Inexpensive, Rugged and Compact Tunable Laser with Simple Tuning Control for Airborne Fiber Optic Sensor (FOS) Interrogators

Dryden (Armstrong) Flight Research Center has developed a 4-fiber interrogation system for Fiber Optic Smart Structures (FOSS) sensor networks interrogation. Replacing the expensive, bulky, mechanically tuned swept laser technology used in the FOS system will help reduce the system cost, size and weight, and enable massive deployment. In this program, Freedom Photonics proposes to develop a novel, inexpensive semiconductor based widely tunable laser, which can be tuned using simple tuning algorithms and control.

The applications for the FOS technology with NASA: stress and strain monitoring in air and space vehicles; temperature monitoring in air and space vehicles. Structural health monitoring in air and space vehicles. Liquid fuel level monitoring in rockets.

Commercial applications include temperature and pressure monitoring for oil and gas drilling, monitoring the strain on blades of wind turbines, sensing liquid levels in vats of chemicals, monitoring temperature and strain along the wings or blades of aerial vehicles, and monitoring the interior and exterior structural strain of all sorts of structures, 3D shape sensing. Spectroscopy, instrumentation for spectroscopic measurements.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.