- NASA Home
- > Offices
- > IPP
- > Centers
- > DFRC
- > Technology
Test and Measurement Technologies
Engineers at Dryden Flight Research Center continually develop novel approaches for the monitoring of complex systems. Although many of these technologies are originally developed for aerospace applications, they often have significant applications outside of NASA, including structural health monitoring, hazardous material detection, and medical device development.
Technology Portfolios
-
Discover the Power of Fiber Optic Sensing
Dryden's portfolio of fiber optic sensing technologies offers unparalleled options for high-resolution sensing.
Featured Technologies
-
Real-Time 3D Shape Rendering
Researchers at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed an innovative method for rendering the bending shape of an optical fiber in real time.
-
Streamlined Liquid Level Sensing Using Fiber Optics
Innovators at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed a highly accurate method for measuring liquid levels using optical fibers. Unlike liquid level gauges currently on the market that rely on discrete measurements to give broad approximations of liquid levels, Dryden’s innovative fiber optic method provides precise and accurate measurements.
-
Optimization Tool Integrates Software to Automate Design Process
An optimization tool developed at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center is the framework for a multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization (MDAO) solution that automates the design and analysis process for a wide variety of engineering tasks.
-
Battery Monitoring System Logs, Processes, and Transmits Sensor Data Wirelessly
Engineers at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed a battery data acquisition and logging system that processes and reports analog sensor data in real-time for wireless transmittal.
-
Software Predicts Operational Flight Life of Critical Structural Components
Innovators at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed a software program that predicts the operational flight life of critical aerostructural components. The Half-Cycle Crack Growth Computer Program offers a reliable method for calculating theoretical fatigue crack growths that could lead to catastrophic structural component failures.
-
Safe, Low-Cost Ground Vibration Testing Without Critical Lifts
This innovative technology developed for ground vibration testing enables an aircraft to float in mid-air without the need for a critical lift, significantly reducing testing risk, time, and costs.
-
ChemSecure System to Monitor Sensitive and Hazardous Materials
ChemSecure is an innovative software program for monitoring shipments of hazardous or other sensitive materials. ChemSecure ensures that hazardous materials are being handled safely and securely, all while lowering supply chain costs.
Other Available Technologies
-
Sensing Magnetic Fields with an Innovative Optical Waveguide Fiber Bragg Grating
Innovators at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed an optical waveguide fiber Bragg grating (FBG) that is sensitive to an external magnetic field. The technology allows direct coupling of the external field to the electromagnetic (EM) wave propagating in the fiber, bypassing the need to first measure strain.
-
Increasing Engineering Efficiency with STARS (STructural Analysis RoutineS)
Innovators at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed a flight control system that allows an aircraft to maintain an attitude and heading within 5 meters of a desired position.
-
Flight Test System for Accurately Predicting Flutter
Innovators at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed an algorithm that adapts to strain distributions as they change. The technology partitions a continuous fiber Bragg grating into variable sizes—fine or coarse.
-
Multiplexing Data Acquisition Offers Greater Flexibility in Measurement
Innovators at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed an innovative data acquisition method that enhances strain measuring in a wide range of applications.
-
Lightweight Fiber Optics for Real-Time Strain Monitoring
Researchers at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have patented a lightweight, fiber optics interrogation algorithm that can be used for real-time wing shape sensing, temperature, and strain measurements.
-
100-Hz Refresh Rate for Fiber Bragg Grating Interrogation System
Researchers at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have developed an ultra-efficient method for reducing the refresh rate of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor interrogation.
-
Precise, Lightweight Cable Tensiometer for Aircraft
This precise, lightweight device can be used on aircraft for real-time, in-flight cable tension measurements. The precise measurements and instant feedback provided by this cable tensiometer enable the aircraft to make very sensitive adjustments safely and effectively.
-
Novel Clamp Measures Applied Force
This new clamp simplifies the measurement of forces applied during clamping and is particularly useful for applications where it is important to measure specific clamping pressure, such as bonding sensors to substrates, during adhesive bonding, or clamping sensitive or delicate parts.
-
Probe With No Moving Parts Measures Flow Angle
This force-based flow-angle probe for measuring local flow direction is small with no moving parts. The probe computes flow angle from forces measured by strain gauges mounted to the upper and lower surfaces of the probe. A correlation is then used to convert force-measurement data to the local flow angle.
-
Acquiring Flight Data Using an Optimized Multiple Frequency Waveform
This method and apparatus for acquiring in situ flight data works quickly and efficiently and is essential for flight testing situations where an aircraft is flown on the envelope of its operable capability.
-
Stable Algorithm Estimates Airdata from Flush Surface Pressure Measurements
This new system estimates airdata (airspeed, Mach number, angles of attack and sideslip) from nonintrusive surface pressure measurements. The innovation takes a flow model equation and transforms it into an aerodynamic model equation that mathematically describes the airflow.
-
Calculating Vehicle Attitude with Kinematics Equations Integrator Device
This new kinematics equations integrator device and method improves accuracy when determining the attitude of a flight vehicle.
-
An Alumina Encapsulated Strain Gauge for High Temperature Applications
This alumina encapsulated strain gauge, not mechanically attached to the substrate, is used to temperature-compensate an active high-temperature gauge in half-bridge configurations.