We are proud to announce the publication of a new journal article by a team of PCRL researchers, in collaboration with international partners, in the IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement Journal, titled: “Silicon photonic sensors, embedded in composite tools, for the optimization of composite aerostructure production”
📄 Read the article on IEEE Xplore
This work presents the first successful demonstration of silicon photonic sensors embedded in composite tools for Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), a key manufacturing process in the aerospace industry. The embedded sensors were tested under high-pressure (7 bar) and high-temperature (up to 165°C) conditions across a 6-hour production cycle, showing excellent stability and accuracy. This innovation allows real-time monitoring of temperature, pressure, and resin cure state, optimizing the production of aerospace-grade composite parts.
The research is based on results from the SEER Project (January 2020 – December 2023), an EU-funded Innovation Action coordinated by PCRL. SEER successfully developed smart self-monitoring composite tools with embedded miniature photonic integrated circuit (PIC) sensors, offering a breakthrough in process reliability, efficiency, and quality control, by integrating sensor data with theoretical models and machine learning algorithms.
We congratulate the team on this impactful achievement that exemplifies PCRL’s ongoing commitment to innovation in photonics and advanced manufacturing.