Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: To address the Army's need for a multifunctional integrated drive system sensor (MIDS

Description

To address the Army's need for a multifunctional integrated drive system sensor (MIDSS) to monitor rotorcraft drive system health, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to continue developing the Multilayered and Arrayed Fiber Optic Sensor Suite (MAFOSS) system. Based on successful development and testing of a Phase I MAFOSS prototype, POC proposes in Phase II to develop a fully functional prototype. The MAFOSS sensors will be tested to assess the accuracy of the measurement capabilities. Individual sensor testing will be followed by development and testing of sensor heads (suites) installed at multiple locations capable of covering the entire aircraft drive system. MAFOSS is based on integration of multiple types of fiber optic sensors arrayed on a single MEMS chip, a unique sensor interrogation scheme, and a novel sensor multiplexing technique. The capability and feasibility of MAFOSS was successfully demonstrated in Phase I through modeling and simulation of sensor performance and fabrication and testing of a prototype sensor suite for measurement of multiple health-related power train parameters. Phase II efforts will focus on optimizing the MAFOSS design, fabricating and testing a prototype fully meeting Army requirements, and developing an airworthy qualification test plan.