Generation 2 Materials Technology sensors detect pipeline woes early

Generation 2 Materials Technology LLC (G2MT) has developed sensors that can detect stress within pipelines, which can prevent problems down the line.

Pipelines run over countless miles throughout the U.S., moving oil and natural gas to create gasoline and warm homes, respectively. In the past, there was no way to detect issues in the pipelines until it was too late to take preventive measures. Inspectors could only determine a pipeline’s fitness based on physical appearance.

The sensor research was supported with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds. These sensors can inspect the through-thickness residual stresses of the pipelines’ materials, which help engineers determine when the materials are no longer able to withstand the pressure needed to transport oil and gas.

Implementing these sensors will help protect U.S. citizens, materials, transportation infrastructure and the economy. This fulfills the purpose of the SBIR program: to assist entrepreneurs as they create novel solutions for important, complicated transportation issues.

“The SBIR program is going to be the future of giving opportunity to future generations,” Angelique Lasseigne, founder of the SBIR fund, said. “We need the opportunity to keep our intellectual property and the opportunity to lead our companies because you never know who will be the next Apple.”