Patent ID: 8527240

Claim:
An aircraft component assembly, comprising: an aircraft component for an aircraft; a sensor module having; a sensor configured to monitor said aircraft component; a local wireless transmitter for communicating with a remote receiver while said aircraft is in flight, wherein said remote receiver is remote from said component, and wherein said remote receiver is a component of a computer at a ground facility; a local wireless receiver for communicating with a remote transmitter, wherein said remote transmitter is remote from said component; a processor in communication with said sensor, said processor configured to control said sensor, said local wireless transmitter, and said local wireless receiver; and a power source powering one of said sensor, said local wireless transmitter, said local wireless receiver and said processor, said power source generating energy from an environment surrounding the aircraft or the aircraft component when said aircraft component is installed on the aircraft and using the generated energy to power at least one of the sensor, the local wireless transmitter, the local wireless sensor, and the processor.