Optical Time Domain Reflectometry

Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) is a technique used to characterize and monitor fiber optic cables by analyzing backscattered light signals, primarily aiming for fault detection and localization. Current research heavily emphasizes improving the accuracy and robustness of OTDR analysis, particularly in noisy environments, using advanced signal processing techniques such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks to identify and classify reflective events. These advancements are crucial for enhancing the reliability and efficiency of fiber optic networks, impacting both telecommunications infrastructure maintenance and various sensing applications, including subsurface material characterization and shape sensing of flexible robots.

Papers