High-Speed Self-Power Wireless Fiber Optic Sensor (WiFOS) Structural Health Monitoring System for Helicopter Rotors

Redondo Optics Inc. (ROI) proposes to design, build, bench and fly test, and deliver to the Navy an innovative light weight, high-speed, and self-powered wireless fiber optic sensor (WiFOS) structural health monitor system suitable for the onboard and in-flight unattended detection, localization, and classification of load, fatigue, and structural damage within the blades, rotor gears, shafts of a helicopter rotor and to wirelessly transmit the acquired and processed sensor data from the rotating frame of the rotor to a remote wireless data-logger receiver/gateway located in the non-rotating frame of the rotor assembly. In Phase I, ROI will focus on developing a multi-channel WiFOS SHM system that minimizes power consumption and maximizes power generation. Specifically, ROI will assemble a self-power, wireless WiFOS transceiver interrogation system based on ROI"s monolithic integrated optics microchip technology, integrated with smart power management, on-board data processing, and wireless data transmission optoelectronics, and self-power using energy harvesting. In Phase II, the WiFOS system will be engineer into a fly qualifyable system for testing and demonstration aboard a Navy helicopter platform such as the H-60, H-1, H-53, or V-22. In Phase III, with the support of a strategic partner, the WiFOS technology will be transitioned to Navy operations.