In this paper, we discuss various aspects of the control and sensing in a flexible wing aircraft using embedded LPFG (Long Period Fiber Grating). Driven by the need to improve aerodynamic efficiency and reduce fuel burn, interest in light-weight structures for next generation aircraft has been on the rise. However, in order to fully exploit novel lightweight structures, there is a critical need for distributed sensing along the entire wing span and its integration with closed-loop control systems. A model of an LPFG sensor string embedded in an Euler-Bernoulli beam is proposed along with an associated control algorithm.

Date Published: 5 September 2014
PDF: 18 pages
Proc. SPIE 9202, Photonics Applications for Aviation, Aerospace, Commercial, and Harsh Environments V, 920212 (5 September 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2062377

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9202:
Photonics Applications for Aviation, Aerospace, Commercial, and Harsh Environments V
Alex A. Kazemi; Bernard C. Kress; Edgar A. Mendoza, Editor(s)