Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    • Showcase 2025
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    3. Showcase 2025
    4. September 2024
    5. June 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    19th March 2025

    In this issue: March 2025

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this issue: March 2025

    19th March 2025
    contents and front cover of magazine

    In this issue: December / January 2025

    19th December 2024
    Showcase 2025

    In this issue – Showcase 2025

    6th November 2024
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Telemetry & Communications Weapons Testing

Tougher telemetry technology developed to study boundary layer transition in projectiles

Ben SampsonBy Ben Sampson6th July 20183 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
projectile casing
The casing for the telemetry package that will be used to transmit data when launching projectiles (Image: US Air Force photos/Deidre Ortiz)

Engineers from the USA are developing a telemetry capability that will gather, transmit and record data for projectiles traveling at speeds of more than 13,000mph and experiencing more than 25,000g.

The telemetry technology is being developed at the US Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) in Tennessee by its Space and Missiles Combined Test Force, so that boundary layer transition (BLT) can be studied in projectiles.

Projectiles experience BLT, the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, when traveling at very high speeds. The specific location along the projectile body where BLT occurs is a critical parameter that effects the flight dynamics of the projectile.

Elvis Encalada, electrical engineer at the AEDC, said, “The main idea is to have the instrumentation and electronics inside the launched projectile. The electronics will collect the BLT data and wirelessly transmit it. Reception antennas will be placed along the range and used to collect the transmitted data which then goes to an RF receiver, and ultimately, a computer.

“The projectile has multiple components and is made of multiple materials,” Encalada said. “It had to accommodate a standalone electronics package, an antenna with a detachable radome made out of a material that had not been used in Range G before, and multiple integrated sensors – all in such a way that it can withstand the extreme pressures of the light gas in the barrel and g-forces upon acceleration and still function and fly.”

The project has also involved a team from the US Army’s Research Lab, which led the development of the design for the transmitting antenna and the telemetry electronics and assisted in the process of properly integrating the electronics and mechanical bodies.

“The AEDC electronics collects instrumentation data and passes the digital data on to the telemetry electronics and transmitting antenna. The projectile body was designed to enclose all of the electronics and the instruments used,” Encalada said.

The electronics and the housing were integrated and tested at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Adelphi Laboratory Center (ALC) in Maryland.

Encalada said, “Without proper potting, the electronics or crucial connection points would be damaged or crushed under its own weight when experiencing high g-forces.

“The ALC has an air gun facility which operates similar to Range G, except on a much smaller scale and shorter time periods,” Encalada said. “Using the air gun, we were able to determine that the electronics can survive up to 23,000Gs.”

Testing of the telemetry package in Range G at Arnold is anticipated to take place sometime next year.

“We hope that the end result will be that AEDC test customers will receive critical data about boundary layer transition during hypersonic flight and hypervelocity impacts that were previously unable to be measured,” Encalada said.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleMartian helicopter project passes key tests to start final build
Next Article FAA proposes new engine test for bird ingestion
Ben Sampson

Ben has worked as a journalist and editor, covering technology, engineering and industry for the last 20 years. Initially writing about subjects from nuclear submarines to autonomous cars to future design and manufacturing technologies, he was editor of a leading UK-based engineering magazine before becoming editor of Aerospace Testing in 2017.

Related Posts

News

Astrolight raises €2.8m to build optical space communications network

22nd May 20253 Mins Read
News

US range opened to boost hypersonic and laser weapon testing

19th May 20252 Mins Read
Flight Testing

NASA engineers test embedded aerogel antennas

22nd April 20254 Mins Read
Latest Posts

AIR cargo eVTOL completes night flight testing

22nd May 2025

Astrolight raises €2.8m to build optical space communications network

22nd May 2025

Industry Adoption of 3D Optical Surface Gauges

21st May 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe To Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.