Composite structures with embedded electrical grids

A laminated composite structure of a cargo body, the composite structure comprising:

• a core layer;
• an outer fiber-reinforced polymer layer coupled to the core layer;
• an inner fiber-reinforced polymer layer coupled to the core layer;
• and
• at least one electrical grid embedded within one or more of the outer and inner fiber-reinforced polymer layers, wherein the at least one electrical grid includes:
• a first plurality of conductive fibers;
• a second plurality of conductive fibers perpendicular to the first plurality of conductive fibers;
• wherein the at least one electrical grid is embedded within one of the outer and inner fiber-reinforced polymer layers on one side of the core layer, the electrical grid further including a plurality of intermediate insulating fibers sandwiched between the first plurality of conductive fibers and the second plurality of conductive fibers;
• wherein the composite structure is a sidewall of a refrigerated trailer, and further comprising a sensor coupled to at least two of a first plurality of subsets of the first plurality of conductive fibers or at least two of a second plurality of subsets of the second plurality of conductive fibers, wherein the sensor is at least one of a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a GPS sensor, a load sensor, and an accelerometer, the sensor configured to communicate a signal indicative of a state of the refrigerated trailer.