High Speed Store Separation Data Acquisition Techniques

The proposed effort will conduct the development of the HSSS-DAT (High Speed Store Separation Data Acquisition Technique) System for simultaneously measuring store trajectories and instantaneous flow state during store dispense at high-speeds from weapons bays. CRAFT Tech & NCPA will complete the development and deployment of two different techniques for this purpose at the NCPA Tri-Sonic Wind Tunnel (TSWT). The first technique is a photogrammetric method wherein sequences of store drop images, obtained from a system of high-speed cameras, will be used to compute store position, velocities and accelerations. The second method is an onboard store micro-telemetry system, consisting of a pair of 3-axis linear accelerometers to obtain the 6-DOF movement of the store model that will be transmitted back to a receiver. The store release is synchronized with a series surface pressure transducers that enable the determination of the flow state at the time of release and during the entire drop event. The Phase II effort will provide validation and demonstrations of the system that can also be combined to make quantitative measurement during wind tunnel drop testing over a range of conditions and store configurations, as well as maturing the technology for transition to the Air Force. BENEFIT: The successful development of the HSSS-DAT System will result in a major advancement to the store certification process for internal weapons carriage systems. The procedures and methods developed here will significantly streamline and enhance the accuracy of the procedures followed currently in the store certification process. The design of HSSS-DAT System has been designed to seamlessly fit into the store certification process. The strategy that CRAFT Tech will pursue involves strategic partnering and licensing with airframe and munitions prime contractors and/or sub-contractors. CRAFT Tech will provide the tools and models along with the knowledge, expertise and understanding necessary to develop platform-specific products that can be integrated into platform specific procedures.