Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A14-056

Description

To address the Army need for a non-destructive helicopter sling rope inspection technology, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) is developing a new Hybrid Sling Rope (HYSR) technology to electronically inspect helicopter sling load (HSL) slings. This technology consists of multiple conductive threads braided into inner and outer nylon braids, changing the bulk electrical properties of the nylon sling rope. Low-power, direct electronic monitoring of rope filament damage and degradation along the entire sling rope is possible with this innovative use of a coextruded nylon core encapsulating conductive nylon fibers. During the Phase I feasibility studies, POC has demonstrated the concept through numerical analysis and laboratory experiments, and developed a prototype design concept to be built in Phase II. In Phase II development, POC plans to implement this concept by designing, constructing, and demonstrating the operation of a complete prototype that can accurately and non-destructively determine and display the strength of a sling rope. The validity of this technology will be proven via life cycle and environmental testing of the sling rope prototype.