Innovative strain sensor based on special microstructured fibres
Project title
Innovative strain sensor based on special microstructured fibres
Name of Beneficiary/Beneficiaries
Marek Adam Napierała, Polish Centre for Photonics and Fibre Optics
Name of programme
National programmes
Competition
LEADER VI
Project value
PLN 1,186,431.74
Funding value
PLN 1,186,431.74
Project delivery period
01.02.2016 to 31.01.2019
Meet our team
See the result of our work
What problem does our project solve?
The increasing pace of automation in the industrial and service sectors is contributing to an increased demand for sensors that would comprehensively and precisely enable the monitoring of the correct functioning of the infrastructure and the expected results of machines or robots. The intended functionality is achieved through the use of, among other things, strain sensors. The result of the project is an innovative fibre-optic sensor for monitoring deformation, which makes it possible to distinguish the bending direction of the component under test thanks to a specially designed photonic fibre structure. In addition, due to the intensity nature of the measurement, the sensor is simple to implement and is insensitive to temperature and pressure. Its use enables the monitoring of equipment operation within a range and with a precision previously impossible to achieve. The use of the sensor reduces costs by preventing failures, allows monitoring of previously inaccessible locations or automation - of often dangerous - industrial processes. Above all, however, the technology being developed by the LIDER project provides solutions that cannot be put a price on - it increases the safety of people working in harsh conditions and potentially vulnerable environments, and reduces the risk of man-made major accidents.
Who is going to benefit from the project results?
The developed strain sensor technology can be used in a wide range of industries due to its functionalities and insensitivity to temperature and pressure. Fibre-optic sensors will find application, among others, in the automation of production processes and in robotics, where they will be used for preventive monitoring of robot operation to identify deviations from standards. The demand for this technology is evident in the aerospace sector for continuous monitoring of critical areas of the fleet and early warning of the possibility of failure. There has been interest in the technology from the mining sector, where the sensors will provide the ability to analyse the performance and ageing of infrastructure, helping to extend the life of that infrastructure. Innovative strain sensors can also be used in medicine, where integrating them into surgical robots (da Vinci type) will allow the correctness of these devices to be monitored.
Which aspect of the project implementation have we found to be the most challenging?
One of the challenges of the project was to optimally adapt the design of the sensor to existing market demand. Due to a number of advantages associated with the use of fibre-optic technology, including those based on special microstructured fibres, the solution obtained in the project can be applied in various industrial fields (including construction (SHM), robotics in medicine and industry, the entertainment industry), which have specific requirements. The challenge was to optimally integrate technological, research and implementation work so that the developed sensor meets the criteria and requirements for the widest possible range of applications. In addition, the solution has the ability to be adapted to the required changes to match the functionality to specific applications.
It was also a challenge to define the objectives in the best possible way, to plan the necessary work and to manage the project in such a way as to achieve optimum results where changes occur during implementation.
Our advice to other Applicants
First of all, it is worth doing a thorough analysis of the idea, including answering some key questions: Does my idea have implementation potential? Is there a demand for this type of solution in industry? What does the market and competing solutions look like? Does my idea fit in with current industrial and technological trends (e.g. Industry 4.0, GOZ, Green Deal). Once you are convinced of the innovativeness of your solution and are sure that it is worth investing in, you should present this in your application and, if possible, get recommendations for your idea. If you are inexperienced and do not feel confident in preparing a proposal, it is advisable to seek expert support in this area. We also advise applicants not to be discouraged by first failures, through which experience is gained. It is also worth betting on the human factor, i.e. creating a close-knit team that knows the goals and tasks at hand and believes in collective success.