Flight Test - Datalink Applications, Flight Test Instrumentation, Manching 21.03.2013
Content Introduction Flight Test Instrumentation Telemetry Data payload for Flight Testing Overview about test aircraft in Manching Current Telemetry Applications Requirements System Design (onboard onground) Future Telemetry Applications downlink uplink Page 2
Introduction Flight Test Instrumentation Telemetry Primary data payload provided by distributed data acquisition system different kind of data sources: A/C bus data (e.g. 1553 Milbus, EFABUS, FCS, ARINC429, RS422, etc.) A/C system tappings (e.g. Power Supply Voltages, Wheel Speed transducer o/p, etc.) FTI Sensors (e.g. pressure, DMS, temperatures, accelerometers, vibrations, positions, etc.) GNSS Data Audio (e.g. crew speech, system warnings, missle tones) FTI internal housekeeping parameters continuous serialized datastream: PCM as physical layer, up to 1,3Mbit/s Page 3
Introduction Flight Test Instrumentation Telemetry Secondary data payload video provided by FTI cameras and A/C System (e.g. Display o/p) 2-6 videos for telemetry, in SD resolution but reduced framerate physical layer analog video: PAL composite, multiplexed, 6MHz BW digital video: PCM with H.264 TS packets incl. audio, 4Mbit/s (4 videos) Page 4
Introduction Flight Test Instrumentation Telemetry Tornado instrumented aircraft GS062, GS177, GS217 each 2x 1,3Mbit/s data 1x 6MHz video Eurofighter/Typhoon instrumented aircraft IPA3, IPA7, IPA8 each 2x 1,3Mbit/s data 2x 4Mbit/s video Page 5
Introduction Flight Test Instrumentation Telemetry UAV instrumented aircraft Barracuda 2x 1,3Mbit/s data 2x 6MHz video Page 6
Current Telemetry Applications Main User Requirements flexible selection of data set to be transmitted link stability / data availability delay from measurement till visualisation coverage of main test areas in southern part of Germany simultaneous operation of test aircraft possibility to relay data compatibility to other test ranges Main Non-User Requirements spectrum allocation aircraft integration costs special demands (e.g. encryption) Page 7
Current Telemetry Applications Kartendaten 2013 GeoBasis-DE/BKG ( 2009), Google Page 8
Current Telemetry Applications Kartendaten 2013 GeoBasis-DE/BKG ( 2009), Google Page 9
Current Telemetry Applications Onboard System Design separate telemetry links for data and video frequency diversity for both links true FM modulation 40dBm RF output each (automatic 3dB reduction as heat protection) ~50MHz BW spectrum allocations within S-Band 2290-2500MHz center frequency tunable on aircraft Page 10
Current Telemetry Applications Onground System Design one main primary receiving directional antenna, 26dBi gain, alpha/beta tracker several secondary receiving antennas (directional / omnidirectional) four receivers / data processing frontends (decryption / PCM decom / video) data distribution via Gigabit Ethernet network into 3 Quicklook rooms backup data recording / postflight data replay possibility to connect with WTD61 ground station equipment mobile ground station for remote campaigns data connection via ISDN channel grouping (24+2 ch.) Page 11
Current Telemetry Applications Kartendaten 2013 GeoBasis-DE/BKG ( 2009), Google AoV Rx Antenna 1500m 3000m 5000m Page 12
Future Telemetry Applications - Overview Downlink move from S-Band to C-Band (5091-5250 MHz) digital modulation to reduce spectrum allocation Ethernet over air usage of aircraft system links to transport flight test instrumentation data Uplink control FTI system within UAV testing (e.g. Flutter excitation) FTI datalinks between several aircraft segments (air, ground, rig segments) special demands for uplinks to support technology projects (e.g. DODfast) Page 13
Future Telemetry Applications - Downlink Move from S-Band to C-Band (5091-5250 MHz) in Germany no fix date for change change expected not before 2017 change in other european countries imminent (e.g. France -> Airbus, Eurocopter) preparation work at Cassidian ongoing (e.g. Motor Glider as C-Band test bed) Page 14
Future Telemetry Applications - Downlink Digital Modulation in case of mandatory bandwidth reduction SOQPSK favourite in US test ranges part of IRIG-106 specification (along with FM) suitable products available on market COFDM with QAM seen as a candidate in the past (e.g. Airbus France telemetry) several tests in Manching performed performance multipath time delay available products (size and costs) Page 15
Future Telemetry Applications - Downlink COFDM ground test link stable link unstable link loss Page 16
Future Telemetry Applications - Downlink Ethernet over air driven by the technology change in onboard data acquisition world LAN on A/C and on ground full duplex but isolated by router/switch development of a test system initiiated at a supplier RF link unidirectional and relatively slow (2-5 Mbit/s) UDP traffic only, no address learning, unidirectional adressing: multicast MAC address all packets directed to the Ethernet-over-Air system will be queued for transmission Line speed fully independent of the Ethernet MII (Media Independent Interface) clock speed Mass Storage Data Recorder UAV LAN Ground Station LAN UHF-Ethernet Radio - TX UDP-Frames UFH-Ethernet Radio - RX Controller Router Router Data Analyzer Page 17
Future Telemetry Applications - Downlink FTI Data as payload on aircraft system datalinks very cost effective approach suitable for low budget projects interface FTI <-> aircraft system downlink: Ethernet port filtering, addressing, adapted to aircraft system input e.g. to block additional Ethernet service frames, like PTP to predict and limit the FTI payload bandwidth Example: ATLANTE UAV, Cassidian Spain, first flight 28th. Feb. 2013 Page 18
Future Telemetry Applications - Uplink Control FTI system within UAV testing stearing of flutter exciter system high safety requirements redundancy high reliability saftety abort criterias (manual / automatic) current design dual redundant UHF data uplinks (max. 100kbit/s) link budget design 200km transmission of high level commands only with RS422/RS232 interface best source selection onboard via voter algorithm alternative abort via normal aircraft uplink possible FTI datalinks between several aircraft segments we assume increasing number of segments belonging to an aircraft under test at least air segment and ground segment additional segments like rig or second UAV as sensor/shooter Page 19
Future Telemetry Applications - Uplink DODFast project support delivery of an UHF uplink system to control DODFast payload DODFast hardware integrated into ADT-Pod carried by TORNADO aircraft 9.6kbaud RS232 interface for DODFast input (on ground) and output (on aircraft) a second output (on aircraft) for monitoring and retransmitting to ground Ground ADT-Pod / Tornado Status DODFast ground segment RS232 9,6 kbaud Encoder Ground PCM 100 kbit/s Bitsync DECOM Data // Up-Link Interface RS232 9,6 kbaud Down-Link Interface Uplink TX Uplink RX DODFast air segment RS232 38,4 kbaud Page 20
Questions? Thank you for your attention! Flight Test Instrumentation - Dept. COETO2 Rechliner Straße, 85077 Manching, GERMANY Tel: ++49 (0)8459 81-65091 e-mail: Heiko.Koertzel@cassidian.com The reproduction, distribution and utilization of this document as well as the communication of its contents to others without express authorization is prohibited. Offenders will be held liable for the payment of damages. All rights reserved in the event of the grant of a patent, utility model or design. Page 21