6-DOF Isolation and Excitation Facility

Tactical military hardware is tested and evaluated to assess performance and ensure proper operation in its anticipated field environment. A key technique involves testing the hardware placed on a test platform isolated from the laboratory environment and associated dynamic disturbances. In order to accurately assess this performance, it is vital that precise environmental disturbances are emulated during the evaluation testing. Similarly, the hardware must be isolated from unwanted laboratory disturbances. Precise measurements of the performance parameters and characteristics is also a requirement. Presently, these tests and measurements are conducted on a test platform that uses electro-mechanical and/or electro-hydraulic actuators which inherently produce severe cross-coupling dynamics between axes. Thesem in turn, cause inaccurate determination of the actual performance. There is a need to develop and implement new innovative approaches to overcome these present limitations so that accurate performance can be measured and assessed under the influence of disturbances or excitatins that realistically emulate those to be found under actual field conditions. Magnetic levitation will be assessed as a means of providing this precise isolation and excitation. It is proposed to develop the conceptual definition of such a test facility to be implemented at the Dynamic Test Branch, Redstone Technical Test Center.