Automated Fragment Recovery and Quick Look Reporting for Warhead Arena Testing

A new automated methodology for collecting, analyzing, and reporting fragment data from warhead arena tests is proposed. While the Air Force has digitally recorded average fragment velocity data using electronic velocity screens since 1971, fragment mass distributions are still determined using a time consuming and labor intensive process of manually locating, cleaning, and weighing fragments. In addition, there is no integrated, on-site software capability for reducing test data and quickly generating test reports. The proposed approach combines a new Automated Fragment Recovery System (AFRS) and a new Quick Look Reporting Environment (QLRE) with the existing Air Force Vulnerability And Lethality Test System (VALTS) to produce a complete, automated arena testing capability. AFRS will record fragment impact locations using proximity sensors and will record fragment masses using an electronic weighing system. The QLRE is an integrated suite of Windows-based software tools for managing, analyzing, and rapidly reporting the large quantities of data typically produced in arena tests. The Phase I effort will produce a 1/4-scale prototype of the AFRS data collection system and prototype components of the QLRE. The goal is to determine the feasibility of developing and testing a full scale VALTS/AFRS/QLRE system in Phase II.