Ground Vehicle Dynamic Subsystem Modeling for Multi-body Simulation Applications

Not Available Stress-induced birefringent fibers are critical components for fiber sensor systems such as fiber-optic gyroscopes. An advanced technique to precisely align the principal axes of the fibers is required. Especially in fiber optic gyroscopes, the principal axes of a fiber optic coupler and sensing fiber loop should be aligned as exactly as possible. NZ Applied Technologies proposes to develop an innovative method for an accurately alignment of two birefringent fibers. The method employs a scanning Michelson interferometer, a scanning Retro-reflector and a special arrangement of a Wallaston prism to measure the dual interference signals. This type of device overcomes the major drawbacks of current devices and simultaneously possesses the desirable charateristics of highly accurate, rapid and continuous scanning with low cost of manufacturing. An advanced signal processing method will enable us to reach a measurement dynamic of 80dB which corresponds to an angular misalignment of 0.057¿. With the existing signal processing program a display in the wavelength spectrum is possible by a Fourier transformation. In phase I, a breadboard device with available input and output optical couplers will be constructed and its functionality will be demonstrated on an optical table for testing a variety of the Fiber-Optic Gyroscope (FOG) devices.