Distributed Fiber Optic Structural Monitoring of Aging Aircraft

Luna Innovations proposes the development of a flight capable distributed fiber optic sensing system with unprecedented spatial resolution that will acquire in-flight structural integrity readings on aircraft structural elements and will allow for the fastupload of such data upon an aircrafts return. The data will be available in many formats, but software developed by Luna Innovations will have a graphical interface to display data and allow technicians to make rapid assessments of an aircraft's flightworthiness. This innovation will allow aircraft to move from schedule-based to condition-based maintenance, resulting in potentially huge cost savings and increased operational availability. The potential commercial applications of this technology cannot be overstated, and indeed, have already resulted in a great deal of interest. This technology competes directly with conventional strain gauge and thermocouple sensors in the industrialsensors market and applications in air and ground based health monitoring will be dominated by distributed fiber optic sensing in the coming years due to the greater sensor densities available. Additionally, this work in health monitoring implies potentialincorporation of this technology in most high end military systems including aircraft, spacecraft, armored vehicles, and marine and architectural structures.