Adaptive Fiber Optic Acoustic Emission Sensor (FAESense) System for Condition Based Maintenance

Redondo Optics Inc. (ROI), proposes to engineer, integrate, and deliver to the Navy a next generation, stand-alone, dynamically reconfigurable, adaptive fiber optic acoustic emission sensor (FAESense™) system for the in-situ unattended detection and localization of shock events, impact damage, cracks, voids, and delaminations in new and aging DoD critical infrastructures found in ships, submarines, aircraft, and in next generation weapon systems. The proposed FAESense™ system is based on the integration of three proven state-of-the-art technologies successfully demonstrated during the Phase I program: 1) distributed array of in-line fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) sensors sensitive to strain, vibration, and acoustic emissions, 2) adaptive spectral demodulation of FBG sensor dynamic signals using two-wave mixing interferometry on photorefractive semiconductors, and 3) monolithic integration of all the sensor system’s passive and active opto-electronic components within a miniature semiconductor InP integrated optic microchip. Specifically in Phase II, the adaptive, multi-channel, FAESense™ technology demonstrated in the Phase I program will be further developed, engineer, and optimized to produce a fully manufacturable, qualified, and field deployable multi-channel FAESense™ system produced in small form factor, low power operation, and stand-alone package. ROI’s miniature cost efficient FAESense™ system is poised to revolutionize the field of AE structural health monitoring market.