Mobile flight test support

Author

Shigemoto, Fred H.

Author_Institution

Range Syst. Branch, NASA Ames Res. Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

fYear

1994

fDate

30 Oct-3 Nov 1994

Firstpage

593

Lastpage

598

Abstract

The NASA Dryden Flight Test Center (DFRC) evaluated an optical device used as a visual aid in landing hypervelocity aircraft. Pilot performance in landing an F-104 instrumented with the Research External Vision Device (REVD) at Edwards Air Force Base was characterized by means of precision laser tracking and telemetry of the aircraft state. A self-contained mobile laser tracking system and telemetry acquisition system was designed and configured to provide the required position tracking and telemetry acquisition. Wireless air links providing internet connectivity to the DRFC computer network and automation of initial target acquisition for laser track operation were key factors in the development of a low cost, mobile position tracking and telemetry capability operable by a single person. Mission data support capabilities include real-time laser tracking and correlation with telemetry data; real-time displays; and internet access to all acquired flight test data

Keywords

aerospace computing; aerospace test facilities; aircraft displays; aircraft landing guidance; correlation methods; data acquisition; military systems; optical tracking; real-time systems; telemetry; DRFC computer network; Edwards Air Force Base; F-104; NASA Dryden Flight Test Center; Research External Vision Device; automation; hypervelocity aircraft; landing; laser track operation; laser tracking; mobile flight test support; mobile position tracking; optical device; pilot performance; real-time display; real-time laser tracking; self-contained mobile laser tracking; telemetry; telemetry acquisition; telemetry capability; wireless air links; Computer networks; IP networks; Instruments; Military aircraft; NASA; Optical design; Optical devices; Target tracking; Telemetry; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Digital Avionics Systems Conference, 1994. 13th DASC., AIAA/IEEE

Conference_Location

Phoenix, AZ

Print_ISBN

0-7803-2425-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/DASC.1994.369416

Filename

369416