PROJECT TITLE : Micromachined Fiber Optic Accelerometers
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)
The materials and technology now exist to construct miniaturized, light weight, robust, highly multiplexed, fiber optic-based, micromachined accelerometers for wind tunnel and in-flight instrumentation. This instrumentation is crucial to the development and operation of affordable, safe and efficient 21st century aircraft and other high-speed vehicles. The development of smart structures and adaptive control systems will require the accurate and reliable measurement of vibration important for understanding the basic flight dynamics leading to improvements in the design and operation of future high-speed transportation systems.POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONSAn excellent development team has been assembled including 1) the Fiber & Electro-Optics Research Center at Virginia Tech, a world leader in fiber optic sensor development, 2) Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies, which has invested over $50 million developing grating-based devices for communications applications, 3) Litton, with a micromachined product line and current agreements with F&S for joint product development, and 4) F&S, a leader in fiber optic sensor development and commercialization. This F&S team is both qualified and motivated to build upon its combined demonstrated capabilities to accomplish this development and commercialization project.
The development of light weight, small size, highly multiplexed accelerometers for wind tunnel instrumentation will find applications for in-flight aircraft health monitoring and active control of vibration in flaps and ailerons. These transducers will find tremendous markets in 1) transportation system design, development and operation, specifically automotive, aircraft, ships and submarines, 2) the power generation and monitoring systems for coal-fired, nuclear and fuel-cell technologies, 3) medical applications, and 4) specialty products including golf clubs, skis and other sports equipment.NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR
F&S Inc. (Fiber & Sensor Technologies, Inc.)
P.O. Box 11704
Blacksburg, VA 24062-1704