Lightning Mitigation and Damage Detection

NASA's Langley Research Center has developed a patented SansEC Sensor Technology for use in many different areas, including tall structures and wind turbines. The SansEC technology is a proven wireless sensing platform capable of measuring the electrical impedance of physical matter in proximity to the sensor based on a change in its resonance response. The SansEC sensor also exhibits a unique characteristic to disperse the lightning strike current to help mitigate lightning damage. In a turbine blade application, an array of SansEC sensors will cover the surface area of the composite blade, providing both lightning mitigation and damage sensing. NASA Langley Research Center is seeking industrial partners/ licensees to commercialize this technology. The research team at NASA Langley is available to assist with further development.