Michael Hackert

Ronia results: WDM-based optical networks in aircraft applications

This paper reviews the results of the Requirements for Optical Networks in Avionics (RONIA) project providing motivation for the use of WDM-based optical networks in aircraft applications and highlights challenges to be addressed.

Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Specification Checklist for Avionics Applications

In this paper the reader is provided a comprehensive fiber optic cable assembly specification checklist to consider for avionics applications. Its purpose is to facilitate supply chain utilization of unambiguous specifications, qualifications, and quality assurance standardization of avionics fiber optic cable assemblies. Fiber optic cable assemblies used for avionics application should be considered on a case-by-case basis as the performance, service life, reliability, supportability, and maintainability requirements of avionics systems vary between aircraft type (i.e., fixed wing or rotary), model, series, mission, etc

Photonic integrated circuits for avionics network access and backbone network interface WDM LAN applications

The SAE AS5659 Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) Local Area Network (LAN) standard defines network access (NAI) and backbone network (BNI) optical interfaces. NAIs and BNIs provide optical connection to and within the backbone network, respectively. The backbone network is comprised of optical network elements (ONEs). ONEs include optical multiplex and optical transport layers. Client adaptation elements (which include electrical signal adaptation, electrical multiplex and optical channel layers) interface to ONEs via NAIs. ONEs interface to one another via BNIs.

Military and aerospace standards for digital avionics fiber optic systems

Over the past decade the maturation of digital avionics fiber optics technology has resulted in the update or creation of several defense/aerospace standards that did not exist a decade ago. These new-era standards address airborne/aerospace platform fiber optic interconnects including connectors, cables, fibers, splices, cable assemblies, harness installation, digital fiber optic system design, and fiber optic link loss budget design methodology and margin requirements. The new standards also address maintainability, supportability, awareness education and training.

Aerospace cable repair via field-portable fiber optic tip shaping and permanent mechanical splice technology

In this paper we have described the development of a novel fiber optic cable restoration technology based on field-portable fiber tip shaper and mechanical splicer devices. The cable restoration procedure accommodates aerospace simplex fiber optic cable, fiber with both strippable and un-strippable coatings, produces no hazardous waste (glass shards), requires little training and virtually no preventative maintenance to produce mechanical splices that meet or exceed MIL-PRF-24623/7 beginning of life insertion loss and twist specification requirements.

Air vehicle fiber optic cable infrastructure

In this paper the reader is provided a premise for re-evaluating the physical and logical importance of viewing an air vehicles fiber optic cabling infrastructure as a standalone system. Benefits derived from a systems design view will dramatically affect mission performance, service life, reliability, supportability, and maintainability requirements for todays and tomorrows photonics based avionics systems.

Recent Advances of All-Fiber Tunable Filter and Its Applications to Reconfigurable WDM Add/Drop Module and Tunable Receiver

In this paper, we report our recent progress in the development of all-fiber tunable filters and their applications to a reconfigurable WDM add/drop module and tunable receiver. The major advances on tunable filters include (1) developing a precise-four layer model that provides a very useful guide for the filter design and fabrication, (2) designing and synthesizing nanocomposite electro-optic polymers so that one can not only tune the refractive index of the polymer via electro-optic polymer but can also adjust the biasing point of the refractive index via controlling the concentrations of nanoparticles

Development of photonics component failure rate models

This paper summarizes the results of a photonics component and subsystem reliability modeling study that was performed by Quanterion Solutions Incorporated (QSI) under a project sponsored through the Penn State Electro-Optics Center (EOC) by the Naval Air Systems Command under Contract Number N00421-03-D-0044 Delivery Order 08 (approved for public release: control number 09-770) [1]. The overall project consisted of four separate tasks.

Automation: The means to high reliability aerospace fiber optic cables

Photonics, with its virtually infinite bandwidth, electrical noise immunity, small size, low cost, and increased capacity are being inserted into a number of military platforms to handle higher data rates and larger traffic volumes. Such increased data rates between the various subsystems drive the interconnect solution to be fiber optics. These military fiber optic cables are meant for severe environments, with shock, vibration, and wide temperature ranges not typically required for commercial applications. Currently, the manufacturing of these aircraft fiber optic cables is manually intensive, requiring a high degree of manual dexterity and skill to achieve stringent performance requirements.

Development of an optical fiber cable plant for sixth generation avionics networks

Avionics networks have slowly evolved from simple radios and electromechanical control servos to sophisticated inter-networked suites of systems which provide integrated interfaces to platform aircrew and subsystems as well as connections to the global information grid for network centric warfare. This paper describes the development and current standardization of an optically transparent, future-proofed cable plant that can support the aerospace industrypsilas transition to high speed, high connectivity optical networking that can survive the 25-100 year life of the airframe.