Optical Ground Vibration Test

This proposal addresses the development of a new ground vibration system which can improve the speed, reliability and accuracy of Ground Vibration Tests (GVTs) of military aircraft ranging in size from micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to fighter jets and larger. The intent of the Phase I research is to develop a conceptual design for a GVT system that uses a combination of the latest hardware technologies, combined with advanced software solutions, to create a tightly integrated state-of-the-art working system within the next 2 years. In addition to developing practical hybrid measurement systems which may include combinations of optical, digital, and wireless sensor technologies, consideration will also be given to automating other aspects of the GVT including shaker setup and reconfiguration and standardization of soft support systems for different classes of applications.