Fiber Optic Sensors: Short Review and Applications

An extensive review of optical fiber sensors and the most beneficial applications is presented in this chapter. Although electrical sensing technologies have been successfully deployed in countless applications, the introduction of optical sensing, engineers and scientists can now perform measurements that were previously impractical or, in some cases, impossible with conventional electrical sensors. At present, many real-world applications already use both approaches to combine both benefits. The inherent advantages of fiber optic sensors such as lightweight, small size, passive, low attenuation, immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), wide bandwidth and environmental ruggedness were heavily used to offset their major disadvantages of high cost. Thus Fiber optic sensors (FOSs) have boosted the utility and demand for optical sensors in various military, industry and social fields. FOSs show reliable and rigid sensing tasks over conventional electrical and electronic sensors.