Technology Snapshot
Luna Innovations is developing fiber optic shape sensing to address applications ranging from medical robotics
to longer distance localization of tethered ROV’s. The technology relies on Optical Frequency Domain
Reflectometry (OFDR) to extract high density strain measurements from multiple cores in an optical fiber,
although multiple single core fibers may be used as well. The signal is extracted from light reflected back from
either continuously-written Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) or from the Rayleigh Scatter signature inherent in the
optical fiber. Below is a summary of current capabilities broken out by sensing length and scattering
mechanism.