High Speed Store Separation Data Acquisition Techniques

The development of diagnostic techniques to simultaneously measure store trajectories and instantaneous flow state during store dispense at high speeds (Mach 2.0-5.0) from weapons bays is proposed. In Phase I of the proposed effort we will evaluate two different techniques for this purpose. 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 telemetry system consisting of a pair of 3-axis linear accelerometers to obtain the 6-DOF movement of the store model, which will be transmitted back to a stationary receiver mounted in the tunnel roof. In both these methods, the store release will be synchronized with a series of surface pressure sensors on the weapons bay surface. This will allow a determination of the flow state at the time of release and during the entire drop event. The Phase II effort will carry out demonstrations of the systems to make quantitative measurement during wind tunnel drop testing over a wide range of Mach numbers and mature the technology for transition to the Air Force. BENEFIT: The successful development of the proposed measurement techniques during Phase II will result in a major improvement to the store certification process for internal weapons carriage systems. The procedures and methods developed here will significantly increase the reliability and safety of the procedures followed currently in the store certification process. The availability of this technique will also enable the further development of the store trajectory envelope prediction software CRAFT MCSD. The design of this SBIR product is such that it will seamlessly fit into the Seek Eagle certification process, with minimal changes to the current practices and method, while providing improved capability to the 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. Other aircraft will be investigated for potential benefit, such as the B-1B, B-2, B-52, J-UCAS, F-117A, Long Range Strike Aircraft LRSA, etc.