Condition monitoring of epicyclical gears using optical fibre sensors

传感器是航空中至关重要的部件。除了向机组人员提供信息外，它们还越来越多地为人工智能系统提供信息，以便预测并避免故障。这种能力将使航空更安全，污染更少，并减少飞行中断。所有人工智能系统面临的挑战是如何测量和解释数据。这不是微不足道的，需要开发和理解传感器平台和机械现象。一般来说，在恶劣环境中传感器的更大扩散被认为是有益的，并且在航空工业中呈增长趋势。有效地，这提供了睁大眼睛观察以前被遮蔽的东西。该项目与GE航空公司合作，将建立一个光学系统，可以监测旋翼飞机上的行星齿轮。核心技术将基于光纤分段干涉测量（OFSI）和频谱复用布拉格光栅。开发应针对齿轮箱外壳的振动和热测绘，以监测内部复杂的行星齿轮系统的状态。该解决方案应使用包含100个传感器元件的轻型光纤来构建捕获故障前模式的解决方案。

Sensors are crucial components in aviation. In addition to providing information to the flight crew, they are increasingly providing information for Artificial Intelligence systems, in order to predict and thus avoid faults. Such capability would make aviation safer, less polluting and reduce flight disruption.The challenge for all AI systems is how to measure and interpret the data. This is not trivial and requires development and understanding of both the sensor platform and mechanical phenomena. Generally, a greater proliferation of sensors in harsh environments is considered beneficial and an increasing trend amongst the aviation industry. Effectively, this provides observation with eyes wide open to what was previously obscured. This project is in collaboration with GE Aviation and shall build an optical system that can monitor epicyclical gears aboard rotorcraft. The core technology shall be based upon optical fibre segmented interferometry (OFSI) and spectral multiplexed Bragg gratings. Developments shall target vibration and thermal mapping of the outer casing of a gearbox, to condition monitor the complex planetary gear system within. The solution shall use lightweight optical fibres containing 100's of sensor elements to construct a solution that captures pre-failure modes.