Techniques for monitoring slump characteristic of concrete in a rotating container or drum

A system comprising:

• an acoustic sensor configured to mount on an exterior wall of a mixing drum, sense an acoustic characteristic of a mixture of a slurry, including concrete, contained in the mixing drum when rotating, and provide acoustic sensor signaling containing information about the acoustic characteristic sensed;
• a signal processor configured to
• receive the acoustic sensor signaling, and
• determine corresponding signaling containing information about a slump characteristic of the mixture of the slurry, including concrete, contained in the mixing drum, based upon the acoustic sensor signaling received;
• the acoustic sensor being configured to
• sense a first acoustic characteristic when the concrete is lifted by a vane of the mixing drum and provide first acoustic sensor signaling containing information about when the concrete is lifted by the vane, and
• sense a second acoustic characteristic when the concrete flows off the vane and falls back into the mixture and provide second acoustic sensor signaling containing information about when the concrete flows off the vane and falls back into the mixture;
• and
• the signal processor being configured to
• receive the first acoustic sensor signaling and the second acoustic sensor signaling, and
• determine the corresponding signaling containing information about the slump characteristic of the mixture of concrete contained in the mixing drum, based upon the first acoustic sensor signaling and the second acoustic sensor signaling received.