A weight management mat for passively and automatically monitoring weight for one or more individuals in a household. The weight management mat generally includes a housing having an upper mat and a lower mat between which is sealed a pair of perpendicular sensor arrays. Each sensor array includes fiber optic cables laid out in a grid pattern. One or more microbend inducers act to induce detectable microbends in the fiber optic cables when an individual steps on the upper mat. The change in light intensity caused by these microbends is recorded by photodetectors and processed by a microcontroller. The present invention may be utilized to identify each unique individual stepping on the present invention by the pressure map of their feet. Thus, recorded weight measurements may be tracked to aid in weight management.

A segment of roadway including a body and a strain sensor array embedded in the body. The strain sensor array includes vehicle-strain sensors configured to detect strain on the body resulting from vehicles traveling across the top surface. The strain sensor array includes an optical fiber cable comprising the plurality of vehicle-strain sensors, and the optical fiber cable is embedded in a configuration that includes a bend with a bend radius of at least twenty millimeters (20 mm). Each of the vehicle-strain sensors is separated from the bend by a length along the optical fiber cable of at least one centimeter (1 cm), and each of the vehicle-strain sensors is separated from each other of the vehicle-strain sensors by a length along the optical fiber cable of at least one centimeter (1 cm).

A segment of roadway includes a body having a top surface and a strain sensor array comprising one or more optical fiber cables embedded in the body. The strain sensor array includes an integrity sensor and vehicle-strain sensors. The vehicle-strain sensors are configured to detect strain on the body resulting from vehicles traveling across the top surface. Each of the vehicle-strain sensors has at least one of a spatial resolution and a length extending substantially parallel to a direction of travel of equal to or less than fifty centimeters (50 cm), and the integrity sensor has at least one of a spatial resolution and a length of greater than fifty centimeters (50 cm).

A sensor network comprises at least one lateral optical fiber and at least one longitudinal optical fiber. The lateral fiber comprises optical sensors coupled to a pavement in a transverse orientation relative to a direction of vehicle travel along the pavement. The longitudinal fiber comprises optical sensors coupled to the pavement in a longitudinal orientation relative to the direction of vehicle travel. The optical sensors are configured to produce wavelength shift signals comprising one or more lateral strain signals associated with the lateral fiber and one or more tangential strain signals associated with the longitudinal fiber. A processor is operatively coupled to the sensor network and configured to determine a weight of vehicles moving along the pavement based on the lateral and tangential strain signals. A transmitter is operatively coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the weight of vehicles to a predetermined location.

A modular pavement slab comprises a body, a strain sensor array, and a sensor processor. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surfaces. The modular pavement slab is configured to be coupled to at least one other modular pavement slab via connectors along at least one of the side surfaces. The strain sensor array is retained within the body and is configured to detect a plurality of strains on the body resulting from vehicular traffic across the top surface of the body. The sensor processor is in communication with the strain sensor array. The sensor processor is configured to communicate input signals to the strain sensor array, receive output signals from the strain sensor array, and determine a plurality of time-varying strain values, each strain value indicating a strain experienced over time by a successive one of a plurality of regions of the body.

A segment of roadway includes a body having a top surface, a length along a direction of travel that is bisected by a length midpoint, and a width perpendicular to the direction of travel and bisected by a width midpoint. A strain sensor array is embedded in the body and includes a plurality of vehicle-strain sensors having at least one of a length and a spatial resolution along the length dimension of equal to or less than fifty centimeters (50 cm). The plurality of vehicle-strain sensors are configured to detect strain on the body resulting from vehicles traveling across the top surface, and are distributed across the body such that at least thirty percent (30%) of the vehicle-strain sensors are positioned on each side of each of the length and width midpoints.

A subsea load monitoring apparatus having: a load sensor having a first end and a second end; a central processing unit configured for processing measurements from the load sensor; a battery for powering the central processing unit; an activation device being configured for activating the central processing unit from an idle operational mode to an active operational mode; a first and a second load attachment means connected to the first and second end of the load sensor, respectively; and an output device for the processed measurements from the load sensor. A subsea load monitoring system and methods for use of the subsea load monitoring system.

A segment of roadway includes a body comprising pavement materials and having a top surface and a strain sensor array embedded in the body. The strain sensor array includes vehicle-strain sensors configured to detect strain on the body resulting from vehicles traveling across the top surface. Each of the vehicle-strain sensors is configured to operate at a scanning rate of at least five hundred Hertz (500 Hz).

A segment of roadway includes a body having a top surface and a sensor array with one or more optical fiber cables embedded in the body. The sensor array includes vehicle-strain sensors configured to detect strain on the body resulting from vehicles traveling across the top surface and a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature within the body. The temperature sensor is surrounded by an air gap encased in a housing.

A segment of roadway includes a body having a top surface and a sensor array comprising one or more optical fiber cables embedded in the body. The sensor array includes an integrity sensor and a temperature sensor. The integrity sensor is configured to monitor the body for structural damage and has a length of greater than fifty centimeters (50 cm). The temperature sensor is configured to detect temperature within the body and is surrounded by an air gap encased in a housing.