# Uncertainty Analysis of Fiber Optic Shape Sensing Under Core Failure

## TL;DR

This paper studies how fiber optic shape sensing performs when parts of the fiber are damaged, showing that accurate shape reconstruction is still possible with some adjustments.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel method to quantify the impact of fiber core failures on shape sensing accuracy using Monte Carlo simulations.

## Key findings

- Shape reconstruction remains achievable despite fiber core failures.
- Increasing the number of sensing cores from four to five significantly reduces the impact of core damage.
- Measurement noise affects 3D shape reconstruction uncertainty, with sensitivity to bending direction observed.

## Abstract

Shape sensing with optical fiber sensors is an emerging technology with broad applications across various fields. This study evaluates the metrological performance of shape sensing cables in the presence of fiber core failures, a critical issue in scenarios where cable replacement is impractical due to technological and economic constraints. The impact of core failure is quantified by comparing the uncertainty in key parameters, such as curvature and bending angle, between pristine and damaged cables through Monte Carlo simulations. Results indicate that while core failure degrades performance, shape reconstruction remains achievable. However, the reconstruction becomes sensitive to bending direction due to the loss of core symmetry. Additionally, simulations of how measurement noise propagates into uncertainty in the 3D shape reconstruction are carried out. Analysis of specific shapes, including a circle and a right-handed helix, shows that increasing the number of sensing cores significantly mitigates the adverse effects of core failure. The most notable improvement occurs when the number of cores is increased from four to five. These findings show how shape reconstruction is still possible even in the presence of core damage, and how this changes the behavior of the sensing process.