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Body Sensor Networks (BSN) research developed novel sensing algorithms and technology suitable for on-body pervasive sensing suitable for healthcare, well-being and sporting applications. The main impact includes:
In Europe, there are over a million kilometres of oil pipelines, nearly a million kilometres of railway tracks, 600 offshore platforms and 300 suspension cable bridges. However, these assets are aging as they have been in use for many years and operate under harsh conditions. Brunel research team has advanced ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) which has the ability to inspect buried pipes in their original place without removing the pipes or damaging their surrounding environment. In addition, the research was pursued to improve the NDT of rail tracks, storage tanks, flexible risers in offshore platforms and aircraft wires. The research has been commercially exploited and incorporated into Teletest Focus System Mark III by Plant Integrity Limited. The significant improvement has led Plant Integrity to terminate the sale of Teletest Mark III and introduce a new version, Teletest Focus System Mark IV, to the market in late 2010. Since then, Plant Integrity has doubled its turnover from sales of Teletest Focus System Mark IV from £1 million to £2 million in less than a year.
A new product has been developed to aid marine navigation and berthing at ports, based on the use of a single-sideband (SSB) active target, offering the dual benefits of substantially enhanced performance, and reduced size and production costs. The research has achieved significant commercial impact via the incorporation of the technique, conceived by Brennan, into all such targets made by Guidance Microwave Ltd, a UK-based engineering company specialising in the development, manufacture and supply of short-range active target location systems. To date, the company has sold approximately 700 active targets (around 25 per month), generating more than £3 million in sales. The idea (subject to patent protection) was initially incorporated in the mini-Radascan product, which is now a valuable tool to the industry and has given Guidance Microwave Ltd. a competitive advantage, becoming their most successful product.
Translational research created new techniques for medical biosignal analysis in both the ECG and Pulse Oximetry areas. CardioDigital, a university spin-out company, was incorporated in 2001 to commercialise the research and became a world leader in the development and supply of signal analysis solutions for the medical device industry. The technology has been applied to defibrillation techniques to improve survival rates following sudden cardiac arrest, with a range of closely linked pulse oximetry based technologies applicable for general ward use. The technologies provide both enhanced and extended performance of the pulse oximeter leading to improved patient care and hospital workflows.