In recent years, the two significant developments in airplane manufacturing industry have been: (1) the introduction of digital electronic control of flight functions (fly-by-wire) and(2) the use of composite structures for the airframe and flight surfaces.The use of composite structures with fly-by-wire aircraft require heavy shielding from electromagnetic interference (EMI), electromagnetic pulses (EMP) and High Intensity Radio Frequency (HIRF). Electromagnetically generated noise is induced on both sensor power and sensor signal lines. Photonics Research Incorporated (PRI) proposes to alleviate both problems by replacing sensor signal lines with optical fibers and eliminating sensor power lines through the development of entirely passive flight control sensors.The innovation proposed here by PRI is to employ the LASE-ARRAYTM transmitter technology to parallel optical fiber links and passive fiber-optic sensors to control flight operations. The LASE-ARRAY, PRI' s tradename for the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), is an enabling technology that can provide fiber-based, passive sensors having: ú immunity to EMI and EMP,ú light weight,ú compactness,ú fault-tolerance,ú low-cost.Over 1000 pounds of EMI shielding can be elminated from transport aircraft by using fiber-based sensors.The proposed program has potential for many private sector applications. First, the avionics systems, which constitute over half the cost of an aircraft, will be revolutionized. Commercialization of a low-cost, reliable, robust fly-by-light system would help the U.S. maintain its leadership in the aircraft industry. Furthermore, similar sensors are required for harsh industrial environment monitoring, automotive, petroleum, chemical, high radiation, power generation and metals refining industries and on countless factory floors. The market projections and manufacturing cost analysis indicates the U.S. possesses tens of thousands of jobs based on $25 Billion/year and $500K revenue/employee.
