Comprehensive Visualization of Data Generated by Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

Abstract

Testing is essential to validate the effort put into building a new system. In engineering fields such as aerospace, marine, mechanical, and others, these tests are particularly important for evaluating the overall safety level of the system. A crucial role is therefore played by sensors: in particular, they are required to function correctly even if exposed to harsh environments. In this regard, fiber optic-based sensors can meet this requirement successfully. However, it is necessary to use tools that allow the data collected to be displayed in real or near real-time and in such a way that they can be easily interpreted by an operator. This paper introduces new software that simplifies the visualization of data from fiber Bragg grating sensors. Despite traditional configuration, it works in wireless modality. It allows to range between visualization modes such as graphs and tables, and multiple functions for merging data from different measurements and more, useful for carrying out tests with greater awareness of what is happening at a given moment. The software has been successfully tested and verified in several case studies, ranging from laboratory analysis to telemetry testing of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight.

Keywords

• Aircraft
• computer graphics
• data visualization
• databases
• Fiber Bragg grating sensors
• graphical user interfaces