Rust sensor on bridges could help save lives

Rust damage could prove to be a silent killer for many a bridge, which is why experts at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg, Germany, might have just stumbled upon a potential lifesaver in the form of an early-warning system for rust. These sensor-transponders will be installed into in the concrete in order to measure the extent of corrosion, where they are capable of providing engineers with a warning should rust start to turn a particular structure into an unworthy one for road users. Interestingly enough, the transponder that talks to the rust sensor will be powered by a magnetic field, which basically means it can run forever and ever without the need for any replacement.