SYSTEM DESIGN OF A HIGH DATA RATE WIDE BAND FM PCM INSTRUMENTATION AND TELEMETRY SYSTEM FOR INTERCEPTOR TEST FLIGHTS

Abstract

Given the small size of hit-to-kill interceptor test vehicles currently under development, volumetric limitations mandate using the experimental vehicle's telemetry system during vehicle ground level acceptance and environmental testing to gather performance data, in addition to the primary function of successfully gathering and transmitting data during the test flight. In small, lightweight test interceptors, volume and mass become major telemetry system design considerations. In this paper we describe a system engineering approach to determine the key requirements and calculate some of the critical design parameters necessary for the successful design and development of a high data rate wide band FM Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) airborne telemetry system.