The challenge of those involved in aircraft control system hardware development is to accommodate an ever-increasing complexity in aircraft control while limiting the size and weight of the components and improving system reliability. A technology that displays promise towards this ends is fiber optics. The primary advantages of employing optical fibers, passive optical sensors, and optically controlled actuators are weight/volume reduction, immunity from electromagnetic effects, high bandwidth capabilities, and freedom from short circuits/sparking contacts. Since 1975, NASA/Lewis has been performing in-house, and grant research in fiber optic sensors, high-temperature electro-optic switches, and 'fly-by-light' control system architecture. Passive optical sensor developments is an essential yet challenging area of work and has, therefore, received much attention during this period. A major effort to develop fly-by-light-control system technology, known as the 'Fiber Optic Control System Integration' (FOCSI) program, was initiated in 1985 as a cooperative effort between NASA and the DOD. Phase I of FOCSI, completed in 1986, was aimed at the design of a fiber optic integrated propulsion/flight control system. Phase II will provide subcomponent and system development and system testing. In addition to a summary of the benefits, the FOCSI program, sensor advances, and future directions in the NASA/Lewis program are discussed.
Overview of NASA research in fiber optics for aircraft systems
Ueberblick ueber die faseroptische Forschung der NASA fuer Luftfahrtsysteme
ISA Transactions ; 28 , 2 ; 25-29
1989
5 Seiten, 4 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 8 Quellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
WELLENLAENGENMULTIPLEX , FLUGREGELUNG , FASEROPTIK , FORSCHUNG UND ENTWICKLUNG , NASA (NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION) , LUFTFAHRTELEKTRONIK , REGELUNGSSYSTEM , FASEROPTISCHER SENSOR , FASEROPTISCHES BAUELEMENT , FORSCHUNGSPROGRAMM , STELLGLIED , ELEKTROOPTISCHES BAUELEMENT , ENTWICKLUNGSTENDENZ , CODIERER , TEMPERATURMESSUNG , MULTIPLEX , SYSTEMZUVERLAESSIGKEIT