Invocon Systems

Invocon developed a wireless Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) for aircraft. TPMS interfaces with smart phones and tablets via Bluetooth Low Energy. It provides the pressure and temperature for each tire on an aircraft without the need for physical contact with the tires. This significantly increases the efficiency of the pilot’s preflight inspection and provides added peace of mind for aircraft crew and owners.

IWIS was deployed by astronauts inside the partially completed ISS to collect data on the impulse response of the structure. This data is used to verify the structural integrity of the ISS on orbit. It has also been used to update models predicting the modal response of the ISS. Complete understanding of the resonant modes of the structure allow for effective planning for re-boost events. Since this data changed as the Station was assembled, it was important to keep this data current with each addition to the Station.

Invocon designed, manufactured, and qualified the Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC) for a commercial satellite program. The EPC provides power for the RF Power Amplifier under the control of a Power Amplifier Controller. The system is designed with radiation tolerant components to provide 10 years of reliable operation in the space environment.

Invocon designed, manufactured, and qualified the Power Amplifier Interface and Bias (PAIB) for a commercial satellite program. The PAIB provides three functions for the RF Power Amplifier: power amplifier control, power amplifier monitoring, and power amplifier bias. The system is designed with radiation tolerant components to provide 10 years of reliable operation in the space environment.

Invocon produced a wireless temperature system that was incorporated into the Reentry Breakup Recorder (REBR), a design that was conceived and constructed by The Aerospace Corporation engineers. REBR is a basketball-sized device that is launched into orbit aboard a larger spacecraft and then intentionally deorbited when a host spacecraft returns to Earth. The REBR gathers data as its host vehicle reenters and transmits the data to the ground for analysis.

Invocon’s Power Control Assembly (PCA) provides complete power control for small launch vehicles in a robust miniature package. The PCA controls two 28-V power sources for use with four power output channels. It is intended to seamlessly switch between an external power control system and an on-board battery. It supports battery charging in order to simplify vehicle maintenance prior to launch. Power outputs include two switched 28-V channels, one un-switched 28 V channel, and an auxiliary 5-V channel.

Invocon’s Capacitive Discharge Initiator (CDI) Module provides missile control and monitoring capabilities in a single compact unit. It enables safe operation and monitoring of ordnance.

Developed to provide long-term structural dynamics measurements of the International Space Station (ISS).

Click here to learn more about the EWIS system.

Wireless, high-speed, synchronized data acquisition network for dynamic acceleration sensing, processing, and recording. Post acquisition download is either USB or wireless.

A real-time asynchronous wireless transmission system. Immediate graphical representation and
storage on a PC.

A real-time and/or store-and-forward system capable of recording data from up to four channels on 2-MB non-volatile memory (enough for 2 years at 1 sample per 5 minutes, with 4 channels). Post-acquisition download is wireless to a receiver and GUI. Designed for two-year usage without battery exchange.

Invocon’s event sequencer is a flight qualified solution for monitoring and initiating flight events. 

The Invocon 28-V Rechargeable Smart Battery uses modern lithium ion polymer battery technology.   Lithium ion polymer batteries have one of the highest energy storage and power delivery densities (per weight) of modern batteries. This enables longer operation between charging and dependable operation of high current electrical loads or inrush currents without startup sequencing.

This system enables the use of existing Ethernet hardware and Web-based IT resources for the configuration, acquisition, transmission, and display of sensor data from extremely low-power RF sensors.

Programmable initiation triggers over a 10-minute acquisition and non-volatile storage. Post-acquisition download is either USB or wireless.

Designed to autonomously perform user-developed algorithms on the remote unit and periodically transmit the results through the network. Specifically designed for Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) applications.

A real-time asynchronous, analog-to-digital system that wirelessly transmits data for graphical representation and storage on a PC.

A multi-unit wireless pulse and breathing rate detection system.

Developed for Boeing’s efforts on the Joint Strike Fighter to detect ice formation on de-icing boots on the aircraft engine intake. The sensor can determine both the presence and type of ice formation.

A real-time and/or store-and-forward system capable of recording 1 year of data onto non-volatile memory (at 1 sample per minute) with a wireless download. Designed for 10-year usage without battery exchange. Also capable of networking between units.

ESBAWM will monitor and log ballast exchanges in oceanic cargo vessels. Multiple Ballast Monitoring Units (pictured) are mounted atop ballast sounding pipes and periodically monitor the ballast levels.

Served as the interface between TANS and the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) recording GPS information and translating messages between the two external devices. The GPSCON was part of a high priority Risk Mitigation Experiment (RME1311) for Relative Global Positioning System (RGPS) navigation flight.

Performs the ASTM Rainflow Cycle Counting Algorithm in real-time as it acquires strain data. Performs continual Rainflow analysis on site without the need for large data storage mediums or post-processing.

Programmable initiation triggers a single acquisition event. Capable of recording on to non-volatile memory up to 13 minutes of data from each channel for post-acquisition wireless download.

Programmable initiation triggers for two consecutive acquisition events. Capable of recording to non-volatile memory up to 9 minutes of data from each channel for post-acquisition wireless download.  Multiple units can be programmed for synchronous acquisition.

A wireless data acquisition system for near-static CO₂ measurements. The sensor element uses a Non-Dispersive Infrared Diffusion (NDIR) method for measurement.

An autonomous store-and-forward data recording system. 128kbytes of non-volatile memory can store over one month of data (at 1 sample per minute) with a wired download. Programmable acquisition initiation.

A real-time asynchronous wireless transmission system. Immediate graphical representation and storage on a PC.

MMA constantly monitors micro-vibrations in the International Space Station. MMA will help correlate any anomalies in micro-g experiments with ISS vibrations.

Invocon has teamed with NASA and Sandia National Labs to develop an ultra low power Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) radio based on a programmable Surface Acoustic Wave (PSAW) correlator.

NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) sponsored Invocon’s development of “next generation” data acquisition and communications networking concepts to be deployed in, on, and around space structures under construction.

A robot developed to internally map the wall thickness of pipes, forming a tomogram image of the cross-sectional area of the pipe.

Designed for the U.S. Department of Transportation to measure the performance of bridge structures under transient loads. Up to 60 sensors on a bridge can measure stress/strain, vibration, and temperature.

Invocon’s Radiation Alert Immediate Disclosure (RAID) device is a real-time active radiation badge with wireless communication capability. RAID is designed to simplify radiation monitoring for personnel and equipment. It accomplishes this by providing real-time feedback of the radiation environment and by using simple interfaces.

Invocon’s Radiation Environment Monitor for Spacecraft (REMS) is a real-time active radiation monitor designed for mounting externally on spacecraft. REMS is designed to simplify radiation monitoring for satellites and other vehicles for scientific data collection as well as root cause analysis for anomalous behavior. It accomplishes this by providing real-time feedback of the radiation environment and by using simple interfaces.

A data acquisition system that monitored the performance of nylon dispersion bridles of a parafoil under transient loads, specifically to be used in parachute drop tests for the X38 vehicle preliminary flight tests. The TMS data acquisition units measure tension on the dispersion bridles and ambient temperature data on the parafoil structure.

Invocon is currently in Phase II of a NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to assist in locating leaks within pressurized spacecraft with minimal expenditure of vehicle or crew resources. The UltraWIS units monitor an entire habitation structure as part of a network of ultrasonic sensors.

A camera for testing and inspection. The camera can take still pictures intended for periodic inspections or operate as a video camera to detect movement. At a distance of 2 feet, the camera can track movement of a target to within 1 mm.

A real-time, highly synchronous analog-to-analog or analog-to-pseudoPCM networked system. Programmable sample rates, filters, offsets, and gains on all inputs.  Synchronization between samples on remote units is ± 300 ns.

A real-time, synchronous, analog-to-digital system that wirelessly transmits data for graphical representation and storage.

Programmable initiation triggers over a 10-minute acquisition and non-volatile storage.  Post acquisition download is either USB or wireless.

The WCCN system is a highly-configurable wireless network for monitoring and distributing logical signals between remote locations. Originally designed to control the activation and triggering of remote cameras, the WCCN units have 19 digital input/output channels. Each channel can be configured as an input, input with pull-up, output, or LED sink.

A “smart” wireless network flown as a Development Test Objective (Program RME1330) on two Shuttle missions. This system served as a foundation for future Shuttle and ISS systems.

A proof-of-concept system to control of aircraft with radio frequency links between the pilot controls and the flight control surfaces on the wings. The requirement involved the design of suppressed carrier, spread spectrum, high redundancy, data links that could be demonstrated first on a ground-based test bed and later flown on a NASA research aircraft.

A high accuracy and resolution data acquisition system that transmits data and configuration information wirelessly. Unit-to-unit start of acquisition is synchronous up to ± 300 ns. Adaptive configurable routing.

Designed to gather and process data from airframes that would be used to predict failures in critical airframe structures. The processing uses complex, real-time, mathematical transformation that must differentiate normal airframe behavior from the behavior of the structure containing the flaw.

Developed to gather pressure experienced on the surface of the satellite when the RCS (Reaction Control System) jets on the Shuttle were fired during rendezvous and grappling operations.