High-precision and miniaturised measurement technology is a cornerstone of experimental research and the invisible backbone of many technical systems. Measurement technology provides crucial data for the further development and optimisation of these systems and thus enables new innovations that will shape the aviation of the future.
Measurement technology for aircraft
In this context, the Institute of Flight Systems creates and supports measurement systems for the the ACT/FHS research helicopter and the ATRA and ISTAR research aircraft which are all stationed at the DLR site in Braunschweig. For this purpose, comprehensive data streams are recorded synchronously both by analogue measurement technology and by the avionics buses available in the respective aircraft. The measurement systems also provide interfaces for experiment-specific extensions. In the research helicopter, the measurement data is available to a control system. The development of miniaturised measurement technology for small aircraft, e.g. UAVs and parachute load systems for precise flight data acquisition with minimal space and weight requirements is another research topic at the Institute. Modular, flexibly customisable and platform-independent sensor-computer systems allow parameters such as position, attitude, acceleration, air pressure, temperature and more to be captured and recorded in real time. In combination with a wireless and wired sensor including mobile radio links, comprehensive data acquisition and effective data transmission can be achieved during test flights.
Measurement technology for WiValdi
The Institute of Flight Systems played a key role in setting up the Krummendeich Wind Energy Research Farm WiValdi ("Wind Validation"). With its high-grade instrumentation, the installation of two modern wind turbines with a rated output of 4.2 megawatts each, the installation of four meteorological measuring masts and the control technology intervention, WiValdi offers unique selling points worldwide. The Institute operates the measurement data acquisition and provision, including the associated IT infrastructure. The central database stores the research data in a key value store. To access the raw data, minute-by-minute aggregated data is used, which is visualised in the web portal and converted to so-called 10-minute data to provide a standard parameter for comparing the wind farm. With the associated web portal, data can be made available directly after recording, but also historical measurement data and metadata can be made available together and data from all parts of the wind farm can be related to each other with a high degree of time synchronisation. The IT infrastructure also includes a control system that monitors the status of all systems online, reports error states and can reset individual measurement systems remotely in the event of an error or on request.
Experimental system
The ACT/FHS experimental system consists of several computer systems, extensive experimental sensor technology and two operating stations for the crew.
The test pilots fly precisely defined manoeuvres with the In-flight Systems and Technology Airborne Research (ISTAR) aircraft. Computers in the cabine store all the measurement data. The researchers later compare the treasure trove of data from the research aircraft with the results of numerical simulations.
Printed Circuit Boards for flight data acquisition
The circuit diagram of the board was developed by the Institute of Flight Systems, the layout of the board was routed and then assembled. The dimensions of the board are 30x30 millimetres. The boards are used for the instrumentation of loads, drones and aircraft for flight data measurement.
