Automated Fiber Optic Interconnect Cleaning System

Aircraft availability requirements demand quick and accurate repairs in order to meet mission needs. Impact Technologies LLC, in collaboration with American Fujikura Limited Noyes (AFL Noyes), propose a novel approach to fiber optic connector cleaning and inspection that reduces the cleaning time of termini from 30 minutes to the target of 5 minutes. This proposal identifies the issues that increase ambiguity in inspection, the challenges of fiber optic field maintenance, and identifies the technologies needed to optimize inspection and cleaning. Research and development will target a single insertion approach utilizing novel optics, computer vision and decision support reasoners that can distinguish a clean endface, from a degraded endface as well as one that needs cleaning. Cleaning mechanisms will be integrated into the single probe to reduce further contamination and excessive part count in field environments. Marketing studies have identified a potential commercial marketplace for a portable single insertion cleaning product, thus Impact Technologies and AFL Noyes are committed to commercializing a product based on the specification from this proposal. BENEFIT: The capability proposed by Impact Technologies and AFL Noyes will benefit the US Air Force, the DoD, and private industries in deploying an automated fiber optic connector cleaning and inspection system that removes technician subjectivity and enhances weapons, avionics, and telecommunications systems availability. The proposed system will reduce the need for fiber optic maintainer expertise, endface assessment and cleaning time, and mitigate human error. The benefit of developing a new fiber optic connector cleaning and inspection system directly contributes to improvement in productivity, safety, readiness, as well as a reduction of total cost of ownership. A product developed from this SBIR will be commercialized by Impact Technologies and AFL Noyes.