Remote Control of an Impact Demonstration Vehicle

Abstract

The Full Scale Controlled Impact Demonstration (CID) program is a joint NASA/FAA effort to test improvements in aircraft crashworthiness. Specifically, a transport aircraft was modified to be remotely piloted by telemetry control and flown into a “survivable” crash. On board was a fuel cargo of anti-misting kerosene (AMK) to inhibit post crash fires. Also, various measurements were made to examine crash structural response, and improvements in new seat and restraint design using instrumented anthropomorphic dummies. Mechanization of the remote uplink telemetry command system and the downlink data systems is described.