An Optical Fiber Sensor and Its Application in UAVs for Current Measurements

Area of Science:

• Fiber optics sensors
• Electromagnetic sensing
• Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology

Background:

• Accurate electrical current sensing is crucial for UAV operation and safety.
• Existing current sensors may have limitations in UAV applications regarding size, weight, or electromagnetic interference.
• Long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) offer potential for novel sensing applications due to their sensitivity to physical perturbations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and experimentally validate a new optical sensor for measuring electrical current in UAVs.
• To investigate the performance characteristics of the proposed sensor, including linearity, reliability, and response time.
• To demonstrate the sensor's effectiveness across the UAV engine's operating current range (0-10 A).

Main Methods:

• A novel sensor design combining a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) with a permanent neodymium magnet.
• The sensor is integrated with a UAV engine's electrical wire.
• The electromagnetic force generated by the current induces deformation in the LPFG, causing measurable shifts in its transmission spectrum.

Main Results:

• The proposed LPFG-based optical sensor successfully measured electrical current in the UAV engine from 0 A to 10 A.
• The sensor demonstrated good linearity, reliability, and response time over the tested current range.
• The experimental results confirm the feasibility of using this sensor for effective and practical electrical current monitoring in UAVs.

Conclusions:

• The developed optical sensor provides an effective and practical solution for electrical current measurement in UAVs.
• The sensor's performance characteristics meet the desirable criteria for UAV applications.
• This novel LPFG and magnet combination offers a promising approach for advanced current sensing in aerospace and other fields.