NASA MARS SAMPLE RETURN

DROP TESTING TO HELP ENSURE SAFE DELIVERY TO EARTH

The Challenge:

• Part of the Mars mission will include returning a variety of rock samples to Earth
• NASA and JPL needed to drop test the prototype return canister that will house the samples
• Ability to withstand landing speeds of 100 mph when it free falls and lands in the desert of Utah
• Data acquisition systems and sensors able to operate in extreme environmental conditions
• Limited space and weight constraints for test instrumentation
• Standalone data acquisition that can meet strict power considerations

The Solution:

• DTS miniature, rugged data acquisition systems and sensors
• Advanced vibration and shock tolerant features
• SWaP-optimized for Size, Weight and Power
• Standalone system, runs on battery
• Collect physical measurements including: acceleration, vibration, strain & temperature
• Ability to record for extended periods of time in remote locations
• Data writes to non-volatile memory for safe retrieval

Video & Images Courtesy of NASA and JPL

FLIGHT TESTING AT MACH 5

SOUNDING ROCKETS AND GLIDE VEHICLES

The Challenge:

• Collecting physical measurements on hypersonic vehicles for lab, sled and in-flight testing
• Reliably capturing data for launch forces, vibration, and wide temperature extremes
• Short development cycles require expedited testing
• Size, weight and power constraints
• Ability to connect with existing Ethernet-based comm systems
• Slip ring costs and issues limiting channel counts
• Complex set-ups including long cable runs) 

The Solution:

• Rugged, low mass DTS data acquisition systems and sensors
• Standalone modules can be installed near sensors, saving cost and development time
• Modular and portable, easily configurable for rapid deployment
• Supports a variety of sensors including IEPE, plus built-in sensor options
• SWaP-C (size, weight, power, and cost) optimized DAU
• Store in place reliability, plus real-time streaming
• Easy system set-up with intuitive software

Video & Images Courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories

SPACEX CREW SAFETY TESTING

MEASURING LAUNCH & LANDING FORCES ON CREW DRAGON CAPSULE

The Challenge:

• Collecting physical measurements in the extreme environment indicative of space travel
• Capturing head, neck and spine loads and forces astronauts may experience during launch, flight and landing
• Support multiple SpaceX Crew Dragon missions, as well as Blue Origin and NASA
• Meet strict size, mass, and power constraints for payload
• Data acquisition equipment & sensors that can withstand the rigors of flight, including to and from the International Space Station (ISS)

The Solution:

• Hybrid III-50M Anthropomorphic Test Device (Ripley) embedded with miniature, rugged DTS data acquisition systems (DAS) and sensors
• Modular and portable DAS and sensors that maintain mass and CoG
• DAS that supports a variety of channel counts and sensor inputs including IEPE, plus built-in sensor options
• Positioning DAS near the sensors to eliminate cable runs to improve data quality and create a more realistic human analog
• Store in place reliability, data writes directly to non-volatile flash memory
• Easy system set-up with intuitive software

Video & Images Courtesy of SpaceX

HELICOPTER DROP TESTING

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS & OCCUPANT SAFETY

The Challenge:

• Testing at NASA Langley’s Landing & Impact Research (LANDIR) facility
• Full-scale drop tests including a 45′ CH-46E Sea Knight marine helicopter from 9 m @ 48 kph
• High channel count tests, Sea Knight featured 350 channels to measure fuselage structural integrity and occupant injury analysis data
• Testing with ATDs, Sea Knight included 13 instrumented crash dummies, plus non-instrumented
• Synchronizing power, triggering, communication and 40 high-speed cameras
• Validation of modeling and simulation data

The Solution:

• Rugged DTS onboard data acquisition systems and ancillary accessories
• Instrumented test manikins included a combination of in-dummy & off-board DAS
• Full support for bridge, IEPE, MEMS, strain, load, voltage and temperature sensors
• Store in place reliability, data writes directly to non-volatile flash memory
• Easy software for set-up, download, viewing and data analysis
• Experts in crash safety testing and injury biomechanics

Video & Images Courtesy of NASA

MODIFICATION TESTING

RAPID DEPLOYMENT DATA ACQUISITION UNITS (DAU)

The Challenge:

• Installation of flight test instrumentation (FTI) may require days to months for a single test
• Time required to disassemble complex sensor cabling network to central FTI
• Limited options to handle test modifications (ie. additional channels or points of interest)
• Space, weight and power constraints, especially on aircraft store and unmanned aerial systems/vehicles (UAS/UAV)
• Limited access to aircraft and instrumentation, schedule changes and delays
• Instrumentation cannot easily be moved or altered to support last minute changes
• Access limitations based on wired solutions, especially for new areas of interest
• Data fidelity, reliability and power issues due to long, complex cable runs

The Solution:

• SLICE6 AIR miniature data acquisition units
• Standalone, networked or integrate into existing Ethernet-based FTI systems
• Standardized network support (IRIG CH10 or TmNS)
• IEEE 1588 PTPv2 timing supported via Ethernet
• Ultra‐small, embeds on or in test article near sensors, eliminating long cable runs
• Easy and quick installation supports test modifications and prewired test articles
• Universal analog sensor conditioning (Bridge, IEPE, TC, Voltage) – all in one package
• IP67 rated for extreme environments including high shock, vibration, temperature
• 500 g shock hardened for destructive tests and installations aboard expandable stores
• Data streaming and onboard recording to 16 GB flash memory for data redundancy

FLIGHT & ROTOR TESTING

SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE NUMBER OF SLIP RINGS REQUIRED

The Challenge:

• Collecting in-flight physical measurements on aircraft including drones, planes and helicopters
• Measuring structural integrity, strain, vibration, etc.
• Configurable systems to support a variety of applications and channel counts
• Size, mass and power constraints
• Costly and noisy slip rings for rotating applications
• Complicated test set-ups, including long cable runs between sensors and data acquisition
• Weather and temperature extremes

The Solution:

• Miniature, rugged DTS data acquisition systems and sensor
• Standalone recorders with microprocessor, excitation, signal conditioning
• Modular and portable, easily configures from 3 to100s of channels
• Supports a variety of sensors including IEPE, plus built-in sensor options
• Positioning DAS near the sensors eliminates long cable runs, improves data quality & reduces noise
• MIL-STD-810G rated systems available for temperature, altitude, shock & vibration
• IP68 rated systems available, eliminates concerns with condensation due to quick elevation changes
• Store in place reliability, data writes directly to non-volatile flash memory
• Easy system set-up with intuitive software