Portable Maintenance Support Tool Enhancing Battle Readiness of MDA Structures and Vehicles

Abstract

Handheld Portable Maintenance Support Tool (PMST) incorporates microcontroller unit providing a wireless interface between a sensor node network, consisting of Analatom micro-LPR corrosion sensors combined with off-the-shelf sensors, and portable computer databases for high value asset monitoring and matériel management. PMST will be able to provide the user real-time capability to evaluate health status and operability of future MDA hardware including structures and vehicles such as Launch Platform, and Future Interceptor. This assessment capability provides early warning of structural and component deterioration or failure traditionally encountered during time of use. PMST system results in reduced maintenance, maintenance costs, downtime, and vulnerability of MDA’s stockpile, while increasing inventory condition-awareness and battle readiness. Clear benefits are improvements in safety and security while expanding field readiness and operational capacity. Future extensions to PMST system will provide new prognostics, readiness predictions, matériel inventory management, and mobilization capabilities.