Neural network demodulator for optical Bragg strain sensors

"The reflection spectrum of a Bragg optical grating has a center wavelength defined by grating parameters. As strain sensors, Bragg gratings provide an absolute measure of strain and have excellent multiplexing capability. The change in the output of a Bragg grating for applied strain is characterized by a linear shift the Bragg grating center wavelength. Other parameters can be associated with shift in Bragg wavelengths such as temperature. The complexity of conventional demodulation systems is much greater for optical fiber sensors based on spectral changes rather than irradiance changes. Hence, commercially-available demodulators for Bragg sensors can be expensive over those for irradiance-based sensors such as Fabry-Perot Interferometric sensors. This study looks into the development of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based demodulation system for Bragg strain sensors that can bring down the costs of its instrumentation significantly"--Abstract, page iii.