Southwest Research Institute 2006 Annual Report, Aerospace Electronics and Information Technology

Southwest Research Institute supports a variety of national defense programs, particularly those related to military aircraft. We assist in aircraft maintenance and upgrades and have staff members spread across the country in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and Utah supporting Air Force depot activities.

The Air Force recently introduced a significantly upgraded version of the A-10 Thunderbolt, the A-10C. Working with Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, New York, we helped upgrade critical aircraft and engine monitoring subsystems and support equipment to expand the capabilities of the A-10 and extend its service to 2028 (aircraftsystems.swri.org). The precision engagement initiative — the most extensive modification effort in the history of the aircraft — integrated numerous aircraft enhancements, including digital cockpit displays, a situational awareness datalink and improved weapons interfaces and targeting pods.

We support all levels of the aircraft maintenance and diagnostic processes, including ground-based automatic test equipment and on-board test systems. For the A-10, we developed a lightweight, ruggedized device to download enhanced engine data to assess engine structural integrity (aerospacemaintenance.swri.org). The mobile device will enhance efficiency on the flightline.

SwRI developed a jet engine trending tool to help Air Force personnel visualize engine performance. The tool provides alerts, dashboards, reports and a research environment to help identify problems. Tailored for engine-specific environments, it will eventually provide access to aircraft structural data, as well as data related to the status of weapon systems.

Our engineers are supporting the installation and certification of the first Pacer Comet 4 fully automated jet engine test system at Tinker Air Force Base, to qualify jets for service. We are also providing stand-alone software to calibrate the system and test the F108 jet engine.

SwRI is helping the Air Force implement condition-based maintenance initiatives, such as the Engine Health Management Plus Data Repository Center, which SwRI has supported with engine performance analysis methodologies. Our engineers will provide manuals, analysis and research tools.

Our staff employs a broad range of services to help government and industry clients in logistics support functions, such as helping the Air Force Special Operations Forces reduce costs and better manage the weapon system supply chain. We are developing software tools to monitor inventory in real time, evaluate cost and performance histories, and manage product usage, quality and reliability information.

SwRI invests in promising technologies through an internal research program designed to jumpstart client-funded research. In one effort, we are researching applications of the T56 turboprop engine cycle deck model, such as certifying test cell health and validating sensors. Another effort is focused on developing ballistic models, designing weapon system algorithms and testing real-time software to help assure the accuracy of guided weapons (aerodynamicsystems.swri.org). We developed a real-time simulator that inserts actual aircraft data to "replay" situations for scoring delivery of selected weapons.

For another internal research initiative, we are transferring our expertise in unmanned aerial vehicles to the development of unmanned ground vehicles (ugv.swri.org). SwRI has developed proving grounds to evaluate autonomous vehicles, and we are augmenting the installation with traffic devices and signage, radio communications equipment and obstacles to better evaluate autonomous vehicle technologies.

Copyright© 2007 by Southwest Research Institute. All rights reserved under U.S. Copyright Law and International Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to the Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510, phone (210) 522-3305, fax (210) 522-3547.