Naval Model Testing Using Fiber Optics and Parallel Processing

Abstract

The David Taylor Research Center has a large complex of model basins and carriages to satisfy a wide variety of Hydrodynamic requirements. Technical support is furnished to US government design agencies, the maritime administration, and private organizations. Support involves both experimental and analytical programs related to every type of ship and craft. The stability, control, and maneuvering characteristics of submarines can be determined by performing free running radio control experiments. These experiments and analytical methods used are to investigate submarine motion. A requirement arose to operate the radio controlled model (RCM) in a towing tank housed in a building 3200 feet long. This tank is located 1500 feet from the building that houses the data collection and control system mainframe computer. A unique communications, command, and control system has been developed to run experiments using the RCM.