Space-Rated, Rugged, Compact and Inexpensive Fiber Sensor Interrogator

Fiber optic sensing (FOS) technology is continuously being developed and offers many advantages over other traditional sensing technologies. The fiber sensors are compact, flexible, lightweight, and immune to electromagnetic interference. For optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) interrogation, thousands of Fiber Bragg gratings can be continuously spaced along the length of the fiber to allow for simultaneous measurements of temperature and strain with high spatial resolution. However interrogators implementing OFDR remain costly and are still economically difficult to justify for broad deployment. For this reason, Sensuron is excited to collaborate with NASA in this program to develop and create the technology needed to drive down the cost of this sensing solution and produce a ruggedized low SWAP-C FOS system that will be applicable to temperature and liquid level monitoring applications. The resulting product will be designed to meet harsh environmental specifications for radiation, temperature, shock & vibration as well as humidity. It will be capable of deployment in space missions but its commercial use will be most prevalent across many earth-bound applications.

Cryogenic tanks liquid level sensing Pressure vessels temperature sensing and structural health monitoring In-space structural health monitoring of buildings and assets

Aerospace: Distributed load monitoring, SHM and failure prediction, composite materials manufacturing and embedment. Energy: Oil well health equipment monitoring, storage tank liquid level and stratification, wind turbine blade testing. Automotive: Structural integrity study of prototypes, battery cells temperature monitoring. Civil engineering: Structural health monitoring of buildings and bridges.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.