• DESIGN OF A CONFIGURATION AND MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR INSTRUMENTATION NETWORKS

      Roach, John; Teletronics Technology Corporation (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      The development of network-based data acquisition systems has resulted in a new architecture for supporting flight instrumentation that has the potential to revolutionize the way we test our aircraft. However, the inherent capability and flexibility in a networked test architecture can only be realized by the flight engineer if a sufficiently powerful toolset is available that can configure and manage the system. This paper introduces the concept of an instrumentation configuration and management system (ICMS) that acts as the central resource for configuring, controlling, and monitoring the instrumentation network. Typically, the ICMS supports a graphical user interface into the workings of the instrumentation network, providing the user with a friendly and efficient way to verify the operation of the system. Statistics being gathered at different peripherals within the network would be collected by this tool and formatted for interpretation by the user. Any error conditions or out-of-bounds situations would be detected by the ICMS and signaled to the user. Changes made to the operation of any of the peripherals in the network (if permitted) would be managed by the ICMS to ensure consistency of the system. Furthermore, the ICMS could guarantee that the appropriate procedures were being followed and that the operator had the required privileges needed to make any changes. This paper describes the high-level design of a modular and multi-platform ICMS and its use within the measurement-centric aircraft instrumentation network architecture under development by the Network Products Division at Teletronics.
    • EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL-OFF-THE-SHELF LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR USE IN BALLISTIC TELEMETRY SYSTEMS

      Bukowski, Edward F.; U.S. Army Research Laboratory (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      As technological advances continue to be made in the commercial sectors of portable and wireless communication products, additional advancements in battery technology have also been made. These advancements have allowed for the rapid growth of a large variety of commercially available batteries which have the capability to meet or even exceed the current power and size requirements for numerous ballistic telemetry systems. The replacement of a custom built battery with a COTS battery would provide immediate advantages such as lower cost, shorter lead times and higher availability. The overall objective of this paper is to provide ballistic telemetry systems engineers and designers with multiple low cost, readily available alternatives to traditional custom made power sources.
    • DATA DISPLAY INTERCHANGEABILITY FOR HETEROGENEOUS PLATFORMS

      Ross, Robert W.; K/Bidy, Gilles; L-3 Communications (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      A test range facility may consist of a heterogeneous array of computer and workstation assets, given the need to support various new and legacy projects. The data display and analysis software for this heterogeneous environment can be equally diverse, with different application software available and/or supported on the workstations. The demands of managing an operator team skilled in the use of the various software applications, along with the support and maintenance costs, can be restrictive to a cost-effective and productive operation environment. The need for data display and analysis software that can run on all platforms in a heterogeneous environment plays a major role in creating an effective workforce capable of supporting multiple projects without the need to specialize on specific data display software. Likewise, the costs of maintenance and support are greatly reduced. A pure Java™ data display and analysis software product can meet the requirements of this need.
    • PLASMA DENSITY REDUCTION USING ELECTROMAGNETIC E×B FIELD DURING REENTRY FLIGHT

      Kim, Minkwan; Keidar, Michael; Boyd, Iain D.; Morris, David; University of Michigan; ElectroDynamic Applications Inc. (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      As a vehicle reenters or flies at hypersonic speed through the atmosphere, the surrounding air is shock heated and becomes weakly ionized. The plasma layer thus formed causes a communication problem known as ‘radio blackout’. At sufficiently dense plasma conditions, the plasma layer either reflects or attenuates radio wave communications to and from the vehicle. In this paper, we propose an electromagnetic field configuration as a method to allow communication through the plasma layer. Theoretical models show that this may address the blackout problem under a range of conditions. Preliminary experimental results are also presented.
    • LOW DENSITY PARITY CHECK CODES FOR TELEMETRY APPLICATIONS

      Hayes, Bob; L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      Next generation satellite communication systems require efficient coding schemes that enable high data rates, require low overhead, and have excellent bit error rate performance. A newly rediscovered class of block codes called Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes has the potential to revolutionize forward error correction (FEC) because of the very high coding rates. This paper presents a brief overview of LDPC coding and decoding. An LDPC algorithm developed by Goddard Space Flight Center is discussed, and an overview of an accompanying VHDL development by L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics is presented.
    • ACHIEVING PORTABILITY FOR LEGACY SOFTWARE USING JAVA

      Cooper, D. Kelly; TYBRIN Corporation; Eglin Air Force Base (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      Increasingly, many software developers are facing the challenge of adapting software applications developed on one platform to work on multiple platforms. While software standards have helped this effort, they do not go far enough, and many platforms only partially support these standards leaving many needed functions in platform specific libraries. This is particularly evident in the areas of graphics and user interfaces, threading and synchronization, and in network and file access. Fortunately, Java offers a common interface where native libraries diverge. This paper outlines a phased strategy for migrating platform specific applications to be platform independent while reusing the robust, existing algorithms.
    • UNLEASHING THE POWER OF XML

      Corry, Diarmuid; ACRA CONTROL Inc (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      Over the last few years XML has been growing in importance as a language for describing the meta-data associated with a complete flight test. Three years ago ACRA CONTROL introduced XidML as an open, published XML standard describing flight test data acquisition from the air to the ground. Recently, XML has been adopted by the TMATS RCC committee and is currently being studied by iNET. While many papers have focused on what XML is and why it is a powerful language, few have related this to practical benefits for the end user. This paper attempts to address this gap. The paper describes simple cost effective tools for generating XML through an intuitive GUI, validating XML information against a schema and transforming XML into useful reports. In particular a suite of value added tools for XidML is described.
    • RANGE SAFETY CASE STUDY: WESTERN RANGE CENTRALIZED TELEMETRY PROCESSING SYSTEM (WR CTPS), A LARGE DISTRIBUTED GROUND SYSTEM

      Mather, Jonathan; Shaw, Nancy; L-3 Communications Telemetry-West; Lockheed Martin Corporation (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      This paper presents a case study of the Western Range Centralized Telemetry Processing Subsystem (WR CTPS). This system was developed by Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems and Global Services and L-3 Communications Telemetry-West as part of the Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) IIA program. Requirements included real-time simultaneous acquisition of 16 PCM streams at rates of up to 30M bits per second; real-time processing; and data display on workstations connected over a gigabit Ethernet network. This system is designed for range safety and needs to be fault-tolerant while maintaining 100 percent data availability in the event of a single failure during an operation. The development of such a system demanded a rigorous Systems Engineering approach to ensure the successful upgrade and deployment onto the range infrastructure. This case study provides an overview of the system technical requirements and its architecture. The summary presents challenges encountered during the development and lessons learned while meeting them.
    • DESIGN OF A MISSION DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM FOR NASA DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER

      Lux, Jessica; Downing, Bob; Sheldon, Jack; NASA Dryden Flight Research Center; Arcata Associates, Inc. (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      The Western Aeronautical Test Range (WATR) at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) employs the WATR Integrated Next Generation System (WINGS) for the processing and display of aeronautical flight data. This report discusses the post-mission segment of the WINGS architecture. A team designed and implemented a system for the near- and long-term storage and distribution of mission data for flight projects at DFRC, providing the user with intelligent access to data. Discussed are the legacy system, an industry survey, system operational concept, high-level system features, and initial design efforts.
    • Instrumentation and Data Processing Efficiencies Employed on the P-8A Poseidon System Development and Demonstration Program

      Galloway, Dawn M.; Winkelmann, Christian H.; The Boeing Company (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      The P-8A Poseidon is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. The Test & Evaluation data requirements for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase far exceed any Boeing military program to date. The data requirements include MIL-STD-1553, Gigabit Ethernet, 10/100 Ethernet, NTSC, Video/Audio, ARINC 429, RS232, CAN and PCM data in addition to being CAIS and RTPS compatible. The strategy for the design of the instrumentation and data processing architecture was to create a common system that could be used for data acquisition and processing for all seven test articles and used for both flight and ground testing. The common approach enables efficiencies and benefits to be shared in all testing and reduces the overall cost to the program.
    • IDAPS CAD-BASED STORE SEPARATION ANALYSIS OF DEPLOYABLE SURFACES

      Paulick, Michael J.; TYBRIN Corporation; Eglin Air Force Base (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      The Image Data Automated Processing System (IDAPS), developed by the 96th Communications Group Test and Analysis Division at Eglin AFB, uses a CAD-based image matching technique to calculate a trajectory of a store separation event. The latest evolution of this system has been in production for several years and has proven to be both an accurate and a valuable tool for evaluating flight releases of bombs, fuel tanks, missiles, and other stores. This paper describes a prototype capability that is being developed for assessing fin and wing deployment angles.
    • PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF SOQPSK DETECTORS: COHERENT VS. NONCOHERENT

      Bruns, Tom; L-3 Communications Nova Engineering (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      Shaped Offset Quadrature Shift Keying (SOQPSK) is a spectrally efficient modulation that has been promoted in the airborne telemetry community as a more spectrally efficient alternative for legacy PCM/FM. First generation demodulators for SOQPSK use coherent detectors which achieve good bit error rates at the expense of long synchronization times. This paper examines the performance of a noncoherent SOQPSK detector which significantly improves the signal acquisition times without impacting BER performance in the AWGN environment. The two detection methods are also compared in their ability to combat other channel impairments, such as adjacent and on-channel interference.
    • OVERVIEW OF F-22 UPGRADED INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM

      Natale, Louis; Berdugo, Albert; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.; Teletronics Technology Corporation (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      The F-22 flight test program used a traditional distributed data acquisition system and a non IRIG-106 Chapter 10 recording system for its flight test program. In addition, it required a separate and very large Harris DAU system to monitor and record avionic data buses carrying secure data. Due to the size, cost, and the obsolescence of the Harris DAU system and components, Lockheed evaluated replacement systems. TTC proposed to develop F-22 specific Fiber Optic avionics bus monitors and an avionics PCM Data Selector / Encoder as part of its distributed IRIG-106 Chapter 10 Multiplexer / Recorder system to replace the Harris DAU. This replacement system challenges the traditional system approach used in many flight test programs. This paper describes the evolutionary process to design two independent distributed data acquisition and recording systems handling data with different classification levels. The data separation is maintained by way of system wiring, proper hardware that holds no residual data once power is removed, different transmission channels, hardware-based message blocking, and a separate IRIG-106 Chapter 10 multiplexing / recording system.
    • Modeling Channel Estimation Error in Continuously Varying MIMO Channels

      Kosbar, Kurt; Potter, Chris; University of Missouri (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      The accuracy of channel estimation plays a crucial role in the demodulation of data symbols sent across an unknown wireless medium. In this work a new analytical expression for the channel estimation error of a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system is obtained when the wireless medium is continuously changing in the temporal domain. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate our findings.
    • ENHANCED FLIGHT TERMINATION SYSTEM FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION AND RESULTS

      Tow, David; Arce, Dennis; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Bourne Technologies, Inc. (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      This paper discusses the methodology, requirements, tests, and implementation plan for the live demonstration of the Enhanced Flight Termination System (EFTS) using a missile program at two locations in Florida: Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) and Tyndall AFB. The demonstration included the integration of EFTS Flight Termination Receivers (FTRs) onto the missile and the integration of EFTS-program-developed transmitter assets with the mission control system at Eglin and Tyndall AFBs. The initial test stages included ground testing and captive-carry flights, followed by a launch in which EFTS was designated as the primary flight termination system for the launch.
    • LOW-NOISE SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY CONSIDERATIONS FOR TELEMETRY ENCODER APPLICATIONS

      Lee, Jeffrey C.; Steppler, Missy; L-3 Communications (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      Modern telemetry systems using state of the art field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and signal processing components require lower voltage supplies to support various CMOS core geometries while still needing multiple higher voltage rails to support legacy interfaces. Addressing these power supply requirements efficiently requires switching power supply topologies that if left unchecked can generate high input surge currents and high levels of detrimental noise for both the sensitive analog signal processing circuitry and the power supply input source. This paper focuses on the design considerations and tradeoffs associated with implementing an efficient telemetry encoder power supply while mitigating the resulting noise effects typically associated with switching power supplies. This noise can negatively affect the power supply input source and the linear signal processing circuitry within the telemetry encoder.
    • PERFORMANCE CHARACTERIZATION OF MULTI-BAND ANTENNAS FOR AERONAUTICAL TELEMETRY

      Temple, Kip; Jefferis, Robert; Selbrede, Robert; Edwards Air Force Base (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      This paper baselines the performance of common, single band telemetry blade antennas in two telemetry bands and compares that performance to two very differing multi-band antenna designs. A description of each antenna is presented followed by flight testing results and conclusions. Results are in the form of received signal strength versus geographic location, derived in-flight antenna patterns, link availability, and bit error analysis.
    • L AND S BAND TUNABLE FILTERS PROVIDE DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEMETRY SYSTEMS

      Wurth, Timothy J.; Rodzinak, Jason; NuWaves Engineering (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      Meeting the filtering requirements for telemetry transmitters and receivers can be challenging. Telemetry systems use filters to eliminate unwanted spurious or mixing products. The use of tunable microwave filters for both L and S Band can improve filter selectivity and provide low insertion losses in the filter passband. Along with meeting specifications, these microwave filters with the ability to tune an octave, reduce size and cost by the reduction of multiple, fixed-frequency filters. As size, weight and power are often a concern with aeronautical telemetry systems, this paper will demonstrate that microstrip tunable filters can be small in size and use minimal power. Telemetry transmitters are subject to difficult spurious emission and interference specifications and require selective filters to eliminate spurious signals before the final amplification. Telemetry receivers on the other hand are subject to intense Image and Local Oscillator (LO) rejection requirements and demand low insertion loss for front-end filtering. Low insertion loss filtering before the Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) circuit limits degradation to the system noise figure (NF). By using different filter topologies and state-of-the-art, high-Q varactor diodes, tunable microwave filters can be optimized for two different functions. The two functions emphasize either low insertion loss or selectivity. An important design consideration with tunable filters, when compared to typical fixed frequency filters, is the degraded intermodulation performance. This is largely due to the non-linear behavior of the varactor diodes. This paper describes the benefits and limitations of microwave tunable filter architectures suitable for both aeronautical telemetry transmitters and telemetry receivers. Information on the computer modeling of varactor diodes will be covered as a critical part of the design. Potential design considerations for microwave tunable filters will also be covered. Through the use of simulation software and filter prototypes, this paper presents dramatically improved filter performance applicable to telemetry transmitters and receivers.
    • LOW-COST RAPID-RESPONSE EMBEDDED ANTENNA DESIGN FOR US ARMY 60MM MORTARS

      Katulka, G.; Hall, R.; Peregino, P.; Muller, P.; Hundley, N.; McGee, R.; Army Research Laboratory; Dynamic Sciences Inc.; Data Matrix Solutions (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Army are engaged in a high-risk/high-payoff project for the development of precision-guided 60mm mortars for the benefit of the optically designated attack munition (ODAM). This paper describes the antenna design and performance characteristics required for a telemetry-based onboard diagnostic system. Efforts executed at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD met our primary objective to demonstrate rapid response low-cost capability for body-mounted antennas compatible with commercially-available telemetry products. This presentation reviews the theoretical design and antenna radiation pattern characteristics, tuning process, and returned in-flight signal strength along the trajectory. Experimental results compared favorably with theoretical link analyses. Lessons learned, ongoing applications, and future improvements are also presented.
    • A FLEXIBLE SWITCHING ARCHITECTURE FOR DIVERSE SIGNAL TYPES

      Gery, Brian; Apogee Labs, Inc. (International Foundation for Telemetering, 2007-10)
      Modern telemetry systems often require signal switching hardware to facilitate signal routing reconfiguration between missions. As these systems have grown more complex with high signal counts and diverse signal types in the same system, the need for flexible switching hardware that can adapt to these changing requirements has emerged. A novel architecture for diverse signal switching hardware is presented that addresses the changing requirements of modern telemetry systems. While conventional commercial switching gear handles each signal type in a separate group, the proposed architecture allows digital and analog signal types to be switched, multiplexed, scaled, and combined (as the signal types allow) all within the same chassis, and between signal types.