Distributed Fiber-optic Electrostatic Potential Sensor System for Spacecrafts

Optical fiber sensors, with intrinsic features of good electrical isolation and immunity to electromagnetic interference, lightweight, and compactness, are a perfect solution for detecting electrostatic potential and charge distribution generated on payloads, spacecraft and landers. Renka Corporation had successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using a distributed fiber-optic sensor system to monitor multi-point electrostatic potential and charging rate. The sensor system is based on wavelength shift of functional material jacketed FBG. A unique multi-channel WDM integration approach for FBG sensors is also proposed and demonstrated by a prototype 4-sensor system. This approach allows tens or hundreds of sensors to be integrated through an optical fiber and to share a single light source. In this Phase II program, Renka Corporation proposes to facilitate this technology into real application. We will fabricate a 16-sensor or 32-sensor prototype for field test. Marketing efforts also will be put for other applications of the developed technologies and products, such as the multi-sensor integration technologies, which could be very useful for large-scale temperature or pressure monitoring in oil fields or large-size civil structures.