High-Speed Distributed Digital Instrumentation System

Abstract

An distributed architecture for high-speed digital and analog instrumentation is discussed. This architecture supports the collection, formatting, recording of both conventional telemetry (analog & PCM) and high-speed digital data. Remotely located instrumentation data interface units provide data acquision close to the data sources. The remotely located units are connected via high-bandwidth fiber optic links to a central formatting and recording unit. Data is recorded on digital rotary head recorders. Graphic workstations provide visual data displays for test control and monitoring. This system was developed to handle the high-speed data acquision requirements of advanced avionics sensor and seeker systems, however, it provides the basis for many other applications.