Automated Fiber Optic Cleaner for Aerospace Connector Maintenance

Present fiber connector cleaning methods and systems have a high fail rate with an unacceptable level of uncertainty as to the effectiveness of the application. Fast and effective cleaning of fiber optic connectors remains a challenging task due to the high susceptibility of communication fibers to blockage by particles in the ambient. Agiltron proposes to develop a novel fiber optic cleaning system based on a state-of-the-art synthetic adhesive material of unprecedented contaminant grabbing capability and incorporated into an established swab cleaning mechanism to produce the most effective connector cleaner for aviation maintenance. This device will offer the salient advantages of complete contamination pick-up capability, dry process without the using solvents, application to all surfaces: wet or dry, smooth or rough, hard or soft, no residue left on surfaces, good for multiple applications, and convenient hand operation without electrical power. Phase I will focus on the feasibility of the proposed cleaning system. In Phase II a practical cleaning system will be developed to meet all Navy requirements.