Weaved Distributed Plastic Optical Fiber Sensor (DIFOS) SHM system

In Phase I, Redondo Optics Inc. proposes to develop, demonstrate, and deliver to NASA an innovative, fully integrated, miniature size, light weight, ultra-low power, and wireless communication weaved distributed plastic optical fiber sensor (DIFOS) SHM system suitable for the global monitoring of passive and dynamic - axial and bi-axial - stresses and shape history within the canopy broadcloth fabric of large and entire cross-sections of NASA's disk-gap-band (DGB) parachutes planned for the Mars 2020 mission landings. ROI's DIFOS structural health monitor (SHM) sensor system is based on the innovative integration of proven state-of-the-art technologies: 1) use of minimally invasive (50-μm-fiber) plastic optical fiber (micro-bend, and/or FBGs) strain sensors cross-weaved within the parachute canopy broadcloth fabrics and strands of supersonic parachutes; 2) use of ROI's proprietary PIC microchip optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) for the high spatial resolution (cm's) distributed monitoring of the axial and bi-axial strain/stress state of the weaved optical fibers over the entire canopy broadcloth fabric of the parachute structure. In Phase II, the DIFOS SHM system will be integrated into an airborne ready decelerator system and tested under load environments representative of decelerator decent missions.