Volume IV. Flight Test Management. Chapter 5. Flight Test Instrumentation.
Abstract
The purpose of any test is to collect data which are then used to evaluate the article being tested. Instrumentation is the term applied to the equipment used to collect these data. Flight test programs invariably represent a significant investment of resources, and therefore considerable care must be devoted to identifying the specific requirements for the flight test and to assure that the data systems will yield the required information. The first step towards the flight test instrumentation system then is a clear statement of the objectives of the flight test programs. These objectives are drawn up by those who require the information for analysis. On the basis of these objectives, the flight test organization will prep are a preliminary flight test program, a list of parameters which must be measured, and other special requirements. The instrumentation design phase begins when the test engineers develop a measurements list. Using this list, the instrumentation engineer produces an overall design approach for the instrumentation system required to obtain the data measurements. In the instrumentation development phase, the hardware and software of the instrumentation system are developed by technical specialists. In this phase, commercially available parts are chosen and ordered, and parts for the system which must be made in-house are designed and fabricated. At the end of this phase, the actual hardware and software will have been obtained, calibrated, and installed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA320062