Among the many ways to sense temperature, combinations of advanced optical principles used with optical fibers offer very different approaches, with application advantages and implementation limitations. The previous part of this article looked at two approaches to using optical fibers for temperature sensing based on the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). […]
Using optical fibers for temperature measurement, Part 2: Principles
Among the many ways to sense temperature, combinations of advanced optical principles used with optical fibers offer very different approaches, with application advantages but also implementation limitations. The first part of this article discussed general issues of sensing of physical parameters, especially temperature, and total internal reflection in optical fibers. This section will look at […]
Using optical fibers for temperature measurement, Part 1: Context
Among the many ways to sense temperature, combinations of advanced optical principles used with optical fibers offer very different approaches, with application advantages and implementation limitations. Temperature is the most widely sensed physical parameter; it’s that simple. What’s not simple is the many ways we have of measuring it through the use of sensors such […]
Undersea optical-fiber cables do double-duty as seismic sensors, Part 2: Application
A research team has devised and tested a scheme based on advanced optical-physics principles, which uses active submarine optical-fiber data cables also to sense ocean-floor earthquakes and ocean-surface swells. The previous part of this article established the context for “piggybacking” seismic-sensing capabilities onto an existing undersea fiber-optic cable. This part looks in more detail at […]
Undersea optical-fiber cables do double-duty as seismic sensors, Part 1: Context
A research team has devised and tested a scheme based on advanced optical-physics principles which uses active submarine optical-fiber data cables to also sense ocean-floor earthquakes and ocean-surface swells. Sensing of physical parameters such as temperature, pressure, force, and velocity often brings a “split personality” analysis. On one hand, getting a reading of the basic […]
The proving ring – An alternative to dead-weight calibration, Part 1
The proving ring implements a simple principle of physics to provide precise and tangible indication of applied weight ranging up to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Engineers who work with sensor-based data acquisition systems know that verifying and calibrating the performance of the sensor itself is often the most difficult part of assuring the performance […]
When audacious engineering leads to major success, Part 4: Apollo Lunar module
The Mars Rover Sky Crane, SpaceX Self-Landing Booster, and the Apollo Lunar Lander are just a few examples of dramatic, radically unconventional thinking, leading to astounding successes. While we now consider a lunar in-orbit rendezvous as routine, the viability, and risk of even a more-basic Earth-orbit link-up was a major concern at the time […]
When audacious engineering leads to major success, Part 3: Apollo Mission profile
The Mars Rover Sky Crane, SpaceX Self-Landing Booster, and the Apollo Lunar Lander are just a few examples of dramatic, radically unconventional thinking which led to astounding successes. Time and distance have a way of blurring the hard edges, sharp points, and intense disputes which accompany innovation. Years later, what once seemed ridiculous or foolish […]
When audacious engineering leads to major success, Part 2: Mars Rovers
The Mars Rover Sky Crane, SpaceX Self-Landing Booster, and the Apollo Lunar Lander are just a few examples of dramatic, radically unconventional thinking, leading to astounding successes. You have undoubtedly been awed by the stunning and fully successful landing of the Mars Perseverance Rover on February 18, 2021. It used a radical, hovering “Sky […]
When audacious engineering leads to major success, Part 1: SpaceX booster
The Mars Rover Sky Crane, SpaceX Self-Landing Booster, and the Apollo Lunar Lander are just a few examples of dramatic, radically unconventional thinking, leading to astounding successes. Bringing a major engineering project from concept to successful conclusion is a combination of often-elusive factors of skill, understanding, determination, risk, diligence, perseverance, good fortune (luck), and many […]
