Low Power, Low Cost, Lightweight, Multichannel Optical Fiber Interrogation Unit for Structural Health Management of Rotor Blades
Navy SBIR FY2015.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2015.1
Topic No.: N151-006
Topic Title: Low Power, Low Cost, Lightweight, Multichannel Optical Fiber Interrogation Unit for Structural Health Management of Rotor Blades
Proposal No.: N151-006-0684
Firm: Redondo Optics, Inc.
811 N. Catalina Avenue, Suite 1100
Redondo Beach, California 90277-2198
Contact: Edgar Mendoza
Phone: (310) 292-7673
Web Site: www.redondooptics.com
Abstract: Redondo Optics Inc. (ROI), proposes to design, build, and demonstrate to the Navy an no-moving-parts, ultra-low power, light weight, and miniature size, multi-channel optical fiber interrogation (MOFIST) structural health monitor system suitable for the in-situ non-intrusive integration to a helicopter composite blade to enable the in-flight distributed multi-point measurement of true-strain, temperature, vibration, and impacts associated with excessive loads, fatigue, and structural damage within the composite blades structure. In Phase I, ROI will design, engineer, and assemble a laboratory prototype of stand-alone multi-channel MOFIST transceiver interrogation system and use it to interrogate an array (≥15-channels) of FBG sensor transducers deployed over a single sensor fiber with a spectral dynamic range of �10,000-microstrains and a resolution of 0.1-microstrains suitable for the real time structural health monitoring of rotorcraft blades. In Phase II will produce a field deployable ultra-low power, small form factor MOFIST SHM system and demonstrate its performance for operation under the environment conditions of a helicopter rotor blade. In Phase III, with the support of a strategic partner, the WiFOS technology will be transitioned to Navy operations.
Benefits: This project will yield a versatile and powerful SHM tool to enhance the reliability and safety of Navy helicopter rotor structural elements (blades, yolk, gears, shaft, etc) by providing comprehensive information about the structural integrity of the rotor platform from a large number of locations. ROI's MOFIST system represents a new, innovative, and reliable solution for next generation ultra-low power, lightweight, and miniature size, and low cost fiber optic sensors applications for use in structural health monitoring, diagnosis and prognostics of DoD and commercial infrastructures. Its miniaturized package, self-power operation, state-of-the-art wireless data communications architecture, smart signal prognostics, and affordable price make it a very attractive solution for a large number of SHM/NDT applications. Immediate SHM applications are found in Navy rotorcraft and aircraft, ships, submarines, and in next generation weapon systems, and in commercial oil and petrochemical, aerospace industries, civil structures, power utilities, portable medical devices, and biotechnology, homeland security and a wide spectrum of other applications.

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