Miniature Optically Synchronized Telemetry System (MOSTS)

Techshot proposes an innovative solution to provide low cost time synchronized telemetry, flow diagnostics, and data collection to support small-scale wind tunnel free drop testing. A key feature is a synchronization technique for multiple data sources including high speed cameras to support proper correlation of unsteady aerodynamic phenomena. The proposed innovation uses software, electronics, and mechanics combined in a novel way by Techshot’s multi-disciplined engineering team to provide a low cost solution suitable for an expendable free drop model. Techshot technology from current weapons testing programs provides a miniature data acquisition design that can fit in small scale free drop models. High speed data collection and spooling across a high data rate telemetry channel enables full six degrees of freedom inertial data as well as temperature and pressure information to be collected before the free drop model is destroyed at the end of the tunnel. Flow diagnostics are supported through the correlated video of thin film coatings or pressure sensitive paint viewed at multiple angles. These features combined to enable a new level of testing and analysis to support characterizing separating payloads from a variety of parent vehicles in the Mach 2 to 5 ranges. BENEFIT: Techshot’s innovative solution is anticipated to provide an inexpensive technique to enable telemetry, control, and data acquisition during small-scale wind tunnel free drop testing. Further, the innovative data synchronization technique will provide a new level of synchronization between multiple data systems. Miniature electronics provide physical data acquisition from within the model at a level never before possible. The synchronization technique allows multiple cameras to be synchronized with each other as well as with the telemetry data. This new capability will allow the use of thin film or pressure sensitive paint to be used effectively in the study of unsteady aerodynamic phenomena. In addition, the synchronization capability allows multi-dimensional flowfield diagnostic views to be correlated in new ways. The small size allows the use of economical small-scale wind tunnels so that more testing can be accomplished. The new level of testing is anticipated to provide a new level of safety validation to support future weapon system design.