Open Access
Development of a water flow and velocity optical fiber sensor for field testing
(Optica Publishing Group, 2022) Rodríguez Rodríguez, Armando; Urroz Unzueta, José Carlos; Diéguez Elizondo, Pedro; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; López Rodríguez, José Javier; Ingeniería; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
A water flow and velocity fiber optic sensor system was developed and tested. The sensing head was especially developed and ruggedized to measure velocities at different depths, in order to calculate the discharge in channels.
Open Access
Multidirectional bending sensor using capillary fibers and machine learning for real-time applications
(IEEE, 2025-02-25) Vanegas Tenezaca, Evelyn Dayanara; Galarza Galarza, Marko; Dauliat, Romain; Jamier, Raphael; Roy, Philippe; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Publica de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
In this article, the design and implementation of a bidirectional curvature sensor based on a fiber-optic interferometer are presented. The sensor structure was fabricated by fusing a capillary fiber fragment between single-mode fibers (SMFs), with the addition of a long end capillary to promote a long interferometric section, forming a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity. Detailed analysis of the curvature data was carried out using machine learning techniques, allowing accurate classification of curvature in both directions of rotation. The experimental results showed excellent agreement (R2: 0.9998) with the predicted values. The sensor exhibits a maximum error of 1.9485°. This approach presents significant potential for applications requiring accurate real-time curvature measurements.
Open Access
One-year analysis of road condition using FBG arrays
(SPIE, 2023) Corera Orzanco, Íñigo; Pradas Martínez, Javier; Leandro González, Daniel; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA06-2022
In this work, it is presented an analysis of FBG arrays installed in a public road. The arrays were installed in a newly paved urban road and were monitored for more than one year. The study evidences the permanent deformation of the wearing course and the degradation of the reflected spectra of the sensors.
Open Access
Distributed humidity sensor for moisture-front monitoring in soils
(Optica, 2020) Leandro González, Daniel; Delgado Zabala, Oihane; López Rodríguez, José Javier; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
In this contribution, high spatial resolution distributed humidity sensing was demonstrated for moisture-front monitoring in soils by using polyimide coated optical fiber.
Open Access
Diseño y caracterización de reflectores incoherentes de retrodispersión de fibra microperforada para láseres random de fibra óptica
(SEDOPTICA, 2021) Galarza Galarza, Marko; Sañudo-Lasagabaster Ibáñez, Silvia; Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Roldán Varona, Pablo; Rodríguez Cobo, Luis; López Higuera, José Miguel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA 1928
Los láseres random de fibra óptica presentan una serie de características que los hacen idóneos para una gran variedad de aplicaciones industriales. La elevada longitud de fibra necesaria en la cavidad debido a sus bajos índices de dispersión Rayleigh, se reduce utilizando fibras de baja área efectiva (compensadoras de dispersión), o generando artificialmente elementos muy dispersivos. En este trabajo presentamos el diseño de reflectores aleatorios de tan solo varios milímetros, generados mediante microperforación del núcleo con un láser de femtosegundo y su utilización en la cavidad de una estructura láser.
Open Access
Traffic monitoring based on FBG sensor arrays in asphalt structures
(Optica, 2020) Bravo Acha, Mikel; Leandro González, Daniel; Bravo Acha, A.; Bravo Navas, M.; Mitxelena, J. R.; Martínez Mazo, J. J.; Camarero, E.; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
We evaluate the capabilities of optical fiber sensors to measure traffic flow, speed, weight estimation and pavement degradation. The proper operation of the system has been proved 3.5 years after the installation in a metropolitan road.
Open Access
Optical fiber pH sensors based on PAni-coated microstructured optical fibers
(IEEE, 2024-07-10) Rodríguez Rodríguez, Armando; Lopes, Guilherme; Nedoma, Jan; Pereira, Sónia O.; Fernandes, Antonio J. S.; Jamier, Raphael; Roy, Philippe; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Marques, Carlos; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
In this article, we report the analysis of a novel optical fiber pH sensor based in polyaniline (PAni) coating applied on a trenched core-free (only-bridge) silica fiber. The results are compared to another pH sensor based on side-polished silica fiber. The pH-sensitive polymer is synthesized over the fiber sample by means of oxidative polymerization, keeping records of the time where the reaction occurs to improve the sensitivity. The response to pH is enhanced in the case of the trenched core-free bridge fiber due to the higher interaction of the evanescent field with the PAni film and, thus, the surrounding media. The sensitivity in the linear zone of operation is 1.1 mW/pH, and a total transmittance of 55% in the pH range is 4.2-8.1. The repeatability of both sensors was checked, showing a high capability to perform studies in liquid samples due to its temperature independence, good sensitivity, and long-term stability.
Open Access
Aluminum coated fiber optic sensor for enhancing flow rate measurement
(SPIE, 2023) Rodríguez Rodríguez, Armando; Urroz Unzueta, José Carlos; Diéguez Elizondo, Pedro; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; López Rodríguez, José Javier; Ingeniería; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
A water flow and velocity aluminum-coated Fiber Bragg Grating sensor system for open channels was designed, simulated and tested. The sensing head was designed, ruggedized and customized to measure velocities at different depths, in order to calculate the discharge in open channels. This paper shows, for the first time to our knowledge, the simulation of such kind of fiber sensors in open channels.
Open Access
C and L band fiber lasers enhanced by ultrafast laser inscribed artificial backscatter reflectors
(Optica, 2022) Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Roldán Varona, Pablo; Sánchez González, Arturo; Rodríguez Cobo, Luis; López Higuera, José Miguel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
This letter presents an experimental comparison between two linear-cavity erbiumdoped fiber lasers (EDFL) assisted by two different artificial backscatter fiber-based reflectors. Both reflectors were inscribed by femtosecond laser direct writing, one of them within a single-mode fiber (SMF) and the other one within a multi-mode fiber (MMF). Although the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) used in both structures was the same and both reflectors were manufactured under the same parameters, the reflection spectrum of each was clearly different due to their different physical properties. The first linear-cavity EDFL, consisting of an SMF-based reflector with 9µm core and 125µm cladding, resulted in a single laser emission line located in the C-band and centered at 1564.4 nm, exhibiting an optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of 52dB when pumped at 100mW. On the other hand, a single laser emission line with a similar OSNR but in L-band (centered at 1574.5nm) was obtained when using an MMF-based reflector with 50µm core and 125µm cladding.
Open Access
In-field torsion measurements on solar trackers using fiber optic sensors
(Optica, 2020) Leandro González, Daniel; Bravo Acha, Mikel; Júdez Colorado, Aitor; Mariñelarena Ollacarizqueta, Jon; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Jiménez, S.; Achaerandio, Álvaro; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
In-field torsion measurements on solar trackers using fiber Bragg gratings are presented. 45 FBG sensors have been deployed in an operational solar energy plant to study the mechanical response of the structure to wind.