Search for technological advantages and commercial success in sensor applications: lessons of industrial trials for fiber multianalyzer technology

Norman Douglas McMillan; M. Baker; M. O'Neill; Stuart Smith; Andreas T. Augousti; Julian Mason; Bernard Ryan; R. A. Ryan

doi:10.1117/12.335744

11 January 1999 Search for technological advantages and commercial success in sensor applications: lessons of industrial trials for fiber multianalyzer technology

Norman Douglas McMillan, M. Baker, M. O'Neill, Stuart Smith, Andreas T. Augousti, Julian Mason, Bernard Ryan, R. A. Ryan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3538, Process Monitoring with Optical Fibers and Harsh Environment Sensors; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.335744
Event: Photonics East (ISAM, VVDC, IEMB), 1998, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

The multianalyzer is a powerful amplitude modulated fiber optic sensor which is perhaps quite typical of so many sensor innovations in that it is a technology looking for an application. Consequently, a series of collaborations with fruit juice, brewing, distilling, biotechnology and polymer industries were made with the objective of identifying potential applications of the multianalyzer. An assessment of these interactions is made for each of the industrial fields explored, by giving for each, just one positive result from the work. The results are then critically assessed. While these studies have illustrated the universal nature of the technology, in every case, lessons have been drawn of a general nature. This experience in particular underlined the difficulty in acceptance of a fiber based technology in industrial process monitoring, against the backdrop of the conservative practice of industry with long established instrumentation. The hard won experience of this product development has shown the vital important of technologists understanding the difference between the marketing concepts of features, benefits and advantages. Three categories of conclusions are drawn, the technical, the commercial, and finally, conclusions drawn from generalizations of the project by the Kingston partners based on their own independent experience in sensor development involving industrial and medical collaborations.

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Norman Douglas McMillan, M. Baker, M. O'Neill, Stuart Smith, Andreas T. Augousti, Julian Mason, Bernard Ryan, and R. A. Ryan "Search for technological advantages and commercial success in sensor applications: lessons of industrial trials for fiber multianalyzer technology", Proc. SPIE 3538, Process Monitoring with Optical Fibers and Harsh Environment Sensors, (11 January 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.335744

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KEYWORDS

Sensors

Liquids

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Software development

Biotechnology

Polymers

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