Highway to SHM: Elbit’s Fast Implementation of an On-board Monitoring System for Flying Platforms

Abstract

This paper describes the relatively fast (< 3 years) execution of Elbit’s decision to adopt and implement (practically from scratch) an on-board fiberoptic- based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system on a large Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), mainly for in-flight load monitoring. The paper presents the developmental process, which started from a state of no experience with optical fiber-based monitoring systems, and ended in a fully operational and validated airworthy UAV, culminating with the first implementation of this technology in a multi-plane project. The paper portrays the careful shift from a Research and Development (R&D) phase, dealing with coupons, to a full-scale flying airplane, while meeting all managerial and engineering requirements and concerns.