Optical airflow sensor

1. An optical fluid flow sensor comprising:

an optical fiber configured to be located in a fluid flow and operable to bend in response to the fluid flow;

a light source coupled to the optical fiber and operable to transmit a received light into the optical fiber;

a plurality of optical sensors surrounding a portion of the optical fiber and operable to receive the received light from a side of the optical fiber; and

a signal processor module operable to estimate a fluid flow velocity of the fluid flow based on the received light.

2. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is further operable to bend in proportion to the fluid flow.

3. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1 , wherein the signal processor module is further operable to determine a direction of the fluid flow based on the received light at each of the optical sensors.

4. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a bend controlling device coupled to the optical fiber.

5. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 4 , wherein the bend controlling device comprises a spring.

6. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow comprises an airflow.

7. The optical fluid flow sensor of claim 1 , further comprising an interferometry module operable to combine the received light with the light from the light source to produce an interferometric pattern.

8. A method for sensing fluid flow, the method comprising:

transmitting a source light from a light source into an optical fiber operable to bend in response to a fluid flow;

receiving the fluid flow at the optical fiber;

receiving a received light from a side of the optical fiber at a plurality of optical sensors surrounding a portion of the optical fiber; and

estimating a speed of the fluid flow based on the received light.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber is further operable to bend in proportion to the fluid flow.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining a direction of the fluid flow based on the received light at each of the optical sensors.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising combining the received light with the source light to produce an interferometric pattern.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling a bend of the optical fiber.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling the bend of the optical fiber using a spring.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fluid flow comprises an airflow.

15. A method for providing an optical fluid flow sensor, the method comprising:

securing an optical fiber to a surface located in a fluid flow, the optical fiber operable to bend in response to the fluid flow;

surrounding a portion of the optical fiber with a plurality of light sensors operable to receive a received light from a side of the optical fiber;

coupling the optical fiber to a light source operable to transmit light into the optical fiber; and

providing a signal processor module operable to estimate a fluid flow velocity of the fluid flow based on the received light.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid flow comprises an airflow and the surface comprises an aircraft.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the signal processor module is further operable to determine a direction of the fluid flow based on the received light at each of the optical sensors.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing an interferometry module operable to combine the received light with the light from the light source to produce an interferometric pattern.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the optical fiber is further operable to bend in proportion to the fluid flow.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing a bend control device coupled to the optical fiber and operable to control a bend of the optical fiber.