Application of analog fiber optic position sensors to flight control systems
Glen E. Miller · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1991
Sensors of one form or another are invariably required for interpreting pilot commands and for generating necessary servo position feedback information in the flight control systems of all highperformance aircraft, both military and commercial. Most of the recently-developed flight control systems have been designed around electrical analog principies, and have incorporated time-proven electrical analog position sensors such as the resolver and the LVDT. However, with fiber optics gaining maturity, and with confidence developing in that technology, it has become apparent that flight control systems could gain a much higher degree of EMI/EMP immunity if the electrical control wiring were replaced with glass fibers, and if the electrical sensors were replaced with electrically-passive optical sensors. These sensors could also offer the unique option of being inherently either analog or digital. The new technology has even made it possible for the first time to seriously consider flight control systems in which all control interconnects and sensors might be inherently digital and non-electrical. This paper addresses the relative advantages and disadvantages of both analog and digital fiber optic sensors as they apply to flight controls. It also describes a novel analog position sensor which corrects several of the deficiencies commonly associated with fiber optic analog sensors.