A description of a general use automated data reduction system

A data system developed for use in tests in arc jet facilities has the flexibility to accommodate various types of data, time resolution, and number of data signals. Data are tape-recorded, because a direct link to the IBM 360/67 computer is prohibited for safety reasons. The system is analogous to manual data reduction to promote user understanding and acceptance. Data computations may be performed in an interactive ('conversational') mode, for minimum delay in data reduction, or by card input. Reduced data are listed and also stored for plotting of further computational use. Operational costs of the system are reasonable, and both large and small data reduction tasks are handled readily.