03/31/2026
By Danielle Fretwell
The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, invites you to attend a Master's Thesis defense by Marietta Arakelian on: "Embedded OFDR Distributed Fiber Sensing for Real-Time Load Distribution Measurement in Wearable Systems."
Candidate Name: Marietta Arakelian
Degree: Master’s
Defense Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 2:10 - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Perry Hall 315
Committee:
- Advisor: Xingwei Wang, Professor and Director of Optics Lab, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UMass Lowell
- Jean-Francois Millithaler, Associate Teaching Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UMass Lowell
- Rachel Wakim, Associate Teaching Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UMass Lowell
Abstract:
Back pain, specifically lower back pain (LBP) is the leading reason active-duty service members (ADSM) across all disciplines seek medical treatment. To prevent the need to see a medical professional, the UMass Lowell Optics lab proposed embedding single mode (SMF) distributed optical fiber sensors (DFOS) in a wearable system with the use of optical frequency domain reflectometer (OFDR) for real-time load distribution measurements. By attaching fragile fiber sensors to durable fabric, the design allows for a comfortable fit that provides accurate results. For the first prototype, a vest insert was designed and crafted that can easily be attached or detached to the adjustable vest for easy repairs. The insert monitors strain/temperature for the shoulders, upper back, and lower back in three discreet sections. To test the validity of this method, several different tests were conducted with varying levels of weight carried in a backpack. As the load increased in the backpack, the sensors spectral shift amplitude increased, indicating that the sensors respond to the load distribution for effective strain measurements.