Methods and devices for optically recording and imaging representations of interactions of an object with its environment

A method for dynamically capturing data from reflections of optical signals at boundaries with optical sensors to estimate the interaction of an object with its environment, comprising:

• providing at least one array of fiber optic sensors;
• affixing said array approximately conformally to at least a part of a surface of said object,
• via said array, collecting as data at least one said reflection;
• processing said collected data to derive at least one characteristic of said reflections;
• recording selected said processed data;
• and
• displaying selected said processed data.

A simulator for dynamically capturing interaction of an object with its environment, comprising:

• a model of said object;
• at least one array of fiber optic sensors affixed approximately conformally to at least a part of a surface of said model,
• wherein said array is configured to provide a pre-specified level of detail of said interaction via at least receipt of optical signals reflected from the boundary formed by said sensors and said environment, and
• wherein said sensors operates in at least one pre-specified range of the visible, IR, and UV spectra;
• at least one path in operable communication with each said sensor;
• and
• a data collection, processing, recording and display sub-system in operable communication with said paths,
• wherein said sub-system collects data representing sampling of at least one optical characteristic resultant from said receipt, processes said data, and captures selected said processed data for real time display as well as for future use, and
• wherein said sub-system at least measures changes in reflectivity of said reflected optical signals at the boundary between said sensors and said environment.

A system for detecting, measuring and capturing interaction of an object with the environment encompassing said object, to include displaying a representation of said interaction in real time, comprising:

• at least one array of optical sensors affixed to measure said interaction over at least part of a surface of interest of said object,
• wherein said optical sensors in a given said array comprise exposed sections of the same optical fiber, and
• wherein said same optical fiber incorporates cladding along unexposed lengths of said same optical fiber and no cladding along said exposed sections, and
• wherein said arrays are configured to provide a pre-specified level of detail of said interaction, and
• wherein each said optical sensor operates in at least one pre-specified range of the visible, IR, and UV spectra;
• at least one optical path in operable communication with each said optical sensor
• wherein said same optical fiber serves as said path for communicating optical signals to and from said array in which said same optical fiber comprises said optical sensors of that said array;
• and
• a data collection, processing, recording and display sub-system in operable communication with said at least one optical path,
• wherein said data collection, processing, recording and display sub-system collects data representing the sampling of at least one optical characteristic resultant from any said interaction as detected by said optical sensors, processes said data, and captures selected said data for real time display as well as for future use.

A system for detecting, measuring and capturing interaction of an object with the environment encompassing said object, to include displaying a representation of said interaction in real time, comprising:

• at least one synchronized time division multiplexer (TDM);
• at least one optical splitter incorporating at least one optical receiver and at least one optical transmitter, said splitters in operable communication with at least one said time division multiplexer (TDM);
• at least one array of optical sensors affixed to measure said interaction over at least part of a surface of interest of said object, in which:
• each said sensor of said array of optical sensors is represented by a discrete optical fiber in operable communication with at least one said optical splitters,
• wherein said optical splitter separates signals to be associated with said incorporated optical receiver from signals to be associated with said incorporated optical transmitter;
• each said discrete optical fiber receives light energy from a source in operable communication with at least one said optical splitters,
• wherein each said discrete optical fiber detects changes in reflectivity at the boundary represented by said sensor and any material overlying said boundary, to include ambient air and any of a number of materials having a different reflectivity than that of a material representing a pre-specified quiescent operating state for said sensor,
• wherein said arrays are configured to provide a pre-specified level of detail of said interaction, and
• wherein each said optical sensor operates in at least one pro-specified range of the visible, IR, and UV spectra;
• at least one optical path in operable communication with each said optical sensor;
• and
• a data collection, processing, recording and display sub-system in operable communication with said at least one optical path,
• wherein each said optical splitter is in operable communication with said data collection, processing recording and display sub-system via at least one said synchronized time division multiplexer (TDM), and
• wherein said data collection, processing, recording and display sub-system collects data representing the sampling of at least one optical characteristic resultant from any said interaction as detected by said optical sensors, processes said data, and captures selected said data for real time display as well as for future use.

A system for detecting, measuring and capturing interaction of an object with the environment encompassing said object, to include displaying a representation of said interaction in real time, comprising:

• at least one optical path;
• at least one synchronized time division multiplexer (TDM) in operable communication with at least one said optical path;
• a data collection, processing, recording and display sub-system in operable communication with said at least one optical path,
• at least one array of optical sensors affixed to measure said interaction over at least part of a surface of interest of said object, in which each said sensor comprises a pair of optical fibers that are cross-coupled in operation, said pair employing two separate optical path terminations such that cross-talk between said optical fibers of said pair indicates a change in material covering said pair,
• wherein a first optical fiber of said pair is a transmitter optical fiber that obtains light energy from a source in operable communication with said data collection, processing, recording and display sub-system via at least one said synchronized time division multiplexer (TDM), and
• wherein a second optical fiber of said pair is a receiver optical fiber in operable communication with said data collection, processing, recording and display via at least one said synchronized time division multiplexer (TDM), and
• wherein said pair of optical fibers detects changes in reflectivity at the boundary represented by said sensor and any material overlying said boundary, to include ambient air and any of a number of materials having a different reflectivity than that of a material representing a pre-specified quiescent operating state for said sensor, and
• wherein each said optical fiber is in operable communication with at least one said optical paths;
• and
• wherein said arrays are configured to provide a pre-specified level of detail of said interaction, and
• wherein each said optical sensor operates in at least one pre-specified range of the visible, IR, and UV spectra, and
• wherein said data collection, processing, recording and display sub-system collects data representing the sampling of at least one optical characteristic resultant from any said interaction as detected by said optical sensors, processes said data, and captures selected said data for real time display as well as for fixture use.

A method for detecting, measuring and capturing interaction of a towed body with the water in which it is being towed, to include displaying a representation of said interaction in real time, comprising:

• providing at least one array of optical sensors affixed to measure said interaction over at least part of a surface of interest of said towed body,
• via said at least one array of optical sensors, collecting as data at least one optical characteristic of said interaction;
• processing said collected data;
• recording selected said processed data;
• and
• displaying selected said processed data,
• wherein said data may be displayed in at least one format as said representation.