Patent ID: 7107839
Filing Date: 2006-09-19
Classification: G01M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring a vessel for ballistic impacts and penetration of the vessel, comprising: connecting a sensor to the vessel, wherein the sensor is selected from the group of an acoustic sensor and a vibration sensor; measuring any of an acoustic mechanical response and a vibration mechanical response of the vessel using the sensor; processing the measured mechanical response using a digital signal processor means; categorizing the processed mechanical response into events of interest and events not of interest, wherein the digital signal processor means comprises a program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform categorizing of the processed mechanical response into events of interest and events not of interest, wherein the events of interest comprise any of environmental events and ballistic events, mid the categorizing step further comprises differentiating environmental events from ballistic events; and determining if any of a ballistic impact and a penetration of the vessel has occurred based on the processed mechanical response.