Mass Body Data Collection System
Summary
Using inexpensive COTS hardware and some creative programming, mass body studies can be automated and designed to accompany the hardware in the test environment. The system takes a minimal about of intervention from the test operator. A typical test requires only the DC input power and a simple Record On/Off switch.
Variations in temperature, humidity, G forces are all possible with a standard COTS mini computer equipped with a BiTMICRO flash solid-state drive. The custom written software along with the Windows 2000 operating system are robust enough to operate through several power interruptions during testing. Over months of testing on several projects, this system always returned a full measure of data after each test.
Biography
John Cooper (john.cooper@ngc.com) is a principal engineer who originally came to work for Westinghouse/Northrop Grumman in 1982 from the Bendix Corporation. He has a masters of science degree in computer engineering from Loyola College in Baltimore. Presently he works in systems integration and test developing data acquisition and control software. In the past, Mr. Cooper, has worked in technical training where he developed training courses and automated training simulations for ground based radars.
Buddy Sinor (buddy.sinor@ngc.com) is a managing engineer who has been working for Westinghouse/Northrop Grumman since 1981. He has a masters of science degree in computer engineering from Loyola College in Baltimore. He presently manages flight test programs for airborne radar systems.