A review of a smart condition monitoring and control system destined for harsh environments<FNR>†</FNR><FN>This paper is an expanded version of a paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on the Control of Industrial Processes, Newcastle, March 1999. </FN>

This paper describes the need for wireless piston telemetry together with elements of the design, development and operation of such a system. A specific feature of the system is the multiplicity of operating modes enabled by two-way communication. The system has been demonstrated to work with thermocouples and accelerometers embedded in the piston of a very small engine at speeds of over 2000 rev min-l. The piston-mounted components can be fitted to a piston as small as 80 mm diameter, and size reductions are anticipated with improvements in implementation technologies. Typical results are quoted in the paper. Patents for this system are pending. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]