Wireless Crack Detection - RedFox V2 Sensor System

Heavily loaded port equipment such as cranes are critical to ensure port operations are safe and efficient. To keep these vital assets secure, there are critical areas that demand frequent inspection and are often hard to reach - which increases the risk, complexity and cost of such operations. This process usually leads to longer asset downtime, more personnel on-site, and overall reduction of operational efficiency. To overcome such challenges, Villari developed the RedFox v2 sensor system. The system works with wireless sensors installed in critical locations of the structure that measure variations in its magnetic field. The data collected is analysed by our extensively tested algorithms and reported back to the customer as potential crack growth in an online dashboard. The sensor consists of two parts: the control unit and the sensor strips. The control unit contains batteries that last up to 5 years, a wireless communication module, and a processor. The sensor strips consist of an array of magnetometers that collect magnetic field data. The data collected is reported on an online dashboard that shows technical drawings of the assets and the locations of the installed sensor strips. With a traffic light color coding system, the customer is informed of potential crack growth activity occurring at each monitoring location. The user can also receive e-mail or phone notifications when a pre-defined threshold has been crossed. Villari’s sensor strips can detect crack growth at an early stage and have a limit comparable to advanced NDT technologies such as TOFD & PAUT, but with the advantage of performing remote and continuous monitoring instead of providing only a snapshot at a given time. This not only ensures safety but also significantly reduces CO2 emissions associated with premature replacements and repairs. Villari’s system is DNV certified and has more than 1,000 sensors monitoring assets worldwide.