Preparations of the real-time data analyst to insure flight test safety

Abstract

The safety of test personnel stationed in the air and on the ground during flight testing of unmanned air vehicles is largely dependent on the real-time data analysts who monitor telemetered instrumentation signals. The test conductor relies on timely and accurate evaluations of anomalous data by hisher data analysts to make a correct fly-away, recover or terminate decision. All too often the real-time data analyst will freeze at the precise moment when hisher skills are most needed to insure mission safety. To alleviate this problem, a data analyst must possess a high level of confidence in hislher understanding of vehicle systems, instrumentation, data processing, telemetry, and the accuracy of h i sher mission safety related decisions. The ability of the analyst to perform these tasks is dependant upon the quality of preparation undertaken prior to the actual flight test. This paper presents a systematic approach to the test preparation process. Included are discussions on: Real-time Chart Recorder Setup and Display; Preparation by the Individual Data Analyst; Organization and Preparation of the Data Analysis Team. Having prepared using an organized preparation process, the real-time data analyst can monitor actual air vehicle flight tests with confidence; if a system failure occurs, helshe will obtain the best possible conclusions from the available data. As a result, the risk to mission safety will be minimized. The real-time flight test of an unmanned air vehicle is arguably one of the most exciting env i ronmen t s encoun te r ed du r ing t he developmental phase of a particular program. Undoubtably, a significant level of effort prior to the test has been directed towards insuring that the tes t p roceeds safely. However comprehensive these safety considerations may be, the flight test of an air vehicle is seldom riskfree. Test personnel located on or near the launch platform, chase aircraft, telemetry relay aircraft, as well as non-test related personnel all pose a safety risk of some degree during the test. Today's sophisticated unmanned air vehicles can travel several hundred miles in .a single flight. Therefore, the inclusion of populated civilian areas to the list of safety concerns cannot be avoided. Directly involved in minimizing the safety risk associated with a test flight is the data analyst, Through histher rapid detection and assessment of a air vehicle system/component failure, the effect of that failure can be minimized. Depending on the nature of the air vehicle problem, the data analyst can provide the several seconds of time necessary to alert the chase aircraft of the problem, divert the air vehicle to a safe recoveryJtermination area, or at the very least minimize the impact foot-print if a catastrophic failure occurs. However, the wide array of skills necessary to perform the task of data analysis presents a unique challenge to the test engineer. Often the expertise most needed by the test engineer in the real-time flight test situation is in areas which helshe has received no previous training. For this reason, it is most beneficial that each test engineer responsible for data analysis undergo some method of formal preparation. The preparation methodology presented in this paper is intended to provide general considerations which can be applied to any realtime test situation. It is only the beginning step in data evaluation, and is directed to supplying the test engineer with a better understanding of histher role as it pertains to flight safety. It is not intended to provide a detailed approach to pure data analysis or air vehicle performance. e Chart Recorder Set-UD and