Distributed, Embedded Sensing for Quasi-Static Shape Control of Wings

"SPA proposes to develop a low-cost, potentially retro-fit capable fiber optic sensor based wing shape measurement system. This open-architecture system will accomodate more than 120 sensors for real-time measurement, procesing, and visualization of wingshape. Mechanistic and neural network-based wing shape algorithms will be developed. The integrated software/hardware system will possess the dimensions of two laptop computers (one laptop computer and one laptop computer-sized electro-optics unit) andwill monitor wing shapes in a 1 to 50 Hz bandwidth. In the proposed Phase I effort, SPA will breadboard the shape sensing system and systematically evaluate the system for measurement accuracy, repeatability, and resolution with laboratory testing on ascaled wing structure with at least 36 embedded sensors. An on-line, real-time graphical user interface and wing shape visualization software package will be used to display measured wing shape. A sensor optimization study will be conducted in preparationfor Phase II full-scale testing and manufaturing trials. The final Phase II product of this effort will be a validated technology for optics-based strain/shape monitoring systems for aircraft and other composite structures. This technology will aidcurrent efforts to enhance aircraft performance capabilities, and also to maintain and monitor aging systems and structures. Wing morphing or smart flight control will enable conformal wing str