Keywords
Citation
(2003), "Major US defence contractor buys fibre optic sensor company", Sensor Review, Vol. 23 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2003.08723dab.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Major US defence contractor buys fibre optic sensor company
Major US defence contractor buys fibre optic sensor company
Keywords: Gyroscopes, Military
US defence equipment specialist Northrop Grumman (NG) has recently purchased FiberSense Technology (FST), a specialist manufacturer of fibre optic gyroscopes (FOGs) (Plate 1) and FOG-based navigation systems, for US$44 million. Based in Massachusetts, FST has a staff of around 140 and anticipates revenues of over US$30 million in 2003. Following the acquisition, it will be incorporated into NG's California- based Navigation Systems division.
Plate 1
Packaged fibre optic gyroscope (FiberSense Technology)
FOGs were developed in 1970s and are based on a simple phenomenon, first observed by Sagnac in 1913 (the Sagnac effect) – if two coherent beams of light are sent around a ring in opposite directions, they should be in phase when they return to the source. Any rotation by the ring (a loop of optical fibre in the case of a FOG), will shorten the path of one beam and lengthen the path of the other. The result is a phase shift that can be measured to determine the rotation of the ring.
FOGs are used by the defence and aerospace industries in applications such as smart munitions and navigation systems. The main attractions are that they are sensitive and have no moving parts and are thus more rugged and reliable than their electromechanical counterparts, with a typical mean time between failures (MTBF) of over 50,000 h. Further, prices have fallen significantly in recent years, from over US$65,000 to around US$10,000, depending on individual specifications.