Securing Safety with Sensors

About this technology

Overview

The Robot Systems Technology Branch at Johnson Space Center collaborated with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to design Robonaut, a humanoid robot developed to assist astronauts. Using Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding, Astro Technology, Inc., developed the Fiber-Optic Sensor System (FOSS) to measure the movement and forces exerted by Robonaut's forearms and hands. The company also miniaturized and ruggedized FOSS for solid rocket motor testing applications and oil and gas subsea monitoring. Engineers adapted the FOSS technology to monitor and determine the service life of subsea pipelines. Predictive monitoring is essential where failure could be catastrophic both economically and environmentally. Astro Technology has contracted with major oil companies to apply its FOSS technology to evaluate fatigue on subsea pipelines, risers, and offshore drilling and oil production rigs. The company developed risk management software to calculate real-time service life evaluations and cumulative fatigue using rain-flow analysis techniques. By calculating total fatigue based on the logged history of real-time strain measurements, the system can perform predictive failure analysis in order to determine which riser sections need to be replaced. As a result, costly repair and downtime are reduced.