I-Corps: Translation Potential of Battery-Free, Cable-Free Embedded Sensing for Civil Infrastructure Monitoring

Award ID: 2627544

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a battery-free, cable-free embedded sensing platform designed to monitor civil infrastructure. The technology addresses a critical challenge: current methods for assessing the health of bridges, tunnels, dams, and other public assets rely on costly, labor-intensive inspections and sensors that require extensive cabling or frequent battery maintenance. These limitations restrict monitoring to only the most valuable structures, leaving much of the nations infrastructure vulnerable to undetected deterioration. By eliminating the need for cables and batteries, the proposed solution enables scalable, in-situ data collection across a broader range of assets, making embedded sensing practical and affordable for general infrastructure. This advancement promises earlier detection of hidden problems, improved investment decisions, and safer, more resilient communities. In addition, the platform lowers installation costs and integrates seamlessly with existing workflows, opening new markets for predictive maintenance and digital-twin technologies that support both public and private stakeholders. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of a battery-free, cable-free sensing platform for civil infrastructure. The technology leverages advances in Radio Frequency (RF)-powered circuits, energy-aware power management, and passive backscatter communication to operate conventional geotechnical and structural sensors without embedded batteries or tethered cables. Unlike prior systems limited to shallow depths or low-power sensors, this platform supports industrial-grade sensors at practical embedment depths, enabling direct measurement of internal states such as strain, pressure, moisture, and temperature. The research has produced prototype circuits validated in laboratory and field scenarios, demonstrating compatibility with trusted sensor types and integration with mobile readout procedures for highway and bridge inspections. The project lays the foundation for future work to refine technical requirements related to measurement accuracy, deployment depth, and usability, ensuring the solution meets industry needs. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman