Optimization and Testing of Rotor Optical Data Interface for Helicopters

Currently slip rings are used to transmit data and power across the rotating rotor interface of helicopters. However, slip rings have not proven to be as reliable as desired in these applications. Data dropouts and noisy measurements occur to an unacceptable degree and frequency. In this Phase I exploratory development effort Saddleback Aerospace applies optical communications technology and components to create a p rotor optical data interface (RODI) design capable of reliabily transmitting information from the rotor assembly to the aircraft body and vice versa. In addition to reliability, the RODI increases the system's data rates by orders of magnitude and can be retro-fitted to existing aircraft. Saddleback's basic concept involves modulating a light emitting diode or laser diode on one side of the rotor interface (either the rotor head or the aircraft body) with the data to be transmitted. The modulated light waveform is received and demodulated by a detector on the other side of the interface.