New system could be placed anywhere on an aircraft and deliver a complete field of view
A fibre able to conduct a high power laser beam that could be used for a fighter aircraft's 360¼ laser light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) radar has been developed by BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) in Bristol and the University of Southampton in the UK.
Existing optical fibres only carry a weak beam and could not distribute a LIDAR laser's light to various output devices located on the wings and fuselage.
In theory an aircraft with lasers mounted on its tail, nose and wings could provide a pilot with an all-round sensing capability. Until now the LIDAR laser system has had to be mounted in a single location on the aircraft.
With the new photonic fibre, a laser unit can be placed anywhere and the fibres can distribute the beam to multiple emitters.
According to Dr Elizabeth O'Driscoll, a researcher at BAE Systems ATC's optics and laser technology department, "we've shown that the photonic fibre can deliver a laser beam that has the same level of performance [as existing LIDAR systems] and it could give [your sensor] a complete field of view".
Rather than effectively being a glass tube, like an optical fibre, the photonic fibre is solid but for a series of air capillaries that run its length surrounding a solid core. The air capillaries act as wave guides through an effect known as "modified total internal reflection".
The research by Southampton university and BAE Systems ATC was carried out for the UK government's Ministry of Defence Electromagnetic Remote Sensing Defence Technology Centre, which is spending £15 million ($28.4 million) from 2003 to 2006 on various projects.
ROB COPPINGER / LONDON
Source: Flight International