Unlike traditional sensors, optical sensors use light instead of electricity. From aircraft to industrial systems, a new sensing method is promising precision and safety. But how?
Optical sensors work on a very different principle from the conventional sensors we commonly use today. To appreciate how they function, it helps to first understand how traditional sensors operate. In a simple household thermometer, the tip contains a temperature-sensing element. When the temperature changes, the sensing element produces a small electrical signal. This signal travels through a copper wire to an integrated circuit, which interprets the change and displays the temperature.
The same concept is used in larger systems. In an aircraft, for example, a fuel-level sensor is placed inside the fuel tank. It measures the fuel level and sends the information via copper cables to a data acquisition unit, which records and processes it. In all these setups, each sensor requires its own copper cable, and multiple sensors mean multiple cables running across the system. Optical sensors change this method completely.
In a conversation with Mukesh Kumar Rao, CEO of Zosh Aerospace, it was disclosed that they are developing optical sensors currently in the R&D stage. According to the development timeline, such a system would be available in around six months.
Mukesh explained, “Instead of copper wiring, optical sensors use fibre optic cables, which are nothing but thin strands of silica glass that carry light instead of electrical signals. The key advantage is that fibre optic cables are immune to electromagnetic interference. Copper cables can pick up unwanted signals when exposed to strong electromagnetic fields, but fibre optics remains unaffected, making them suitable for environments where interference is a challenge.”
Another major benefit of optical sensors is scalability. While copper-based sensors need separate wiring for every sensing point, fibre optic systems allow multiple sensors, sometimes hundreds, connected in series along a single fibre. Each sensor can still be monitored individually, reducing weight and complexity in applications such as aircraft, industrial systems, and infrastructure monitoring.
“Fibre optic sensors are also safer in sensitive environments. Copper-based electronic sensors can generate sparks, which is risky in fuel tanks or explosive zones. Fibre optic systems do not carry electrical signals, making them safer for such conditions,” added Mukesh.
Varying from traditional sensors that detect physical changes and convert them into electrical signals, optical sensors detect changes in light, typically shifts in wavelength. These wavelength changes correspond to parameters like temperature, strain, humidity, or deflection. In a temperature-sensing application, the optical sensor itself performs the sensing and the signal transmission through the fibre, eliminating the need for a separate electronic sensor.
Moreover, optical sensors can measure a wide range of properties, including temperature, humidity, strain, deflection, and more. They offer high precision, safety, and reliability, making them useful across industries such as aerospace, energy, construction, and defence.
A full interview with Zosh Aerospace will be available soon.
