ITC/USA 2008 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Fourth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 27-30, 2008 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / With the growing interest in networked data acquisition there has been a lot of focus on networked data acquisition systems. However, the requirements of a flight test instrumentation system go beyond networked DAU's. For example, a FTI network fabric has particular requirements for switches, time grandmasters, recorders, data servers and network terminals to the ground. This paper discusses these components and how they inter-operate in a single, fully networked system and discusses some FTI oriented requirements for same. Where relevant, we discuss the results of some experiments with network latencies; packet losses etc. and discuss some enhancements that can contribute to improved efficiency for flight test programs.

ITC/USA 2014 Conference Proceedings / The Fiftieth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 20-23, 2014 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, CA / Network loads close to Ethernet wire speed and latency sensitive data in a Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) system, represent challenging requirements for FTI network equipment. Loss of data due to network congestion, overflow on the end nodes, as well as packet latency above a few hundred microseconds, can be critical during a flight test. To avoid these problems, several advanced packet filtering and network optimization functions are required in order to achieve best possible performance and thus avoid loss of data. This paper gives insight into how to properly engineer an Ethernet based FTI network and how to use advanced Ethernet switch techniques such as Quality of Service (QoS) and rate shaping.

ITC/USA 2013 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Ninth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 21-24, 2013 / Bally's Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV / Network switches are a critical component in any networked FTI data acquisition system in order to allow the forwarding of data from the DAU to the target destination devices such as the network recorder, PCM gateways, or ground station. Larger configurations require one or more switch boxes to handle aggregation, routing, filtering and synchronization via the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol. However, for smaller configurations where space and weight restrictions are more stringent, a separate switch box may not be practical This paper discusses how all the essential features of an FTI network, such as flexible forwarding and filtering and IEEE 1588 synchronization, can be maintained without the need for the separate switch box thus making significant savings on weight and size and reducing cost.

Glare is an important, but often overlooked parameter in lighting systems design. This parameter can significantly affect human biorhythm, causing a discomfort or in the worst cases it can dazzle drivers, which can lead to car accidents. Therefore, it´s necessary for lighting designers to consider glare in their designs, specifically threshold increment value. This thesis focuses on glare measurement caused by exterior lighting systems and comparison of usage different types of camera lens for threshold increment measurements with luminance analyser. For a better understanding of the whole issue, there is a part describing how human eye perceives light, which is followed by definition and division of the glare. Afterwards, there is part describing calculation procedure of the threshold increment, which serves as a basis for the practical part of the thesis. Practical part of the thesis is dedicated to experimental measurement of glare from exterior lighting system on Technická street, right behind VUT FEKT T12 building. The measurement is done using luminance analyser and the LumiDISP program, while 3 lenses are used for the measurements. The output of this thesis are values of threshold increment obtained by using 4 different methods (3 lenses) and subsequent comparison of the suitability of the lenses for the glare measurements. To supplement, a simulation of the measured lighting system in the Relux program and a subsequent comparison of the results with the measured values are performed.

As Ethernet based networks have become the dominant choice for Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) network applications, it is also clear that Ethernet based camera integration and applications have yet to become more wide spread for system level design and integration. A significant customer base utilizes either separate video compression systems or even just stand-a-lone gopro cameras for recording purposes in an unsynchronized ways. The use of uncompressed high definition (HD) video from GigE Vision Ethernet cameras for flight test applications is a significant issue in managing the large volumes of data produced by the cameras and forwarding them to any 1000BASE-T(x) switch port without packet loss and significant delays. Of course an easy approach to overcome this issue would be to just increase the network bandwidth from 1000BASE-T(x) to 10GBASE-SR, but most FTI systems just moved to 1000BASE-T(x) in the past years and therefore changing the overall system hardware is cost prohibited. One concern has been the use of compression algorithms to reduce the required video bandwidth, with the negative side effect that the image quality reduces and end-to-end latency increases, which is not acceptable for some applications. Further, it is important that data from cameras is available to a number of different multicast consumers within the FTI network, for example workstations, recorders and telemetry systems. These video data stream also require synchronization so that they can be analyzed in post processing.

This paper discusses the use of diagnostics based on machine learning (ML) within a flight test context. The paper begins by discussing some of the problems associated with instrumenting a test aircraft and how they could be ameliorated using ML-based diagnostics. We then describe a number of types of supervised ML algorithms which can be used in this context. In addition, key practical aspects of applying these algorithms, such as feature engineering and parameter selection, are also discussed. The paper then outlines a real-world application developed by Curtiss-Wright, called Machine Learning for Advanced System Diagnostics (MLASD). This description includes key challenges that were encountered during the development process and how suitable input features were identified. Real-world results are also presented. Finally, we suggest some further applications of ML techniques, in addition to describing other areas of development.

This research focused on three main objectives: (1) quantify coarse aggregate morphological characteristics using an improved FTI (Fourier Transform Interferometry) image analysis system, (2) evaluate the effects of morphological characteristics of coarse aggregates of various mineral compositions on the mechanical performances of stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixtures constituted; (3) investigate the relationship between the uncompacted void content of coarse aggregates and morphological characteristics. To achieve the first research objective, a Fourier Transform Interferometry (FTI) system was adopted to capture three-dimensional high-resolution images of aggregates. Based on these digital images, the FTI system uses the two-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT2) method to rapidly measure aggregate morphological characteristics, including sphericity, flatness ratio, elongation ratio, angularity, and surface texture. The computed shape characteristics of all aggregates were in good agreement with manual measurement results, demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of this image analysis system. For the second objective, a series of simple performance laboratory tests were performed on eight types of SMA mixtures with different morphological characteristics. Test included wheel-track loading, dynamic modulus, flow number, and beam fatigue. The wheel tracking test included asphalt pavement analyzer (APA) and Model mobile load simulator (MMLS). In the APA test, samples included eight types of SMA mixtures that consisted of aggregates of 22 fractions. In the MMLS test, six types of SMA mixture samples that consist of coarse aggregate of 15 fractions were tested. Regression analyses were then conducted between weighted mean morphological characteristics and performance parameters. The fatigue performance parameters include |E*|sin φ, where |E*| is complex modulus obtained from dynamic modulus test, the number of loading cycles to failure, and the seismic modulus difference. The rutting performance parameters include |E*|/sin φ, flow number, flow number slope, rut depth and creep slope. For the third objective, different coarse aggregate fractions from different quarries in Virginia were analyzed using the improved FTI system. Regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between morphological characteristics and uncompacted void content of coarse aggregates at the size ranges of 4.75-9.5mm and 9.5-12.5 mm, respectively. Aggregate morphological characteristics were found to play an important role in the mechanical performance of stone matrix asphalt mixture and the uncompacted air void content of the coarse aggregates. Both the experimental results and simulation results demonstrated that using more of equi-dimensional, less flaky and elongated coarse aggregates with angular and rougher-textured aggregates is favorable to the mechanical performances of SMA mixtures. Recommended values for each morphological characteristic are provided. / Ph. D. / Asphalt concrete pavement is used in roads around the world. Keeping this pavement in working condition requires routine maintenance, which can be costly. Therefore, a key problem in civil engineering is the design of resilient asphalt concrete that requires less maintenance. This dissertation experimentally investigates the relationship between the composition of asphalt concrete and its performance. To determine the relationship, several samples of asphalt concrete were collected. Aggregates from these samples were then scanned, and software was used to determine the properties of these aggregates. These asphalt concrete samples were then experimentally tested to determine their mechanical properties. A relationship was then established between the software-determined properties of the aggregates and the mechanical properties of the asphalt concrete samples.

Disease- and drug-related bone disorders are rapidly increasing in the population. The drugs which are used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic derangements, may have negative or positive effects on bone tissues. In the first study, the possible side-effects of Carbamazepine and epileptic seizures on bone structure and composition were investigated by FTIR and synchrotron-FTIR microspectroscopy, AFM and micro- and nano-hardness analysis. The effects on the blood parameters, bone turnover and vitamin D metabolism were also investigated by ELISA and western blot analysis. The current study provides the first report on differentiation of the effects of both epileptic seizures and AED therapy on bones. Besides Carbamazepine treatment, seizures also caused a decrease in the strength of bone. The biochemical data showed that both the epileptic and drug-treated groups decreased vitamin D levels by increasing the vitamin D catabolism enzyme / 25-hydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase. In the second study, the possible pleiotropic (positive) effects of cholesterol lowering drug / Simvastatin on bones were investigated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The current study provides the first report on dose-dependent effects of simvastatin on protein structure and lipid conformation of bones. ATR-FTIR studies showed that although both high and low dose simvastatin strengthen bones, low dose simvastatin treatment is much more effective in increasing bone strength. Neural network analysis revealed an increased antiparallel and aggregated beta sheet and random coil in the protein secondary structure of high dose group implying a protein denaturation. Moreover, high dose may induce lipid peroxidation which limit the pleiotropic effects of high dose treatment on bones. This study clearly demonstrated that using low dose simvastatin is safer and more effective for bone health than high dose simvastatin treatment.

ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / This paper describes new concepts of test mean and processes to perform flight test for all Airbus aircraft family. The FTI (Flight Test Installation) designed for A320, A340, A380 and A350 programs include acquisition system, recorder, data processing, visualisation, Flight Test Engineer Station and optional functionalities (video acquisition, DGPS, telemetry ...) In the past, these test means were specific for each test aircraft. Due to the large number of Aircraft development in parallel Airbus has designed and standardized new tests means for development and production aircraft. The first goal is to generate significant benefits regarding time and costs savings by simplifying installation and reusing all the test installations components. This paper shows the opportunities and challenges of these new concepts.