Implementation of a Fiber-Optic Sensing Technology for Global Structural Integrity Monitoring of UAVs

摘要

This work presents the design, implementation, qualification and flightrndata evaluation of an in-flight Health and Usage Monitoring System of thernIsraeli Air Force “Heron” UAV. The system is based on Fiber BraggrnGrating (FBG) sensors embedded into the wing and tail booms. Reliablernflight data were recorded by the sensors during a dedicated flight test,rncovering the full UAV flight envelope, and continue to be recorded duringrnthe normal operation of the aircraft. The on-board collected data arernprocessed off-line on the ground and analyzed both in the frequency andrntime domains so that booms load spectra and vibration signatures can bernidentified and tracked. Based on the data obtained, it is now possible torntrack this UAV actual load spectrum and its impact on the UAV structuralrnintegrity.