Flight test data cycle map optimisation

Flight testing of aircraft in which new design concepts, problems, and deficiencies are examined, involves the collection of a large quantity of data or test parameters allocated onto blocks within a telemetry frame or Data Cycle Map (DCM). Individual parameters are sampled at different rates and may vary in both their word length and the number of words used to represent them. During a flight test these parameters are digitally represented and placed in a certain order within the DCM before being transmitted to the ground. When planning a flight test it is necessary to determine the order in which parameters are placed on the DCM to guarantee the integrity of the data, and other industry standards, for example, relating to the length of frames and the requirement for periodic placement of parameters. This process is usually performed manually with some computer assistance, but typically involves several week’s work for a number of people. As flight tests become more complex, restrictions on bandwidth and personnel have become limiting factors. We present an algorithm for the design of DCMs and discuss situations in which the placement of sets of parameters on such frames is not possible using a number-theoretic analysis of the data cycle map structure. A fast and efficient optimisation approach for constructing DCMs using a set covering Integer Programming formulation (DCM-Opt) is discussed. A comparison of efficiencies for this algorithm and DCM designs produced by AutoTelem will be discussed.