Development of MEMS Hot-Film Sensors

Abstract

BAE Systems have been developing hot-film sensors for the detection and monitoring of laminar/turbulent flow on a wing. The sensors are constructed using silicon manufacturing techniques, with the ultimate aim of making them capable of being certified for flight. Primarily, this has involved looking at aspects of the sensor design, such as the robustness of the sensors to raindrop impacts and their resistance to environmental degradation. Tests done to date have shown that provided the sensors have a thin protective coating of a few microns thickness and are not installed close to the leading-edge of a wing they should be capable of being certified for flight.