Chasing the Sun -- The Inflight Evaluation of an Optical Head Tracker

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present the details surrounding the experimental design and flight test program used to evaluate the performance of an Optical Head Tracker (OHT) under dynamic flight and intense solar conditions. This program was a collaborative effort led by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in close concert with NASA-Glenn Research Center (MGRC) based in Cleveland, Ohio and contractors supporting the laboratory. The thrust of this paper will focus on the experimental design necessary to effectively evaluate the OHT performance, as well as safety of flight considerations necessary to satisfy both AFRL and NASA strict safety requirements. Discussions will include airborne platform selection, modification, and operations necessary to achieve maximum solar exposure on the OHT while ensuring a representative environment was presented to the OHT during the experiment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA444180

Entities

People

  • David W. Harris
  • Douglas L. Franck
  • Michael R. Sedillo

Organizations

  • Ball Aerospace & Technologies

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Airborne
  • Aircrafts
  • Cockpits
  • Environment
  • Experimental Design
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Flight
  • Human-Machine Interaction
  • Institutional Review Board
  • Measurement
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Research
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Equipment

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Gulf War Illness and Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Veterans.