Description: Invocon has devised a method to determine the location of lightning strikes on structures to as close as 1" by combining simple sensors with highly capable electronics. This method measures a strike from multiple transducers to triangulate its location. Initial testing on metallic and composite structures has provided good results. The next step is to extend the wireless nature of the system to the transducers in order to simplify installation and use of the system. The proposed development is based on nearly 10 years of successfully development and flight testing of high-speed impact detection and evaluation systems combined with lightning detection and location research. It will also take advantage of Invocon's successful 20 year history of deploying highly synchronized wireless networks on aerospace vehicles.

Benefits: NASA applications include monitoring aircraft and spacecraft for lightning strikes. Launch vehicles can benefit from lightning detection and location in order to quickly assess damage prior to and during launch. Other applications include test instrumentation for studying lightning strikes on aircraft. NASA has expressed interest in a tool that is simple to install and use on aircraft. ATK has also expressed interest in STORM for monitoring its composite encapsulated rocket motors.

STORM is useful for monitoring non-NASA aircraft and spacecraft for lightning strikes and quickly determining the level of structural damage. This includes test aircraft used by commercial aircraft manufacturers to better understand the impact of lightning on composites as well as fleet aircraft for long term monitoring. STORM is also useful for detecting damage to large petrochemical tanks.