Robust Catapult Launch Control Electronics

Aircraft carrier control systems rely upon many sensors and signal processors to ensure safe and efficient aircraft launch and recovery. As one example subsystem, Digital End Speed Indicators (DESI) use reluctance sensors mounted within the catapult trough to determine aircraft end-speed during launch. The DESI was developed in the 1980s, and recent reliability problems have highlighted the need for modernization and robustness improvements. Creare proposes to develop an Aircraft End Speed Indicator (AESI) system that utilizes modern components and a design hardened against temperature and vibration extremes to achieve these goals. During Phase I, we will develop a conceptual design and demonstrate key aspects with targeted laboratory evaluations. Phase I testing will help identify issues with possible approaches and synthesize solutions to address these issues. While Phase I is intended to select the optimal approach, Phase II will include detailed development of a prototype that can be tested either on a relevant land-based test bed or an aircraft carrier.