Method and device for determining the shape of an optical waveguide, and device for producing training data for a neural network

A device for determining the shape of an optical waveguide, comprising

• at least one optical waveguide having a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings,
• at least one light source adapted to couple light into the optical waveguide,
• at least one spectrometer adapted to determine spectrum data of the light reflected in the optical waveguide by measuring intensity versus wavelength of the reflected light,
• wherein:
• the device further comprises a microprocessor which comprises a self-learning neural network having been preconditioned by training data and having at least one input and at least one output, the input being configured to receive said spectrum data and the output being configured to provide data representing the shape of the optical waveguide, and
• the training data comprises measured spectrum data of light previously reflected in a deformed optical waveguide held by a robot arm programmed to systematically move the optical waveguide into different shapes.

A device for generating training data for a neural network, comprising:

• at least one optical waveguide having a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings,
• at least one light source configured to couple light into the optical waveguide,
• at least one spectrometer configured to determine spectrum data of the light reflected in the optical waveguide by measuring intensity versus wavelength of the reflected light,
• a robot arm configured to hold the optical waveguide and programmed to move the optical waveguide to thereby deform the optical waveguide,
• an apparatus configured to detect the shape of the deformed optical waveguide, and
• a memory configured to store data representing the shape of the optical waveguide and the spectrum data.