Systems Technology

About Systems Technology

Systems Technology is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Control Surface Buffet Load Measurement. The abstract given for this project is as follows: High performance aircraft experience repeated loads that can vary greatly both in frequency and amplitude depending on such factors as flight condition, maneuvering, and aeroelastic characteristics. Loads are monitored throughout the lifetime of military aircraft and used to estimate remaining structural life. Current airframe sensors are unsuitable for measuring unsteady aerodynamic buffet loads, which can be of significant amplitude and occur at frequencies that excite the aeroelastic dynamics, dramatically decreasing fatigue life. Systems Technology, Inc. and Moog, Inc. propose the Actuator Load Computing System (ALCS), an elegant and logistically attractive solution to this problem that employs onboard flight control actuators as load sensors capable of measuring both high frequency and quasi-steady loads. Since actuators directly measure the forces exerted on a control surface, these loads can be used as a robust reference gauge for what is occurring at the wing or tail surface as a whole. ALCS will leverage a novel frequency response identification technique, Narrowband Signature (NBS), which has proven to be successful with very short duration inputs. Since actuators are employed with all of the control surfaces, ALCS immediately extends itself for use with wings, vertical tails, and horizontal tails without the need for additional hardware. Systems Technology is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: A Flight Centered Approach to Assess Dynamic Flight Simulation and Simulator Force Cueing Fidelity. The abstract given for this project is as follows: With an aging aircraft fleet and an ongoing period of combat, the USAF must look more to ground based simulation to supplement flight training. Objective measures are needed, however, to insure that a training environment with limitations in force cueing adequately transfers back to flight. Systems Technology, Inc. proposes to leverage the significant past research with a flight-centered approach to produce effective qualitative and quantitative measures of simulator force cueing fidelity as it relates to tactical aircraft flight training. To demonstrate feasibility of the proposed approach, a preliminary test version of the Real-Flight software will be created and assessed via a limited piloted simulation evaluation. A set of candidate quantitative metrics derived from available flight test data will be incorporated into the initial version of the software. Pilot control stick inceptors of varying fidelity will be used as exemplar force cueing devices. If practical, a motion-based simulator will also be introduced into the demonstration plan. A successful demonstration of Real-Flight will expose differences between the force cueing devices and identify the mechanization that best represents the flight training experience. This work will set the stage for the comparative flight test/simulator evaluation to be conducted in Phase II. BENEFIT:This proposed program will lead to a Real-Flight software tool box that will provide a means to assess simulator force cueing fidelity as it relates to tactical flight training. STI expects that Real-Flight and related derivatives will find application throughout the DoD as a means to assess the effectiveness of dynamic flight simulation and force cueing in fixed-wing, rotorcraft, and ground vehicle training simulators. The assessment methods and metrics may also be used in the training simulator procurement process to ensure maximum return on investment in terms of training effectiveness versus procurement cost. Systems Technology is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Vehicle Dynamics and Motion Drive for Realtime Simulators. The abstract given for this project is as follows: Advances in simulator technology and the proliferation of low cost computers have allowed researchers to move the test track/range indoors. To insure proper transfer of experience, the many simulator components must work in harmony. This proposal addresses the motion cueing for hexapod-based systems for driving simulations. Hexapods have limited motion capability for representing lateral accelerations that are represented in steady state by tilt cues. If done improperly the resulting cues will negatively impact the simulation experience and may also result in simulator sickness, regardless of the fidelity of the other simulator components. For the simulation of ground vehicles, the Army has identified a need for motion cueing algorithms that will improve perceived lateral handling of the vehicle. Two approaches are proposed: extensions to the OverTilt algorithm currently used at TARDEC; and the RideCue algorithm that provides extremely compelling specific force cueing without the need for washouts. To demonstrate feasibility in Phase I, these algorithms will be advanced, analyzed, and compared with the current TARDEC algorithm. The analysis will involve simulation of advanced Army vehicles performing critical lateral maneuvering. In Phase II, the techniques will be evaluated via a driver-in-the-loop simulation employing a 6DOF hexapod platform. Systems Technology is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: The Free Fall Analysis and Simulation Tool (FAST). The abstract given for this project is as follows: The Free Fall Analysis and Simulation Tool (FAST) is designed to bring the power of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to the analysis of the aerodynamics and dynamics of parachutists in freefall. The primary application will be in the design of new free fall equipment and techniques. A key objective of the FAST development will be to provide a highly specialized and very efficient tool that is relatively easy to use by analysts with limited background in aerodynamics and dynamics. FAST will consist of three primary modules: the Aerodynamics Module which contains the CFD element, a Dynamics and Control Module and a Digital Manikin Module, which simplifies the generation of parameter values for the other two modules. The CFD component will implement the Immersed Boundary Method which will greatly simplify grid generation for the end user and ultimately provide a unique capability for dealing with complex body motions. The Digital Manikin will allow the FAST user to simply specify a parachutist's height, weight and equipment suite and have the surface geometry for CFD grid generation and the mass properties for dynamic analysis automatically generated. Arms and legs will be positioned within bio-kinematic constraints from a graphical display of the manikin. Systems Technology is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Fused Reality(tm) Maintenance System. The abstract given for this project is as follows: The solicitation for this topic stresses the need for alternative approaches to conducting equipment maintenance. A PC-based technology called Fused Reality(tm) created by Systems Technology Inc. (STI) currently employs live video capture, real-time video editing, and virtual environment simulation to enable the fusing of physical images into a virtual scene, which can then be moved within that scene. Fused Reality(tm) uses chromakey to identify areas of interest in the physical scene. One of the key innovations of the proposed Fused Reality Maintenance System (FRMS) is modifying Fused Reality(tm) to use machine vision for identifying real objects so that they can be fused into and moved within the virtual environment. Other novel innovations include the integration of novel 3D interfaces (such as image-based head tracking) with a 3D modeling software tool such as Solidworks, and using Solidworks to generate the virtual scene layer for use with Fused Reality(tm). In order to provide an integrated solution for the maintainer's challenges, the system will employ state-of-art technologies including: machine vision recognition, voice recognition, neural networks, and knowledge-based expert systems. Novel design in human-machine interface design will balance cognitive workload with task execution. Key issues pertaining to diagnostics, component replacement, and logistics are addressed.