Optical systems make smart use of light and change its direction using mirrors and lenses. Properties of light, like its ability to diverge, converge, or get reflected off a shiny surface, are utilized across sectors, and modern airplanes are no different.
Table of Contents
Making Modern Planes Fly Using Optical Systems
Custom Optical Lenses that have the necessary focal length, the right curvature, and width help create precise optical instruments that play a role in the safe landing, flying, and takeoff of flights. Different types of lens arrangements, like an optical collimator that converges and focuses light rays, lenses that have diverse light rays, etc, are used in varied combinations to work in airplanes. If you do not know the ways in which an optical system in an airplane can be used, you can continue to read this blog post to learn more.
Electrochromic Dimming
Electrochromism happens when a material shows changes in color when an electric stimulus is applied to the material. Modern airplanes make sure of this phenomenon by creating smart windows in airplanes. These smart windows can block the emission of certain wavelengths (be it infrared, ultraviolet, etc) from passing through the window. Electrochromic dimming is an example of a modern optical system where an electrified gel-like substance is sandwiched between two layers of glass.
As the current is applied to the electrified gel, the gel darkens. Likewise, if you wish to reduce the darkness of the gel, you have to reduce the current. Flow through the electrified gel. Electrochromic dining can be managed for each individual window in an airplane, and optics and electronics are used to control the smart windows.
Head Up Display In The Cockpit
You may find a Head Up display in the cockpit of a pilot. Usually, the cockpit has many displays, and each of the pilots has to keep his eyes on all those displays at the same time, which might become difficult. A head-up display helps to project all these displays in one place with the smart use of optics. A head-up display makes use of a magnifying glass, a collimating lens, and a thick piece of glass, which creates a transparent screen.
Non-Destructive Testing Of Structural Components Of The Airplane
An airplane and its structural components have to be checked from time to time so that the plane can fly safely. However, it is not feasible to open up different components of an airplane to check if there is any damage or not. So, non-destructive testing of structural components happens via devices that can magnify cracks and other structural defects.
Final Words
Lenses, mirrors, optical fibers, etc, have varied roles to play in airplanes. Modern technology has made optical and electronic components of flight safety. Right from smart glasses that can be darkened by using an electric field to a head-up display in the cockpit to assist the pilot in flying safely, all use optical systems that are improving the safety and modernization of airplanes.