ETTC'2003 - SEE

BACK
Telemetry Recording Workstation:
A Fundamental Flight Test Instrument
David N. Kortick
Product Development Manager
Astro-Med, Inc.
Test & Measurement Systems
West Warwick, RI USA
Stéphane Bonnet
Specific Instrumentation
Image processing engineering
Integration Test Centre
AIRBUS France
Keywords
recorder, videographic display, data recording, strip-chart, airborne
Abstract
The telemetry recording workstation is a fundamental instrument for both groundbased
and airborne flight testing applications. These systems have evolved from
simple pen-writing instruments to comprehensive display workstations over
several decades. These systems offer high resolution videographic displays with
real-time point-of-writing representation, high-quality hard copy output
customizable user interfaces and the ability to efficiently store data digitally.
Networking capabilities provide an effective mechanism for command and control
as well as the transfer of digital data to the recording system. With special
ruggedization, external control lines and a simplified user interface, these
recording workstations can be integrated for aircraft flight testing.
Introduction
The strip chart telemetry recorder has been an important part of flight test
instrumentation systems for many decades. Its unique ability to graphically
represent real-time data has continued to be useful for a variety of applications.
These recorders are used in both airborne flight testing and ground telemetry
facilities and like most technologies, has constantly evolved to fulfill the needs of
its users.
Telemetry recorders originally were galvanometer-based pen-writing instruments
that used an ink or heated stylus to draw a waveform on moving paper. Some of
these pen recorders continue to serve the flight test community usefully due to
the fact that the real-time point-of-writing is constantly visible. Subsequent
generations of telemetry recorders utilized a light-beam to mark a photo-sensitive