Mars or Bust! 40 years of fiber optic sensor development

摘要

In 1977 McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company began a project to investigate the usage of optical gyros to support the Delta Launch vehicle. This resulted in the invention of the closed loop fiber optic gyro and several derivative inventions that allowed entry into acoustics for undersea applications, launched the field of fiber optic smart structures, and resulted in some strange detours into secure fiber optic communication. Health monitoring activities with Blue Road Research, Inc. and later Columbia Gorge Research, LLC continuing to develop fiber sensors for an ever wider range of use including civil structures, oil and gas, environmental sensing, high speed machining, composite manufacturing, energetic materials, robotic surgery and electric power. This paper primarily follow the path to the moon, Mars and beyond with the objective of showing how fiber sensors are helping us to get there and ultimately will help us stay there.