Document
5/5/2015, Arlington, Virginia Presenter: Richard Hang
PWST Workshop 2015
Armstrong Flight Research Center
Flight Test Capabilities and Opportunities for the
Applications of Wireless Data Acquisition Systems
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center (SOFIA) Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy Ikhana MQ-9 Predator B Unmanned Aircraft System X-56 Multi-Utility Technology Testbed Perform flight research and technology integration to revolutionize aviation and pioneer aerospace technology Validate space exploration concepts Conduct airborne remote sensing and science observations
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Advancing technology and science through flight
Armstrong Mission
Armstrong Flight Research Center X-43 X-15 F-8 X-29 Lunar Landing Research Vehicle Helios M2-F1 Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests
To separate the real from the imagined through flight
Armstrong Vision
Armstrong Flight Research Center 40 years experience – Certificates of Authorization (COA) Ground control stations Full range of UAS sizes and capabilities Western Aeronautical Test Range Research Aircraft Integration Facility Flight Loads Laboratory Building 703 Experimental/testbed aircraft Unmanned aircraft systems › › › Airborne science platforms Range and aircraft test facilities › › › ›
Facility Capability
Back shops Flight safety and risk management Flight project and mission management Flight research technology Flight test operations Experimental aircraft (piloted and unmanned)
Flight operations and engineering staff › Atmospheric flight research and test › › › › ›
Core Competencies
Armstrong Capabilities
Armstrong Flight Research Center Mach 2.3 - F-15 F Mach 2.0 2.0 Mach 1.5 F/A-18 Mach Number 1.0 G-II B200 B200 T-34 TG-14 50K Altitude
NASA AFRC Flight Research Envelope Support Aircraft and Test Range Requirements
Armstrong Flight Research Center Ikhana Predator B G-III F/A-18 Hornet Gulfstream F-15 Eagle RQ-4 Global Hawk ER-2 Dragon Lady B200 King Air T-34 Mentor
Testbed Aircraft
Armstrong Flight Research Center Ground voice communication Real-time data monitoring and processing Data distribution Data archive Range safety (FTS, EFTS, RSO station)
Telemetry/uplink (fixed and mobile) Time-space-position information (radar, differential GPS) Video monitoring and recording Radio frequency (RF) communication
Dryden Aeronautical Test Range Capabilities
Armstrong Flight Research Center Photogrammetry for full-field strain and spatial deformation Transient infrared pulsed thermography for non-destructive evaluation Acoustic emission sensing for damage detection Approximately 2,000 channels of data acquisition Stiffness Characterization and Load Calibration
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Structural evaluation Data acquisition
Load frames, hydraulic actuators, and load cells 84 channels of hydraulic load control Ground vibration and structural mode interaction testing Quartz lamp and graphite element heating 264 channels of thermal control Low- and high-temperature chambers Liquid and gaseous nitrogen supply systems Conventional and fiber optic instrumentation
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Structural loading Thermal loading Instrumentation
Fight Load Lab Capabilities
Armstrong Flight Research Center Low boom supersonic aircraft Aerodynamic (PRANDTL-D) Preliminary Research Design to Lower Drag Flight research on the F-15 and F-18 aircrafts to understand sonic booms and how to over-land supersonic flight possible Testbed Technology X-56A Multi-Utility A U.S. Air Force C-17 is used for Vehicle Integrated Propulsion Research (VIPR) testing.
X-48C Blended Wing Body Towed Glider Air-Launch System Quad rotor flying with Expandable Variable- Autonomy Architecture Gulfstream III ACTE research Armstrong Flight Research Center
Some Current, Recent & Future Projects at AFRC
Data Acquisition Development Custom Circuit Board Design Sensor selection, installation and calibration Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS) Power Distribution Systems Design Real-time embedded data processing systems Satellite Communication Applications Data Telemetry (PCM, IP-over-TM) Design Instrumentation Systems for Ground & Flight tests: › › › › › › › › Support Instrumentation-Related Activities On All Flight Platforms Support Flight Test Operations Process flight data using a variety of tools
Flight Instrumentation Capabilities
Armstrong Flight Research Center Additional weight (wires, connectors brackets, mounting plates…) Must penetrate aircraft structure for wire routing Requires longer aircraft down time Requires extensive aircraft wiring labor Requires extensive, costly engineering Not convenient for quick add-ons
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Issues with Conventional Instrumentation
Armstrong Flight Research Center Benefits: reduced cost, integration schedule, aircraft weight and engineering time Allows quick addition of sensors without extensive wiring modifications Avoids additional penetrations of aircraft structure (bulkhead, firewall, etc.) Can be used for moving parts (engines blades, landing gears, etc..) Allows remote sensing/measurement in inaccessible or dangerous places Pressure Temperature Strain Fuel flow Acceleration (low and high frequency) Acoustic Video camera Torque Position Others? High altitude (50k feet) Extreme temperature condition (-60 to 160 disagree F, operational) High g vibration (depending on where the sensor is used it can be up to 22 g rms) NASA AFRC is studying wireless sensors/systems › › › › › Wireless sensors/systems needed: › › › › › › › › › › Environment Constraints/Requirements › › ›
Wireless Solutions
Armstrong Flight Research Center
from this Workshop
gain
encryption protocols – Sensor power/excitation (batteries vs wireless powered) Meeting defined EMI/EMC standards Battery operation concerns Spectrum (L, C bands, ISM band) Data security Data rate capabilities Number of channels per system Low power requirement Connection types (P2P or P2MP) Miniaturization (as small as possible) Multiplexing receivers with required outputs Other? What passive wireless sensors/systems are currently available that can be used for AFRC flight test applications? Learn more about wireless technologies to help my Branch’s research/development Learn about wireless data security protection methodologies Partnership with Wireless Community in flight testing of wireless data acquisition systems or sensors. An opportunity to make connection with Wireless Community for exchanging knowledge of wireless technologies and requirements
Other constraints/requirements › › › › › › › › › › › › Expectation to › › › › ›
Wireless Solutions Cont’d
Armstrong Flight Research Center TM Antenna Transmitter
Vision 1
Using the existing conventional sensors Short wire runs from sensors to transmitters Sub-miniaturized multi-sensor transmitter Wireless multichannel receiver(s) with multiplexing & data fusion capabilities and formatted data stream outputs – PCM, IP packets… U S S W d o U S • • • • • • • • Multichannel receiver Subminiaturized transmitter package Multi-sensor interface and serialization for transmitting Number of channels and data rate Passing environmental requirements Challenges: • • • • types (CPT) Fuel Flow Accel sensors sensors Position sensors TC, RTD.. Pressure Other sensor Temp sensors
AFRC Vision of Active Wireless Systems for Flight Test
Armstrong Flight Research Center TM antenna Transmitter
Vision 2
Low power Powered by wireless • • Miniaturized sensor-transmitter packages Wireless multichannel receiver(s) with multiplexing & data fusion capabilities and formatted data outputs – PCM, IP Packets… M W da PC M W Multichannel Receiver • • • • Subminiaturized sensor/transmitter package Multi-sensor interfaces per package? Data rate Passing environmental requirements Challenges: • • • • s types Other sensor sensors RTD..
TC, RTD..
Temp sensors i sure sors cel PT) Fuel Flow (CPT) Accel Sensors sensors sensors Position Pressure T
AFRC Vision of Active Wireless Systems for Flight Test
Armstrong Flight Research Center TM antenna Transmitter a Using passive sensing tags with RFID Wireless multichannel receiver(s) with multiplexing & data fusion capabilities and formatted data outputs – PCM, IP Packets… Us W PC U W d P Multichannel Receiver • • • • Subminiaturized tags and acquisition systems Data rate Passing environmental requirements Challenges: • • • RFID th g Other Sensing Tags Tags Temp Sensing g Tags Tags Accel tags Fuel sensing Tags Flow Sensing Position Sensing Sensing Pressure
Passive Wireless Sensors for Flight Test
Armstrong Flight Research Center
wireless sensors might be used in flight testing at
wireless sensors on the market that are applicable to flight
passive
active
please educate me on what you have!
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AFRC has a broad flight test capability that is suitable for flight testing of any wireless sensor suite I am here to learn how AFRC I want to learn about passive wireless sensor technologies under development or available I am looking for opportunity for partnerships in developing wireless sensor systems I am looking for other testing
Summary: Armstrong Flight Research Center