Photonic skins for optical sensing: highlights of the PHOSFOS Project

PHOSFOS (Photonic Skins For Optical Sensing) is a research project funded by the European Commission's 7 th Framework Programme. The project aims at developing a flexible and stretchable foil that integrates highly advanced optical fibre sensing elements as well as optical and electrical powering functionalities and read-out of the sensors. This skin-like foil can be wrapped around or attached to irregularly shaped objects or bodies and will allow quasi-distributed sensing of mechanical quantities such as deformation and pressure. The applications targeted can be found in the fields of structural health monitoring and healthcare.