Evolution of the Douglas Flight-Test Data System

Abstract

The process of developing new techniques and systems for the purpose of flight-test data acquisition, communication, and processing is, in fact, an evolutionary one. It is filled with potential mutations formed when an orderly or direct path is not taken in any of supporting disciplines or when the capabilities of one link greatly exceed those of another. The rigid design philosophy that made the Douglas system so successful in support of numerous test programs has had both a negative and positive effect of limiting, or at least slowing, the future growth in flexibility. Upgrading the system with new hardware and software must be accomplished in a manner that does not degrade the existing performance and throughput capabilities while making room for the new species to evolve. Problems have been minimized by placing the development of the acquisition and processing systems under common management and, in turn, having this group accountable to the project users of the system. Constant feedback between system developers and users has ensured a degree of adaptability to the hostile environment of test program costs and schedules.