Terms like sensor webs, emNets, and telematics all refer to the marriage of sensors and instruments with network-distributed computing resources. Command, control, communications, and general information management of networks of sensing systems is an immature but rapidly growing field. There is much work to be done to evolve and integrate and mature sustainable sensor web capabilities for our aerospace applications.
The Global Test Range has developed and actively uses several tools of broad value to the airborne sensor web field. We also collaborate with customers and like-minded system developers to adopt and/or adapt tools and technologies deemed to be of sufficient maturity and effectiveness for our needs.
Below is a partial list of the technology and innovations used in the Global Range:
Research Environment for Vehicle Embedded Analysis on Linux (REVEAL)
Evolving from an internal study of the technology readiness of Linux and Java for network-centric vehicular data systems, REVEAL is a flexible on-board system for facilitating integration of instrument payloads with vehicle systems and communication links. REVEAL systems currently serve as onboard data acquisition, processing, and recording systems while also serving as a managed gateway for communication with terrestrial systems. Several classes of REVEAL Physical packages have emerged so far (all of them use the same Linux-based software):
Altair Class: Award-winning PC/104 design that targets high altitude long endurance unpiloted vehicles. This class of full-featured instrument is roughly the size of a loaf of bread and weights 10-20 lbs. + read more
Perlan Class: This design - sometimes referred to as "REVEAL-Lite" targets small aircraft that demand minimum volume, weight, and power consumption. This is also a PC/104 configuration.
Laboratory Class: Named for NASA's flagship Airborne Laboratoy NASA N817A (a DC-8-72), this REVEAL system is the first design based on EPIC-format single-board computers. It is designed to address the needs of increasing productivity and lowing integration challenges for a wide array of rack-mounted instruments on manned aircraft.
