Optical Based Health Usage and Monitoring System (HUMS)

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air PlatformOBJECTIVE: Develop a Health and Usage Management System utilizing fiber optic inputs and sensors for operational data recording and analysis that will improve flight safety, mission readiness, and effectiveness.DESCRIPTION: The Army is seeking novel approaches to developing a Health and Usage Management Systems (HUMS) that has the ability to collect data from a number of fiber optic sources that measure strain, pressure, temperature, and acceleration from critical components on the vehicle. Typical HUMS systems receive inputs from the airframe, engines, and avionics and analyzes the data in real time to provide updates on the state of the vehicle. Data trends such as an increase in vibration on a specific component can be used to identify the beginning of a catastrophic failure and provide the pilot with the information, preventing loss of the vehicle. Fiber optic based sensing and data collection has the advantage of being significantly lighter than more traditional measurement methods, immune to EMI from other sources, passive such that an RF signal is not emitted from the vehicle, and enables highly multiplexed sensing such that >40 measurements can be made on a single channel. With the increasing use of composite structures, the ability to detect and interpret fatigue failure and cracking in addition to vibration measurements is highly desired. Due to the flexibility of optical fiber systems, it is strongly encouraged that the developed system supports additional measurements and measurement locations on the vehicle. It is also strongly encouraged that offerers demonstrate a relationship with a successful military systems integrator as part of the transition plan.The fiber optic HUMS will need to be tested in accordance with MIL-STD-810G specifications for environmental robustness. It will need to receive inputs from up to several sensing locations:
• Total volume of sensors: > 500 sensors, across >12 parallel optical fibers
• Simultaneous and concurrent detection across all sensors
• Absolute wavelength accuracy with traceable on-board referencing
• Continuous dynamic range (loss budget) of >20 dB per channel
• Flexible acquisition rates 2 – 5kHz
• Survivability and operation at vibrations up to 5 G rms, 15Hz to 2000Hz, per 514.7C-VI from MIL-STD-810G
• Long term operating temperatures of -30 to 85C, Storage temperatures of -50 to 125C, short term in-spec operating temperatures of -50 to 120 C,PHASE I: Design a flight qualifiable the architecture for a HUMS system meeting the above specifications that receives inputs from fiber optic strain, temperature, and vibration sensors. Phase I should also demonstrate the flight readiness of key optical components and electrical designs in accordance with MIL-STD 810G specifications.
Paper study and some hardware.PHASE II: Develop the architecture designed during Phase I into a testable HUMS system. Upon completion of the Phase II a prototype HUMS should be delivered to the Army for further testing.PHASE III: The HUMS system developed during this effort has applications on similar civilian airframes that face many of the same challenges as their military counterparts. Once the system is developed it will be transitioned to the Project Management Offices for all airframes. The technology developed here would have significant bearing on the commercial airline industry as well.KEYWORDS: Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS), Sensors,References:Yong Shen, "Design on the Health and Usage Monitoring System," 2014 Prognostics and System Health Management Conference (PHM-2014 Hunan); IEEE Conference 24-27 Aug. 2014.; Eric Bechhoefer, "A Generalized Process for Optimal Threshold Setting in HUMS", IEEEAC paper #1142 Version 1 Updated, October 16 2006.; J. C. Juarez, E. W. Maier, K. N. Choi, H. F. Taylor, "Distributed Fiber-Optic Intrusion Sensor System", J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 23, pp. 2081-2087, 2005. .; Honeywell, "Health Usage Monitoring System (HUMS)," Infographics, January 2018.