Abstract: A system includes: an acoustic exciter; a compliant material applied to the acoustic exciter to configure the acoustic exciter for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response.

Abstract: A system includes: an acoustic exciter; a compliant material applied to the acoustic exciter to configure the acoustic exciter for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response.

Abstract: A flexible electric probe can include: a flexible substrate; and probe line conductors on the flexible substrate, the probe line conductors being essentially parallel to each other and having separations of about 5-50 microns. The flexible electric probe can further include connection conductors on the flexible substrate, the connection conductors and the probe line conductors electrically connected to each other, the probe line conductors positioned in first and second offset patterns with regard to the connection conductors.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a method can include measuring at least one electrical property of a growing plant material using a plurality of electrodes to electromagnetically interrogate the growing plant material. The method can further include, based on the measured at least one electrical property, assessing at least one physical condition of the growing plant material.

Abstract: A system includes: an acoustic exciter; a compliant material applied to the acoustic exciter to configure the acoustic exciter for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response.

Abstract: A flexible electric probe can include: a flexible substrate; and probe line conductors on the flexible substrate, the probe line conductors being essentially parallel to each other and having separations of about 5-50 microns. The flexible electric probe can further include connection conductors on the flexible substrate, the connection conductors and the probe line conductors electrically connected to each other, the probe line conductors positioned in first and second offset patterns with regard to the connection conductors.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus includes a probe including an exterior probe element including a first plurality of links defining a first flexible element. The exterior probe element defines a guard ring. The probe also includes an interior probe element including a second plurality of links defining a second flexible element and disposed within at least a portion of a perimeter defined by the exterior probe element. The apparatus includes a waveform generator electrically coupled to the exterior probe element and the interior probe element.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a probe including a plurality of exterior rotating members defining a guard ring, and an interior rotating member having a circular shape and disposed within at least a portion of a perimeter defined by the plurality of exterior rotating members. The apparatus can also include a waveform generator electrically coupled to the guard ring and the interior rotating member.

Abstract: A non-destructive test system includes a plurality of impact devices including a knob configured to generate at least one flexural mode in a material when a surface of the material is impacted by the knob, a controller configured to independently control each of the plurality of impact devices, the controller having a communications channel for each of the plurality of impact devices, and a microphone configured to detect an acoustic response generated upon impact of the knob on the surface of the material, the acoustic response being based on the at least one flexural modes generated in the material.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a probe including an exterior probe element including a first plurality of links defining a first flexible element. The exterior probe element can define a guard ring. The probe can also include an interior probe element including a second plurality of links defining a second flexible element and disposed within at least a portion of a perimeter defined by the exterior probe element. The apparatus can also include a waveform generator electrically coupled to the exterior probe element and the interior probe element.

Abstract: The method includes dispensing an object at a portion of concrete, determining an impact time of the object on the portion of concrete, detecting at least one acoustic wave reflected from the portion of concrete, filtering the at least one acoustic wave, and identifying a defect in the portion of concrete based on the filtering.

Abstract: A non-destructive test system includes a plurality of impact devices including a knob configured to generate at least one flexural mode in a material when a surface of the material is impacted by the knob, a controller configured to independently control each of the plurality of impact devices, the controller having a communications channel for each of the plurality of impact devices, and a microphone configured to detect an acoustic response generated upon impact of the knob on the surface of the material, the acoustic response being based on the at least one flexural modes generated in the material.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a probe including a plurality of exterior rotating members defining a guard ring, and an interior rotating member having a circular shape and disposed within at least a portion of a perimeter defined by the plurality of exterior rotating members. The apparatus can also include a waveform generator electrically coupled to the guard ring and the interior rotating member.

Abstract: The method includes dispensing an object at a portion of concrete, determining an impact time of the object on the portion of concrete, detecting at least one acoustic wave reflected from the portion of concrete, filtering the at least one acoustic wave, and identifying a defect in the portion of concrete based on the filtering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible, resilient capacitive sensor suitable for large-scale manufacturing. The sensor comprises a dielectric, an electrically conductive layer on the first side of the dielectric layer, an electrically conductive layer on a second side of the dielectric layer, and a capacitance meter electrically connected to the two conductive layers to detect changes in capacitance upon application of a force to the detector. The conductive layers are configured to determine the position of the applied force. The sensor may be shielded to reduce the effects of outside interference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible, resilient capacitive sensor suitable for large-scale manufacturing. The sensor comprises a dielectric, an electrically conductive layer on the first side of the dielectric layer, an electrically conductive layer on a second side of the dielectric layer, and a capacitance meter electrically connected to the two conductive layers to detect changes in capacitance upon application of a force to the detector. The conductive layers are configured to determine the position of the applied force. The sensor may be shielded to reduce the effects of outside interference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible, resilient capacitive sensor suitable for large-scale manufacturing. The sensor comprises a dielectric, an electrically conductive layer on the first side of the dielectric layer, an electrically conductive layer on a second side of the dielectric layer, and a capacitance meter electrically connected to the two conductive layers to detect changes in capacitance upon application of a force to the detector. The conductive layers are configured to determine the position of the applied force. The sensor may be shielded to reduce the effects of outside interference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible, resilient capacitive sensor suitable for large-scale manufacturing. The sensor includes a dielectric, an electrically conductive detector and trace layer on the first side of the dielectric layer comprising a detector and trace, an electrically conductive reference layer on a second side of the dielectric layer, and a capacitance meter electrically connected to the trace and to the conductive reference layer to detect changes in capacitance upon interaction with detector. The sensor is shielded to reduce the effects of outside interference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible, resilient capacitive sensor suitable for large-scale manufacturing. The sensor comprises a dielectric, an electrically conductive detector and trace layer on the first side of the dielectric layer comprising a detector and trace, an electrically conductive reference layer on a second side of the dielectric layer, and a capacitance meter electrically connected to the trace and to the conductive reference layer to detect changes in capacitance upon interaction with detector. The sensor is shielded to reduce the effects of outside interference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible, resilient capacitive sensor suitable for large-scale manufacturing. The sensor comprises a dielectric, an electrically conductive layer on the first side of the dielectric layer, an electrically conductive layer on a second side of the dielectric layer, and a capacitance meter electrically connected to the two conductive layers to detect changes in capacitance upon application of a force to the detector. The conductive layers are configured to determine the position of the applied force. The sensor may be shielded to reduce the effects of outside interference.