Choosing software and replacing ATE: lessons learned

When tasked to ensure the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system remains fully operational and supportable through 2020, the Air Force realized that the support capability of its legacy automated test system for the operational ground support electronics subsystem would need to be completely replaced. The legacy test system, while fully operational, was rapidly becoming non-supportable. Unless replaced with new hardware and upgraded test program sets, the needed long-term support could not be provided to the weapon system. To address this issue within the scope of available program funding constraints, the Air Force selected an approach of combining the technical and programmatic expertise of the weapon system prime contractor, the program control responsibilities of the weapon system Program Office, and the technical capability of an Air Force technical organization. The program was divided into two phases: a prototype phase and a production/rehost phase. This paper gives an overview of the program and presents valuable lessons learned during the prototype phase.     

Mission/flight systems integration study: a long-term electronicsplanning project

The objective of the Mission/Flight System Integration Study (M/FSIS) is to identify the requirements and development objectives for electronics systems technologies and conceptual architectures in future weapon system applications (in and around the year 2005), based on analyses of future missions, threats, scenarios, aerospace system concepts, and technology trends. The products are substantiated requirements for future electronics functions, systems, and architecture; technology development objectives and roadmaps; and conceptual electronics architectures and functional definitions. The study outputs will serve to guide laboratory technology development planning and programs; guide weapon system program office long-range electronics planning; illustrate user needs in terms of electronics requirements; and guide air logistics center weapon-system master planning     

Open system concepts for modular avionics

Advanced communications, guidance and navigation systems play key roles in determining superiority of one combat aircraft over another. The use of advanced technology is essential to meeting the mission requirements of present as well as future aircraft. Modular avionics are being used in next generation aircraft, such as the Air Force F-22 fighter and the Army Comanche helicopter, as the means of achieving higher levels of performance, including reduced volume and improved adaptability, maintainability, and expandability. New system acquisitions such as Joint Strike Fighter will attempt to achieve these same performance levels but at dramatically reduced life cycle cost. Retrofit applications will also take on increasing roles in meeting this affordability need as the Department of Defense (DoD) struggles to maintain readiness in the face of the shrinking defense budget. The government is encouraging the use of open standards practices as a means of addressing the affordability issue. The Open Systems Joint Task Force (OS-JTF), formed in September 1994, is chartered to “sponsor and accelerate the adoption of open systems in weapons systems and subsystem electronics to reduce life-cycle costs and facilitate effective weapon system intra- and interoperability”. The purpose of this paper is to relate the concept of open systems to modular avionics. It discusses the key attributes of an open systems approach and identifies key technologies necessary for its success     

导弹武器系统时间同步网的综合性能评估方法

针对导弹武器系统时间同步网（MWSTSN）现有评估方法不全面、不客观等问题,提出了一种基于权系数优化的导弹武器系统时间同步网的综合性能评估方法。首先,基于时间同步网的工作流程与系统结构,综合分析了影响系统性能的各项指标,建立了导弹武器系统时间同步网性能的评估体系与评估模型。通过构建主、客观指标权重的分配系数最优化模型,利用层次分析法和熵值法对上述指标进行组合赋权,获取具有主、客观特性的组合权重。最后,通过案例验证上述评估过程的有效性,结果表明：该评估体系能够有效反映导弹武器系统时间同步网中各分系统及设备的可用性,并具备可测性和可操作性。     

Wearable computers open a new era in support resource management

Our aerospace customers are demanding that we drastically reduce the operating and support costs of our products. In today's aerospace maintenance environment, the vast majority of maintenance technicians are using paper technical publications, with fixed troubleshooting trees, and manual or semi-automated post maintenance documentation. Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) are at this time being deployed with portable maintenance aids, often an electronic notebook-sized data presentation system, some with expert system based troubleshooting aids. Many of the IETM based systems still require post maintenance documentation and, the maintenance control function is at best, updated when each maintenance task is completed and the vehicle departs. Advances in wearable computer technologies allow us to integrate the maintenance technician with a highly automated, tightly managed support system that will significantly reduce support costs and turn-around times while improving the quality of maintenance. A “Portable Maintenance Terminal” is a wearable computer configured to meet a maintenance technician's information and communication needs. The Portable Maintenance Terminal (PMT) will place the maintenance technician in the loop with the support system. Wearable computers are intended for use in locations where easy access to a desktop computer or laptop is not practical, or where operators are required to have their hands on the job rather than being busy with a computer. The wearable PMT can provide a hands-free, heads-up, networked computing environment     

Low-cost technology for multimode radar

A flexible test bed radar architecture is described which includes an integrated RF electronics package that can support multiple radar applications, including surveillance, fire control, target acquisition, and tracking. This type of architecture can significantly reduce the cost, power, size, and weight of electronics on future weapon delivery platforms. The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is developing technology to support multimode radar requirements. These requirements include the detection and location of moving or stationary low radar cross section targets in heavy ground clutter and the classification and/or recognition of these targets. We address these requirements with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products and the integration of several enabling technologies. The test bed radar includes a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) for frequency-diverse waveform generation, a flexible wideband transceiver for bandwidth extension and frequency translation, and an open architecture signal processor with embedded wideband analog-to-digital converters for real-time acquisition and processing. Efficient signal processing algorithms have been developed to demonstrate multimode radar capability. This paper discusses the various subassemblies, algorithm efficiency, and field experiment results     

Surrogate teleoperated vehicle (STV)

The design of the STV is described. The STV system consists of two parts: the remote platform (RP) and the mobility/RSTA Module (MOB/RSTA). The RP consists of the carrier base and the remote control electronics that provide an interface to all systems on the STV and the communication system. It is based on an off-the-shelf Polaris six-wheel-drive, Ackerman-steered all-terrain vehicle that can exceed 58 km/h. The current automatic drive train will be modified using a dual motor hybrid concept that incorporates an electric motor to provide slow speed mobility when an ultraquiet mode is required. All electronics are packed in waterproof enclosures that allow for easy changeout of electronic components for simple and rapid maintenance operations. The modular MOB/RSTA module consists of an elevating mast and a pan and tilt turret with a variety of sensors. The electronics for the control of all turret functions, including sensor interfaces, are totally self-contained within the turret     

Built-in test and diagnostics: two different approaches

The built-in test and embedded diagnostics for two subsystems of the M1A2 main battle tank, the commander's independent thermal viewer and the hull/turret electronics unit, are examined. Each of these systems supports the requirements for elimination of special test equipment at the tank level and the use of standard army test equipment for test and repair at higher echelons of maintenance. The tradeoffs made during system requirements analysis and flow-down, which led to two unique design implementations, are described. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed     

机载激光武器系统的应用研究

机载激光武器系统是一种应用于现代战机的高能武器系统.作为一种新型武器系统,机载激光武器系统倍受世界各军事强国的关注,积极的从事应用研究有重大的意义.本文在介绍机载激光武器系统的基础上,对机载激光武器系统应用的关键技术及需要考虑的问题、战术应用进行了分析和研究.     

Software architecture requirements for DoD automatic test systems

The DoD has achieved success with recent automatic test equipment (ATE) families, as evidenced by the navy's consolidated automated support system (CASS) and the army's integrated family of test equipment (IFTE) programs. However, as these systems age, the increased requirements for technology insertion due to instrument obsolescence and the demands of advanced electronics are becoming evident. Recent advances in test technology promise to yield reduced total ownership costs (TOC) for ATE which can incorporate the new technology. The DoD automatic test system (ATS) executive agent office (EAO) objective is to significantly reduce total ownership cost. Several objectives have been identified including use of synthetic instruments, support for legacy test product sets (TPSs), and more efficient ways of developing TPSs. The NxTest software architecture will meet the objectives by providing an open systems approach to the system software. This will allow for the incorporation of commercial applications in the TPS development and execution environments and support current advances in test technology     

DESC field failure evaluation program-`a cradle to grave approach'

The Defense Electronics Supply Center's (DESC's) field failure evaluation program is described. The primary objective of the program is to take positive corrective action steps to assure that quality electronics parts are used in US Department of Defense (DoD) weapon systems. The process flow of field failures from their inception to final corrective action is discussed. To illustrate this, four case studies are presented in which lab testing and coordination with the supplier has resulted in positive corrective action, improving the quality and reliability of the electronic components in DoD weapon systems     

New approaches to weapon system testing or “back to thefuture”

This paper proposes abandoning the use of multipurpose ATE for “horizontal” support of weapon systems in favor of returning to “vertical” support. An R&D effort is proposed to develop a software “hot mock-up” system for field testing weapon system assemblies     

电子干扰条件下舰空导弹抗击能力分析

在分析电子干扰对舰空导弹武器系统影响的基础上,采用模糊数学方法对其进行了量化评估,在此基础上对舰空导弹武器系统抗击能力模型进行了完善。     

From Autopilot to Strapdown: Electrotechnology in Inertial Guidance and Control

Electrotechnology has been a significant factor in the evolution of guidance and control (G & C) over the last half century. Ship stabilizers that used rotating wheels for brute force control were electrically driven. However, the first pilotless aircraft, developed in World War I, was controlled primarily with pneumatic servos. Inertial guidance and electronic control systems surfaced at Peenemunde around World War II. Advances in fire control servos led to development of the floated gyro and ushered in precision inertial navigators. Digital electronics replaced analog designs, so that the level of G & C sophistication increased dramatically. As digital computers became smaller and more powerful their use proliferated. The manned space program in the 60's saw substantial improvements in electronics reliability and performance. The successful first launch of the Space Shuttle, with all its complexity, is a tribute to electronics progress. It is difficult to predict what G & C advances electrotechnology will bring in the next 50 years.     

Low cost satellite ground control facility design

A design approach common to the areas of satellite operations command and control, tracking, subsystem analysis, system planning and scheduling, orbit determination and maintenance, and data routing and control is discussed. Specific satellite mission applications and operations are isolated from the remainder of the design to allow application to a broad variety of satellite systems. Discussions of specific satellite missions are limited to the context of understanding the general magnitude and scope of what a ground control facility is required to support. By isolating the common satellite operational functions, a low cost generic approach that allows for phased implementation of system changes with minimal impact to on-orbit assets and mission performance is developed. The goals of this approach are to provide the capability for growth, maintainability, and operability of the satellite system. A brief discussion of satellite systems followed by the introduction of the general function of any satellite control facility sets the stage for the overall design approach. The factors that define the design along with the key design features are presented, with a discussion of each product available in each functional area     

Multi-computer VXIbus system set up and use

VXI has matured into a flexible bus architecture with which to develop various types of instrumentation systems. This paper details the multi-computer approach used in the VXI-based system that CACI developed for the Air Force. The system, the Engine Test/Trim Automated System II (ETTAS II) is designed to test: all Air Force jet engines. The paper discusses how to integrate multiple computers in a VXI-based system, including discussions on: setting up the computers; selecting register-based versus message-based computers; setting up and using shared-memory; defining and separating tasks for each computer. The shared memory discussion talks about different ways to structure the shared memory, including setting up a system-level “Current-Value Table” (CVT) for all instruments, as well as how other devices, including another computer can access the shared memory space. The paper shows how Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software products NI-VXI, LabVIEW, and NI-VISA (National Instruments) can be used to satisfy all these requirements. The paper shows how the multi-computer approach can be cost-effective in many cases     

协方差分析描述函数法在终端航空武器投放动态仿真研究中的应用

 以终端航空武器系统空对地武器投入为例,研究和分析了协方差分析函数法在常规武器投放统计性能计算中的应用,建立了空－地武器投放数字仿真的均值方程和协方差方程,引入了弹着点传递矩阵,并与统计试验法比较了弹着点误差的统计特性。