Smart surface covering and structure having remotely interrogatable antenna node array for remote integrity checking

An electronic reader for wirelessly detecting defects in a structure, comprising:

• a transmitter operable to generate interrogation signals;
• a receiver operable to receive return signals;
• and at least one processor coupled to a non-transitory memory storing computer program instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic reader to:
• wirelessly interrogate, by the transmitter, an array of nodes coupled to surface covering of at least a portion of the structure;
• read return signals, received by the receiver, containing data representing digital IDs for corresponding responsive nodes in the array;
• and
• extract the IDs in the return signals and compare the IDs to a plurality of IDs stored in a data store for corresponding nodes in the array, where a mismatch between the returned and stored IDs for the nodes in the array indicates a structural defect in a respective portion of the structure covered by the surface covering.

A system for wirelessly detecting defects in a structure, comprising:

• at least one array having a plurality of nodes, the array coupled to a surface coveting for a least a portion of the structure;
• and
• an electronic reader operable to wirelessly interrogate the at least one array and read return signals from nodes in the array, the return signals containing data representing digital IDs for corresponding responsive nodes in the array, the electronic reader further operable to compare the returned IDs to a plurality of IDs stored in a data store for corresponding nodes in the array,
• where a mismatch between the returned and stored IDs for the nodes in the array indicates a structural defect in a respective portion of the structure covered by the surface covering.