Distributed Linear and Angular Acceleration Measurement

Luna proposes to implement a distributed acceleration measurement system based on new fiber optic sensor designs and a flight-tested interrogator to address the unmet needs of aeroelastic aircraft. The fiber optic sensors will measure acceleration directly and provide finer spatial resolution measurements than existing approaches with traditional accelerometers and eliminate the challenges of using existing fiber optic distributed strain sensing of displacement that exhibits phase lag of 180° and increased signal noise due to numerical differentiation to attain accelerations of the structure. The system sample rate will be sufficient to capture all mode shape dynamics and minimize signal latency. The embeddable measurement system will enable real-time control of aeroelastic modes that will expand the flight envelope of future aircraft. During Phase I the Luna team will design, simulate, and fabricate innovative acceleration sensing concepts, map out an architecture for implementation of a flight-hardened system, and demonstrate mode shape sensing in the laboratory. Phase II will refine the sensing designs, flight-harden the sensors and interrogator, and culminate with a flight test demonstration.