is estimated that some batteries have a useful life of six years, yet batteries are replaced after they have been in service for three years or less whether needed or not, resulting in needless expense. And the opposite is true. Batteries that have reduced capacity and need replacing are overlooked, posing a threat to mission success, and ultimately, human life. A battery monitoring system can determine impending battery failure prior to actual battery and equipment failure, and notify the operator or maintenance personnel of battery status. Batteries would achieve their full useful life and be replaced when needed, reducing costs, eliminating unscheduled down time and associated costs and increasing mission safety and readiness. A battery diagnostics/prognostics monitoring system could be incorporated into any military and commercial aircraft. Hybrid and gas powered vehicles, emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines, transit buses and recreational vehicles could be fitted with a monitoring system, increasing readiness and safety on a more "personal" level. Return