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Foster-Miller has developed a method for relating the temporal variation of complicated sensor outputs to the operating conditions that produced them. We call this technique "Dynamical Instruments," because it uses the variation, or dynamics, of the sensor output as an instrument to monitor the system condition.

The dynamical instruments process involves coupling a sensor to the system to obtain an output that is sensitive to the system dynamics. After conditioning and digitizing the data, a set of quantities is calculated that characterizes the variation of the sensor dynamics. These quantities comprise a "signature" of the dynamics, which we then correlate to the operating conditions of interest. This approach permits accurate measurements to be made in situations that are poorly served by conventional instruments. For example, we have applied this technique in measuring the flow rate of several types of single- and multiphase fluids using sensors including non-invasive ultrasonic sensors, passive acoustic sensors, and dynamic pressure sensors.

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