The Boeing Company
Integrated hyper-redundant tactile sensor network based on structural fibers

Abstract:

A system and method are disclosed for measuring stress in a composite structure including an integral sensor network. The composite structure is formed in layers with each of the layers formed from parallel fibers. At least one of the layers includes a plurality of fiber sensor cells distributed among the parallel fibers. Each of the fiber sensor cells has an inner fiber core and a non-conductive layer formed over the inner fiber core. A controller is electrically coupled to each of the fiber sensor cells and configured to determine a level of stress in the composite structure based on a change in a resistance level of the inner fiber core of each of the fiber sensor cells. The fiber sensor cells may be in a single direction or may be in a weave pattern with a first group arranged at a non-zero angle with respect to a second group.