ERROR DETECTION AND CORRECTION -- AN EMPIRICAL METHOD FOR EVALUATING TECHNIQUES

Abstract

This paper describes a method for evaluating error correction techniques for applicability to the flight testing of aircraft. No statistical or math assumptions about the channel or sources of error are used. An empirical method is shown which allows direct “with and without” comparative evaluation of correction techniques. A method was developed to extract error sequences from actual test data independent of the source of the dropouts. Hardware was built to allow a stored error sequence to be repetitively applied to test data. Results are shown for error sequences extracted from a variety of actual test data. The effectiveness of Reed-Solomon (R-S) encoding and interleaving is shown. Test bed hardware configuration is described. Criteria are suggested for worthwhile correction techniques and suggestions are made for future investigation.