System and method for detecting damage to a target object using a sensed shear force

Abstract

A method of detecting damage in a target object comprises sensing a deformation and/or a force of a target object as the target object traverses a surface; comparing the sensed deformation and/or contact force of the target object to baseline data associated with an undamaged object; and detecting damage to the target object based upon the comparison of the sensed deformation and/or force of the target object to the baseline data associated with the undamaged object. A system for detecting damage comprises at least one sensor configured to sense the deformation and/or the force of the target object as the target object traverses a surface; and a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to analyze the deformation and/or the force sensed by the at least one sensor to detect damage to the target object.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.