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NASA Technical Memorandum 100919

Overview of NASA Research in Fiber

Optics for Aircraft Controls

Gary T. Seng
Lewis Research Center
Cleveland, Ohio

Prepared for the

-.. ISAl88 International Conference and Exhibit
sponsored by the Instrument Society of America
.. Houston, Texas, October 16-21, 1988
 OVERVIEW OF NASA RESEARCH I N FIBER OPTICS FOR AIRCRAFT CONTROLS

Gary T. Seng
N a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s and Space A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
Lewi s Research C e n t e r
C l e v e l a n d , O h i o 44135

SUMMARY

The c h a l l e n g e o f t h o s e i n v o l v e d i n a i r c r a f t c o n t r o l system hardware

development i s t o accommodate an e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g c o m p l e x i t y i n a i r c r a f t con-
t r o l , w h i l e l i m i t i n g t h e s i z e and w e i g h t o f t h e components and i m p r o v i n g sys-
tem r e l i a b i l i t y . A t e c h n o l o g y t h a t d i s p l a y s promise towards t h i s end i s f i b e r
o p t i c s . The p r i m a r y advantages o f employing o p t i c a l f i b e r s , p a s s i v e o p t i c a l
sensors and o p t i c a l l y c o n t r o l l e d a c t u a t o r s a r e w e i g h t l v o l u m e r e d u c t i o n , immu-
n i t y f r o m e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c e f f e c t s , h i g h bandwidth c a p a b i l i t i e s and freedom
f r o m s h o r t c i r c u l t s l s p a r k i n g c o n t a c t s . S i n c e 1975, NASA Lewis has been per-
f o r m i n g In-house, c o n t r a c t and g r a n t r e s e a r c h i n f i b e r o p t i c sensors, h i g h
temperature e l e c t r o - o p t i c s w i t c h e s and " f l y - b y - l i g h t " c o n t r o l system a r c h i t e c -
t u r e . Passive o p t i c a l sensor development i s an e s s e n t i a l y e t c h a l l e n g i n g a r e a
o f work and has t h e r e f o r e r e c e i v e d much a t t e n t i o n d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d . A m a j o r
e f f o r t t o develop f l y - b y - l i g h t c o n t r o l system t e c h n o l o g y , known as t h e " F i b e r
O b t i c C o n t r o l System I n t e g r a t i o n " (FOCSI) program was i n i t i a t e d i n 1985 as a
c o o p e r a t i v e e f f o r t between NASA and t h e DOD. Phase I o f FOCSI, completed i n
1986, was aimed a t t h e d e s i g n o f a f i b e r o p t i c i n t e g r a t e d p r o p u l s i o n l f l i g h t
c o n t r o l system. Phase I 1 w i l l p r o v i d e subcomponent and system development,
and system t e s t i n g . I n a d d i t i o n t o a summary o f t h e b e n e f i t s o f f i b e r o p t i c s ,
t h e FOCSI program, sensor advances, and f u t u r e d i r e c t i o n s i n t h e NASA Lewis
program w i l l be d i s c u s s e d .

INTRODUCTION

The appl i c a t i o n o f f i b e r o p t i c l e l e c t r o - o p t i c t e c h n o l o g y t o a i r c r a f t con-

t r o l systems h o l d s much f u t u r e promise due t o a number o f i n h e r e n t advantages
o v e r c u r r e n t wire-based systems. R e p l a c i n g t h e p r o p u l s i o n and f l i g h t c o n t r o l
system e l e c t r i c a l w i r i n g w i t h o p t i c a l f i b e r s r e s u l t s i n a s u b s t a n t i a l w e i g h t
and volume savings. For example, i n a F-15 f i g h t e r , t h e w e i g h t r e d u c t i o n i s
e s t i m a t e d t o be 57 Kg (125 l b ) w h i l e f o r t r a n s p o r t a i r c r a f t , w e i g h t s a v i n g s
c o u l d r e a c h as h i g h as 680 Kg (1500 l b ) . Due t o t h e f a c t t h a t o p t i c a l f i b e r s
a r e d i e l e c t r i c , problems w i t h e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c i n t e r f e r e n c e , e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c
p u l s e , and l i g h t i n g a r e e l i m i n a t e d , which i n t u r n e l i m i n a t e s t h e need f o r
s h i e l d i n g and surge quenching c i r c u i t s . T h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y advantageous as
modern a i r c r a f t move towards t h e use o f composite s t r u c t u r e s which p r o v i d e
l i t t l e i n h e r e n t s h i e l d i n g . The h i g h bandwidth c a p a b i l i t y i s advantageous f o r
d a t a bus l i n e s and o f f e r s t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r a l l a v i o n i c s d a t a t o be t r a n s m i t -
t e d o v e r a s i n g l e l i n e . F i b e r o p t i c s a l s o e l i m i n a t e s t h e t h r e a t o f f i r e s due
t o i n s u l a t i o n f a i l u r e s o r s h o r t c i r c u i t s which c o u l d cause i n a d v e r t e n t
a c t u a t i o n o f c o n t r o l hardware.
 F i g u r e 1 shows an a r t i s t ' s c o n c e p t i o n o f a f l y - b y - l i g h t a i r c r a f t . I n
t h i s g r e a t l y s i m p l i f i e d diagram, t h e engine c o n t r o l and f l i g h t c o n t r o l comput-
e r s a r e shown l i n k e d t o t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e s e t o f o p t i c a l sensors and o p t i c a l
a c t u a t o r s , u s i n g f i b e r o p t i c cables and an e l e c t r o - o p t i c i n t e r f a c e ( n o t shown).

FIBER OPTIC CONTROL SYSTEM INTEGRATION PROGRAM

The design, development and t e s t i n g o f a f i b e r o p t i c i n t e g r a t e d p r o p u l -

s i o n / f l i g h t c o n t r o l system f o r an advanced supersonic dash a i r c r a f t i s t h e
goal o f t h e j o i n t NASA and DOD F i b e r O p t i c C o n t r o l System I n t e g r a t i o n (FOCSI)
program. Phase I, t o assess c u r r e n t technology and p r o v i d e system d e s i g n
o p t i o n s , was completed e a r l y i n f i s c a l year 1987 ( O c t . 1986) ( r e f s . 1 and 2).
Phase I p r o v i d e d a comparison o f e l e c t r o n i c and o p t i c a l c o n t r o l systems, iden-
t i f i e d t h e s t a t u s o f c u r r e n t o p t i c a l sensor technology, d e f i n e d t h e a i r c r a f t
s e n s o r / a c t u a t o r environment, proposed a r c h i t e c t u r e s f o r f u l l y o p t i c a l c o n t r o l
systems, and p r o v i d e d schedules f o r development. O v e r a l l , i t was determined
t h a t t h e r e a r e s u f f i c i e n t advantages i n employing a f i b e r o p t i c - b a s e d c o n t r o l
system t o w a r r a n t c o n t i n u e d e f f o r t s t o develop such a system. I t was a l s o
determined t h a t i t i s f e a s i b l e t o b u i l d a f i b e r o p t i c c o n t r o l system f o r t h e
development o f a database f o r t h i s technology, b u t t h a t f u r t h e r work i s neces-
sary i n sensors, a c t u a t o r s , and components t o develop an optimum-design, f u l l y
f i b e r o p t i c i n t e g r a t e d c o n t r o l system c o m p a t i b l e w i t h advanced a i r c r a f t
environments.

Phase 11, t o design, c o n s ' t r u c t , and ground t e s t a f l y - b y - l i g h t c o n t r o l

system has been i n i t i a t e d w i t h t h e f i r s t t a s k aimed a t p r o v i d i n g a d e t a i l e d
design o f t h e e l e c t r o - o p t i c a r c h i t e c t u r e r e q u i r e d .

A phase 111 program f o r f l i g h t t e s t o f t h e system i s c u r r e n t l y under con-

s i d e r a t i o n t o e s t a b l i s h an i n i t i a l database on t h e performance, r e l i a b i l i t y ,
and m a i n t a i n a b i l i t y o f f l y - b y - l i g h t c o n t r o l systems.

FIBER OPTIC SENSORS PROGRAM

A s was i n d i c a t e d i n t h e p r e v i o u s s e c t i o n , t o implement a f i b e r o p t i c con-

t r o l system r e q u i r e s t h e development o f p a s s i v e o p t i c a l sensors and o p t i c a l l y
c o n t r o l l e d o r powered a c t u a t o r s capable o f s u r v i v i n g a i r c r a f t environments.
Table I p r o v i d e s a p r e l i m i n a r y l i s t o f t h e s e t o f c o n t r o l and c o n d i t i o n moni-
t o r i n g sensors b e i n g considered f o r i n c o r p o r a t i o n i n t o t h e FOCSI c o n t r o l
system. The e n t i r e c o n t r o l system must be f l i g h t q u a l i f i e d t o w i t h s t a n d a
supersonic dash a i r c r a f t environment, i . e . , i t must p e r f o r m r e l i a b l y w i t h
repeated temperature c y c l i n g and v i b r a t i o n . The most severe o v e r a l l e n v i r o n -
ments occur i n the engine bay areas. Here t h e h i g h e s t soaking temperature a
sensor may see i s 423 K (150 "C) and t h e l o w e s t i s 218 K (-55 "C), w h i l e t h e
h i g h e s t temperature t h e a c t i v e s u r f a c e may see i s 1370 K (1100 "C) i n p e n e t r a t -
i n g t h e h o t s e c t i o n ( r e f . 1 ) . F i b e r o p t i c cables and connectors i n t h e engine
bay area a r e exposed t o a temperature range of 218 K t o i n excess o f 373 K
(100 "C). The e l e c t r o - o p t i c s a r e c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n t h e p r o t e c t e d engine con-
t r o l computer environment and must o p e r a t e r e l i a b l y i n a temperature range o f
218 t o 358 K (85 " C ) , a l t h o u g h f l i g h t q u a l i f i c a t i o n r e q u i r e s m i l i t a r y s p e c i f i -
c a t i o n components which a r e t e s t e d t o 398 K
(125 "C). C u r r e n t l y , a c t u a t o r s would most l i k e l y be o f t h e o p t i c a l l y -
c o n t r o l l e d v a r i e t y , a b l e t o o p e r a t e r e l i a b l y i n a temperature environment f r o m
218 t o 423 K .

NASA Lewis has addressed t h i s c r i t i c a l a r e a o f t e c h n o l o g y s i n c e 1975, b y

d e v e l o p i n g a wide v a r i e t y o f o p t i c a l sensors and a h i g h temperature e l e c t r o -
o p t i c s w i t c h t h r o u g h in-house, c o n t r a c t and g r a n t e f f o r t s ( r e f . 3 ) . Labora-
t o r y p r o t o t y p e s have been developed and t e s t e d f o r measurement o f temperatures
(218 t o 1973 K ) , p r e s s u r e , speed, p o s i t i o n , f l o w and b l a d e t i p c l e a r a n c e .

C u r r e n t l y work i s c o n t i n u i n g t o improve methods f o r temperature, p r e s s u r e

and p o s i t i o n measurements and has been i n i t i a t e d t o develop r e f e r e n c i n g tech-
n i q u e s f o r i n t e n s i t y modulated sensors, o p t i c a l sensor m u l t i p l e x i n g schemes,
and shock p o s i t i o n sensors ( r e f s . 4 and 5 ) . Two examples which w i l l be d i s -
cussed f u r t h e r a r e a wavelength d i v i s i o n m u l t i p l e x e d o p t i c a l encoder and a
s e m i c o n d u c t o r - e t a l o n temperature sensor ( r e f s . 5 t o 8 ) .

A diagram o f t h e wavelength d i v i s i o n m u l t i p l e x e d o p t i c a l encoder i s shown

i n f i g u r e 3. I t uses a m i c r o - o p t i c a l wavelength rnultiplexerldemultiplexer i n
c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h a r e f l e c t i v e code p l a t e . T h i s approach r e s u l t s i n a compact,
rugged and p o t e n t i a l l y i n e x p e n s i v e d e v i c e . The m u l t i p l e x e r u n i t c o n s i s t s o f a
5 mm d i a m e t e r graded i n d e x (GRIN) r o d l e n s e p o x i e d t o a p r i s m l g r a t i n g assem-
b l y . Broadband l i g h t f r o m two LEDs e n t e r s t h e t r a n s d u c e r v i a t h e encoder
i n p u t l o u t p u t f i b e r . The m u l t i p l e x e r d i s p e r s e s t h e broadband spectrum a c r o s s
t h e channels o f a r e f l e c t i v e code p l a t e . Those wavelengths d i r e c t e d t o a
channel i n t h e l o g i c z e r o s t a t e a r e absorbed b y t h e code p l a t e . Those wave-
l e n g t h s d i r e c t e d t o a channel i n t h e l o g i c one s t a t e a r e r e f l e c t e d b y t h e code
p l a t e and r e t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e i n p u t l o u t p u t f i b e r . A t t h e r e c e i v e r o f t h e WDM
o p t i c a l encoder, d e m u l t i p l e x i n g i s performed b y a second g r a t i n g assembly
which d i s p e r s e s t h e spectrum o n t o a p h o t o d i o d e a r r a y . The p a t t e r n o f
"onN-peaks ( l o g i c 1) and " o f f " - v a l l e y s ( l o g i c 0) d e f i n e s t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e
a c t u a t o r t o t e n b i t r e s o l u t i o n . C u r r e n t l y , a p r o t o t y p e encoder i s b e i n g
c o n s t r u c t e d f o r f u t u r e engine and f l i g h t t e s t s .

A schematic diagram o f a semiconductor e t a l o n temperature sensor i s p r e -

sented i n f i g u r e 4. The s e n s i n g element i s a s i l i c o n c a r b i d e ( S i c ) e t a l o n on
s i l i c o n ( S i ) . L i g h t i n c i d e n t on t h e e t a l o n i s p a r t i a l l y r e f l e c t e d f r o m b o t h
o f i t s s u r f a c e s . I n t e r f e r e n c e p a t t e r n s f r o m these r e f l e c t e d beams can be
r e l a t e d t o t h e o p t i c a l t h i c k n e s s o f t h e e t a l o n which, i n t u r n , i s a f u n c t i o n
o f t h e temperature. An o p t i c a l f i b e r d e l i v e r s l i g h t t o t h e sensor. A graded
index r o d (GRIN) m i c r o l e n s c o l l i m a t e s t h i s l i g h t and d i r e c t s i t towards t h e
s e n s i n g e t a l o n . L i g h t r e f l e c t e d by t h e e t a l o n i s r e c o u p l e d i n t o t h e f i b e r by
t h e G R I N l e n s . A d u a l i n t e r f e r o m e t e r ( n o t shown) system i s employed t o
d e t e r m i n e t h e o p t i c a l t h i c k n e s s . To p e r m i t t h e measurement o f temperatures
s i g n i f i c a n t l y h i g h e r t h a n can be w i t h s t o o d by t h e f i b e r and graded i n d e x
( G R I N ) r o d l e n s , an a l u m i n a tube p o s i t i o n s t h e s e n s i n g e t a l o n a d i s t a n c e o f
5 cm f r o m t h e G R I N l e n s . The sensing e t a l o n i s a s i n g l e - c r y s t a l f i l m o f s i l i -
con c a r b i d e ( S i c ) w i t h a t h i c k n e s s o f 18 pm. A s i l i c o n s u b s t r a t e p r o v i d e s
mechanical s u p p o r t t o t h e S i c and serves t o p r o t e c t i t s s u r f a c e . A s m a l l e r ,
more advanced v e r s i o n o f t h e sensor i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d .
 SUMMARY AND CONCLUDING REMARKS

A d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e NASA Lewis program i n f i b e r o p t i c s for a i r c r a f t

c o n t r o l systems has been p r e s e n t e d i n c l u d i n g FOCSI, a NASA and DOD c o n t r a c t e d
program t o d e s i g n , d e v e l o p and t e s t a f l y - b y - l i g h t a i r c r a f t c o n t r o l system,
and an in-house, c o n t r a c t , and g r a n t program t o develop and t e s t f i b e r o p t i c
sensors and o p t i c a l l y c o n t r o l l e d a c t u a t o r s .

NASA i n t e n d s t o c o n t i n u e t o a g g r e s s i v e l y pursue a l l areas o f t h i s

t e c h n o l o g y . A d d i t i o n a l l y , we a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n s e r v i n g as a f o c u s f o r
a c h i e v i n g a consensus on f i b e r o p t i c component s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r a i r c r a f t .
One a r e a which deserves a t t e n t i o n i n t h e near t e r m i s f l y - b y - l i g h t c o n t r o l
systems f o r f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n f i g h t e r a i r c r a f t and h i g h speed a i r c r a f t such as
t h o s e f l y i n g i n s u s t a i n e d s u p e r s o n i c o r h y p e r s o n i c regimes. Such c o n t r o l
systems w i l l r e q u i r e f i b e r o p t i c components capable o f much h i g h e r t e m p e r a t u r e
o p e r a t i o n t h a n was r e p o r t e d h e r e .

REFERENCES

1. Poumakis, D.J., and Davies, W.J., " F i b e r O p t i c C o n t r o l System

I n t e g r a t i o n , " P r a t t and Whitney, Government Products D i v i s i o n , West Palm
Beach, FL, 1986, NASA CR-179569.

2. Poppel, G.L., Glasheen, W.M., and R u s s e l l , J.C., " F i b e r O p t i c C o n t r o l

System I n t e g r a t i o n , " R87AEBll1, General E l e c t r i c Co., A i r c r a f t Engine
Business Group, C i n c i n n a t i , OH, 1987, NASA CR-179568.

3. Baumbick, R.J., " F i b e r O p t i c s f o r P r o p u l s i o n C o n t r o l Systems," J o u r n a l o f

E n q i n e e r i n g f o r Gas T u r b i n e s and Power, V o l . 107, No. 4, O c t . 1985,
pp. 851-855.

4. Adamovsky, G., " R e f e r e n c i n g i n F i b e r O p t i c Sensing Systems," O p t i c a l

Techniques f o r Sensing and Measurement i n H o s t i l e Environments, P r o c .
SPIE V o l . 787, C.H. G i l l e s p l e and R.A. Greenwell, eds., SPIE, B e l l i n g h a m ,
WA, 1987, pp. 17-21.

5. Beheim, G.M., "Loss Compensation Technique f o r F i b e r - O p t i c Sensors and

I t s A p p l i c a t i o n t o Displacement Measurements," A p p l i e d O p t i c s , V o l . 26,
No. 3, Feb. 1, 1987, pp. 452-455.

6. F r i t s c h , K., and Beheim, G., " W a v e l e n g t h - D i v i s i o n M u l t i p l e x e d D i g i t a l

O p t i c a l P o s i t i o n Transducer," O p t i c s L e t t e r s , V o l . 11, No. 1 , Jan. 1986,
pp. 1-3.

7. Beheim, G.M., " F i b r e - O p t i c Thermometer U s i n g Semiconductor-Etalon

Sensor," E l e c t r o n i c s L e t t e r s , V o l . 22, No. 5, Feb. 27, 1986, pp. 238-239.
8. Beheim, G.M., F r i t s c h , K . , and Anthan, D.J., " F i b e r O p t i c Temperature
Sensor U s i n g a Spectrum-Modulating Semiconductor E t a l o n , " NASA TM-100153,
1987.

-
TABLE I. PRELIMINARY FOCSI SENSOR SET

Propulsion control F l i g h t control

Pressure Actuator positions
Compressor i n l e t , discharge Pressure ( t o t a l , s t a t i c )
Turbine discharge Mach number
Speed Angle o f attack
Fan, core Total temperature
Temperature I n t e r f a c e w i t h f l i g h t guidance
Compressor, t u r b i n e i n l e t F l i g h t condition monitoring
Turbi ne blade Hydraul i c pressure, temperature, l e v e l
Actuator positions Fuel l e v e l
Fuel flow
Light-off detector
Propulsion condition monitoring
O i l temperature, l e v e l , debris
Vibration
Fuel temperature
 AIRFRAME

MULTIPLEX BUS -' SENSORS

ACTUATORS
ECC-ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER
FCC-FLIGHT CONTROL COMPUTER
FIGURE 1. - FLY-BY-LIGHT AIRCRAFT.

OBJECTIVE
DEVELOP THE TECHNOLOGY NECESSARY TO INCORPORATE A FIBER-OPTIC INTEGRATED
PROPULSlONlFLlGHT CONTROL SYSTEM INTO AN ADVANCED SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT

SCHEDULE
FISCAL YEAR
86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94

PHASE I: PROPULSIONIFLIGHT CONTROL DESIGN

PHASE 11: SUBCOMPONENTISYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
ENGlNEllRON BIRD TEST

NASAIDOD COOPERATIVE EFFORT

RESULTS APPLICABLE TO FUTURE ADVANCED ROTORCRAFT
FIGURE 2. - FIBER O P T I C CONTROL SYSTEM INTEGRATION PROGRAM.
 GRIN LENS 1\
CODE PLATE 7 I I

CHANNEL 2 -
' FIBER 47-
FIGURE 3. - WAVELENGTH D I V I S I O N MULTIPLEXED OPTICAL ENCODER.

r CEMENT
r ALUM INA 2.5 mm I
T,,,,

I I
1 r S~CIS~WAFER
OPTICAL
FIBER --\

FIGURE 4. - SEMICONDUCTOR-ETALON TEMPERATURE SENSOR.

 W
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Report Documentation Page
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1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.

NASA TM-100919
4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date

Overview o f NASA Research in Fiber Optics 6. Performing Organization Code

for Aircraft Controls
7. Author($ 8. Performing Organization Report No.
E-4156
Gary T. Seng
10. Work Unit No.
505-62-01
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
11. Contract or Grant No.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Lewis Research Center
Cl eve1 and, O h i o 441 35-31 91 13. Type of Report and Period Covered
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Technical Memorandum
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 14. Sponsoring Agency Code
Washington, D.C. 20546-0001

15. Supplementary Notes

Prepared for the ISAl88 International Conference and Exhibit sponsored by the
Instrument Society o f America, Houston, Texas, October 16-21, 1988.

16. Abstract
The c h a l l e n g e o f t h o s e i n v o l v e d i n a i r c r a f t c o n t r o l s y s t e m h a r d w a r e development i s t o accommodate an
e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g c o m p l e x i t y i n a i r c r a f t c o n t r o l , w h i l e l i m i t i n g t h e s i z e and w e i g h t o f t h e components
and i m p r o v i n g s y s t e m r e l i a b i l i t y . A t e c h n o l o g y t h a t d i s p l a y s p r o m i s e t o w a r d s t h i s end i s f i b e r
optics. The p r i m a r y a d v a n t a g e s o f e m p l o y i n g o p t i c a l f i b e r s , p a s s i v e o p t i c a l s e n s o r s and o p t i c a l l y
c o n t r o l l e d a c t u a t o r s a r e weight/volume reduction, immunity from electromagnetic e f f e c t s , h i g h
b a n d w i d t h c a p a b i l i t i e s and freedom f r o m s h o r t c i r c u i t s / s p a r k i n g c o n t a c t s . S i n c e 1975, NASA L e w i s
has been p e r f o r m i n g i n - h o u s e , c o n t r a c t and g r a n t r e s e a r c h i n f i b e r o p t i c s e n s o r s , h i g h t e m p e r a t u r e
e l e c t r o - o p t i c s w i t c h e s and " f l y-by-1 i g h t " c o n t r o l s y s t e m a r c h i t e c t u r e . Passive o p t i c a l sensor
development i s a n e s s e n t i a l y e t c h a l l e n g i n g a r e a o f w o r k and has t h e r e f o r e r e c e i v e d much a t t e n t i o n
d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d . A m a j o r e f f o r t t o d e v e l o p f l y - b y - l i g h t c o n t r o l s y s t e m t e c h n o l o g y , known a s t h e
" F i b e r O p t i c C o n t r o l System I n t e g r a t i o n " (FOCSI) p r o g r a m was i n i t i a t e d i n 1985 a s a c o o p e r a t i v e
e f f o r t between NASA and t h e 000. Phase I o f FOCSI, c o m p l e t e d i n 1986, was aimed a t t h e d e s i g n o f a
f i b e r o p t i c i n t e g r a t e d p r o p u l s i o n / f l i g h t c o n t r o l system. Phase I 1 w i l l p r o v i d e subcomponent and
s y s t e m d e v e l o p m e n t , and s y s t e m t e s t i n g . I n a d d i t i o n t o a summary o f t h e b e n e f i t s o f f i b e r o p t i c s ,
t h e FOCSI p r o g r a m , s e n s o r advances, and f u t u r e d i r e c t i o n s i n t h e NASA L e w i s p r o g r a m w i l l be
discussed.

17. Key Words (Suggested by Author(s)) 18. Distribution Statement

F i b e r o p t i c sensors; F i b e r o p t i c Unclassified - Unlimited
c o n t r o l systems; A i r c r a f t c o n t r o l Subject Category 07
systems; A i r c r a f t c o n t r o l s ; F i b e r o p t i c -
based c o n t r o l s ; O p t i c a l s e n s o r s

19. Secur~tyClassif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No of pages 22. Price'
Unclassified Unclassified 8 A02
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