Optical Fiber Sensors for Space Structural Monitoring and Control

Existing and future space structures require autonomous onboard structural evaluation and control systems to ensure mission effectiveness. Optical fiber sensors are particularly advantageous within these systems due to such sensors' inherent immunity to electromagnetic interference and ground loops; their excellent resolution, accuracy and dynamic range; their ability to be multiplexed; and their ease of integration into future onboard optical fiber local area networks for communication and light control. Fiber and Sensor Technologies proposes to develop practical and commercially viable optical fiber sensors for use in active structural vibration control and the dynamic quantitative nondestructive evaluation of advanced aerospace materials. F&S principal investigators have demonstrated initial prototypes of innovative optical fiber sensors for each of these applications. They have developed variable-sensitivity spatially distributed optical fiber sensor methods which void the actuator/observer spillover typical of discrete point sensors and the associated instabilities in closed loop systems. F&S proposes to extend this initial research and to develop a commercial product.