Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TONL20241030024
- Term of Validity
- 10 December 2024 - 10 December 2025
- Company's Country
- Netherlands
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- Monitoring the structural health of space and defense assets, like launchers, is challenging due to extreme conditions like EMC, shock, and temperature fluctuations. After years of R&D, this Dutch company delivers a durable fiber optic sensing solution based on a photonic chip that withstands such harsh environments. The company seeks partners in the space and defense sectors to integrate their technology, within the framework of a commercial agreement with technical assistance.
- Full Description
-
To efficiently maintain assets in aerospace and defense, having reliable sensing systems is crucial. However, under harsh conditions such as extreme electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), shock, and temperature variations, conventional sensing systems often fail to perform, limiting access to essential data. To address this challenge, the company has developed an advanced photonic technology that surpasses more vulnerable electronic sensing solutions.
At the core of their fiber optic sensing system is a photonic interrogator that transmits light through a fiber embedded in the asset’s structure—like composite wings or propellers. Specific locations along the fiber contain sensors that reflect light back, acting like mirrors. When the asset’s shape or strain changes, these variations alter the light’s reflection, which the system translates into precise measurements. A photonic integrated chip (PIC) is at the heart of this interrogator.
The main advantage of this solution is its ability to operate both sensors and data acquisition hardware in extreme, dynamic environments. Traditional fiber optic and non-fiber optic sensing solutions struggle to function reliably under conditions of high EMC, shock, vibration, and temperature ranges between -40°C and 85°C. The photonic chip-based system is robust enough for demanding settings like military helicopters, space rockets, or military drones.
Since fiber optic sensing is often used alongside other measurement technologies in aerospace and defense assets, end-users frequently seek integrated solutions. To this end, the company is looking for strategic partners who can incorporate their technology as part of a comprehensive system within the framework of a commercial agreement with technical assistance. - Advantages and Innovations
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Advantages:
Fiber optic sensing is like many other sensing techniques beneficial for improving maintenance efficiency and extending lifetime of expensive assets.
Benefits of fiber optic sensing in specific are:
- Efficiency in harsh conditions,
- Ability for multi-point sensing: use of only one fiber for multiple points
- Reducing cables, installation time and weight.
- Minimal impact: thin optical fibers (as thin as hair) ensure that structural integrity is maintained.
Innovation:
The key innovation lies in the use of photonic chip-based technology, which allows the system to function in dynamic environments, such as military helicopters, space rockets, or drones. Unlike other fiber optic sensing solutions, which rely on non-photonic chip interrogators, this technology offers superior reliability and performance in challenging conditions. - Stage of Development
- Already on the market
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- IPR status
- IPR granted
- IPR notes
- In addition to the patents granted the IPR consist of exclusive rights, patent(s) applied but not yet granted and secret know how
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
The ideal partner should be engaged in the aerospace sector, with a strong preference for those focused on defense and space applications. System integrators and established innovators that cater to a significant portion of end users are particularly desirable.
Upon initiating collaboration, the partner will be introduced to the technology and will be expected to share their knowledge and expertise regarding its application. This exchange will ensure that the innovative sensing technology can be effectively tailored and integrated into the partner's overall sensing system - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 05003002 - Optics
- 05005 - Micro- and Nanotechnology
- 09003 - Electronic measurement systems
- Market keywords
- 09001007 - Other transportation
- 09001001 - Airlines
- 08005 - Other Industrial Products (not elsewhere classified)
- Sector Groups Involved
- Digital
- Aerospace and Defence
- Targeted countries
- All countries
