Aug 25 2015
Sensuron, a global provider of compact fiber optic sensing (FOS) systems, today introduced its RTS125 and RTS150 systems to market after spinning off from sister company, 4DSP. Now its own entity, Sensuron’s mission is to solve problems on a global scale and enable industry innovation by utilizing light-based technologies that ensure equipment in the aerospace, medical and energy fields is functional, reliable and safe.
“Those at the engineering level up to the C-suite are innovating to solve business problems; however, they need proven technologies to allow for that innovation to become reality,” said Michael Heflin, CEO, Sensuron. “By investing in compact FOS solutions, businesses can consolidate several disparate technologies into a single platform to continuously test, control and monitor the health of systems to ensure success long into the future. Sensuron’s FOS platform enables innovations that change industries.”
“We have been collaborating with 4DSP, now Sensuron, to develop the next generation of fiber optic sensing systems for the last 10 years,” said Allen Parker, engineer, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. “Based on the concerted and cooperative effort, we’ve been able to build an exponentially smaller compact system compared to what was previously used on the market, with exceptional accuracy that enhances testing, designing, measuring, monitoring, and operating applications across industries. Driven by NASA’s ultra-efficient algorithms, this compact FOS system represents a major breakthrough in high-speed operational monitoring and sensing technology.”
Market Need
Across aerospace, medical and energy fields, equipment deterioration and the continuous monitoring of materials can be expensive to maintain and costly to an organization’s operations. Defective equipment can pose risks for civilians and consumers. For example, without careful monitoring, strain during flight can lead to airplane structural health issues. Additionally in launch vehicles, liquid level in fuel tanks may be higher than needed reducing payload capacity. In the energy field, unreported collisions with rigs can cause long-term structural risks.
Using existing techniques for monitoring equipment, engineers are struggling to keep up with industry developments. However solutions that not only solve problems, but also help engineers to approach challenges with new thinking, will increase competitive advantages. For example, by using new technologies in minimally invasive and orthopedic surgeries, developments in the medical field can pre-empt life-threatening issues, improve recovery, cut hospital in-patient times, risks and costs.
The Solution: Ensuring Equipment is Functional, Reliable and Safe with Sensuron
Sensuron’s compact FOS technology uses light to measure miniscule changes in temperature, volume, liquids and stress over a variety of surface areas. In addition, the platform can provide 2D and 3D shape sensing. By monitoring the changes in a network of hair-thin fibers, Sensuron’s solution can ensure the integrity, efficiency, location and long-term durability of equipment across the demanding aerospace, medical and energy industries. The fiber sensors reflect light readings back to a hardware system, which converts optical data into analog and then digital signals. This provides users with real-time measurements.
The FOS industry is growing with the global consumption value of fiber optic point sensors and continuous distributed fiber optics sensor systems expected to increase to $2.2 billion by 2018, up from $1.8 billion in 2013.
Beyond aerospace, medical and energy applications, Sensuron’s compact FOS technology has the ability to:
- Increase public safety: Sensuron’s technology monitors the structural health of aircrafts, buildings, nuclear equipment, dams, automobiles, trains, etc.
- Save resources: Sensuron’s FOS solutions improve the efficiency of wind turbines
- Detect structural instabilities: Sensuron’s RTS125 and RTS150 systems monitor components and structures within tunnels, chemicals, or nuclear power plants
- Enhance breakthroughs: Sensuron’s technology improves the precision of medical instruments and industrial tools so surgeons can operate in new and safer ways
- Improve accuracy: Sensuron’s compact FOS systems precisely measure liquid levels in vats of chemicals, cryogenic liquids, fuel, water, oil, etc.
As further testament to Sensuron’s technology influence on the market, it was recently recognized as a 2015 R&D 100 Finalist for its work with NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.
To learn more about how Sensuron helps solve customer problems, visit www.sensuron.com and follow the company on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest industry and company happenings.
What’s Compact Fiber Optic Sensing?
FOS technologies collect and analyze material and structural data based on changes in the way light moves down a fiber optic cable. FOS technologies extract environmental parameters such as strain loads, temperature gradients, as well as 2D and 3D shape sensing when light is passed through a network of hair-thin fibers. By measuring the changes in how light reflects back given various changes in these parameters, FOS technology can provide real-time monitoring of applications, helping to ensure the integrity, efficiency and long-term durability of equipment.