Acoustic real-time process monitor and controller for thermal
This technology uses microphones or acoustic sensors placed near a thermal spray system — an industrial process that coats surfaces with materials like metals or ceramics by shooting heated particles at high speed — to continuously listen to the sounds the machine makes during operation. The audio signal is analyzed in real time by converting it into a frequency spectrum, where different frequency bands correspond to specific aspects of the process, such as powder feed rate, gas pressure, or temperature. When the system detects that something is drifting out of spec — like a clogged powder feed or a gas leak — it automatically identifies which component is responsible and sends a corrective control signal to bring it back into range. The result is a closed-loop quality control system that can catch and correct process faults without human intervention or expensive inline sensors.
What you could build
A bolt-on acoustic monitoring and control module for industrial thermal spray equipment — sold to aerospace parts manufacturers, automotive suppliers, or industrial coating job shops — that reduces scrap rates and operator burden by automatically detecting and correcting process deviations.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense and aerospace contractors in Virginia (e.g., around the Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia corridors) that rely on thermal spray coatings for turbine components, armor, or structural parts would be natural adopters or licensing partners.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Taylor K. Blair, Michael Cybulsky, Gary Pickrell, Benjamin Zimmerman, Romesh Batra, Matthew R. Gold
- Granted
- June 30, 2020
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10695783
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.