NANFs also have low optical attenuation, which improves the quality of the resonator because the light maintains its intensity over longer propagation lengths through the fiber. Known as nodeless antiresonant fiber (NANF), this new class of fibers exhibits even lower levels of nonlinear effects than other hollow core fibers. In the new work, led by Austin Taranta at the University of Southampton, the researchers wanted to see if an entirely new type of hollow core fiber could bring even more improvements. “Because these fibers confine the light in a central air or gas-filled void, sensors based on them don’t suffer from the nonlinear effects that plague sensors based on solid fibers.” “In 2006, we proposed using a hollow core fiber for the resonator fiber optic gyroscope,” said Sanders. However, it has been challenging to identify an optical fiber that can withstand the even modest laser power levels at the ultra-fine laser linewidths required by these gyroscopes without causing nonlinear effects that degrade the sensor’s performance. Honeywell has been developing resonator fiber optic gyroscope technology for some time because of its potential to deliver high accuracy navigation in a smaller size device compared to current sensors. When the coil is at rest, the light beams traveling in both directions share the same resonance frequency, but when the coil is rotating, the resonance frequencies shift relative to each other in a way that can be used to calculate the direction of movement or orientation for the vehicle or device on which the gyroscope is mounted. The ends of the fiber are connected to form an optical resonator so that most of the light will recirculate and take multiple trips around the coil. Resonator fiber optic gyroscopes use two lasers that travel through a coil of optical fiber in opposite directions. “Indeed, as we enhance the performance of guidance and navigation systems, we hope to open entirely new capabilities and applications.” “We hope to see these gyroscopes used in the next-generation of civil aviation, autonomous vehicles and the many other applications in which navigation systems are employed,” said Sanders. Jasion, Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton These gyroscopes could one day form the basis of navigation technologies that are more compact and more accurate than today’s systems.Ĭredit: Gregory T. This allowed them to improve the most demanding performance requirement of the gyroscope stability by as much as 500 times over previously published work involving hollow core fibers.Ĭaption: Researchers have incorporated a new type of hollow core optical fiber known as a nodeless antiresonant fiber to boost the performance of resonator fiber optic gyroscopes.
In The Optical Society ( OSA) journal Optics Letters, researchers from Honeywell and the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre in the UK describe how they used a new type of hollow core optical fiber to overcome several factors that have limited previous resonator fiber optic gyroscopes.
“Although our gyroscope is still in the early stages of development, if it reaches its full performance capabilities it will be poised to be among the next generation of guidance and navigation technologies that not only push the bounds of accuracy but do so at reduced size and weight.”
Sanders, who led the research team from Honeywell International. “High-performance gyroscopes are used for navigation in many types of air, ground, marine and space applications,” said Glen A. Because gyroscopes are the basis of most navigation systems, the new work could one day bring important improvements to these systems. WASHINGTON - Researchers have taken an important new step in advancing the performance of resonator fiber optic gyroscopes, a type of fiber optic sensor that senses rotation using only light. New technology poised to enable more precise and compact navigation systems for airplanes, unmanned vehicles and for land and marine navigation 21 December 2020 New Optical Fiber Brings Significant Improvements to Light-Based Gyroscopes