About

Collaboration project between the renowned University of Edinburgh and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA is the US government agency responsible for science and technology related to air and space.

Problem

Need of a system capable of measuring up-welling (reference standard to estimate solar irradiance) and down-welling (the target

Earth surface) simultaneously and in two different spectral regions using two different spectrometers: one for the spectral region where the induced chlorophyll fluorescence estimation is possible and one across the wider near-infrared region.

Solution

We manufactured a double bifurcated fibre optic assembly routing light from two different sources to two different spectrometers configured for different wavelength ranges (UV/VIS and VIS/NIR).

Features

  • 2×2 assembly;
  • Both aligned: connectors with keyway polarisation, and unaligned fibre legs;
  • SMA905 custom connectors specially design to sit both fibres, keyed for alignment;
  • 400um and 600um core fibre;
  • Armoured; Water-resistant;
  • IP68 gland;
  • 4 Ribbon cable in one input leg that splits in 2 ribbon cable in each output leg;
  • Lightweight design for use on in unmanned aircraft (UAV), less than 80g per assembly.