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An improved calibration technique for wind tunnel model attitude sensorsAerodynamic wind tunnel tests at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) require accurate measurement of model attitude. Inertial accelerometer packages have been the primary sensor used to measure model attitude to an accuracy of +/- 0.01 deg as required for aerodynamic research. The calibration parameters of the accelerometer package are currently obtained from a seven-point tumble test using a simplified empirical approximation. The inaccuracy due to the approximation exceeds the accuracy requirement as the misalignment angle between the package axis and the model body axis increases beyond 1.4 deg. This paper presents the exact solution derived from the coordinate transformation to eliminate inaccuracy caused by the approximation. In addition, a new calibration procedure is developed in which the data taken from the seven-point tumble test is fit to the exact solution by means of a least-squares estimation procedure. Validation tests indicate that the new calibration procedure provides +/- 0.005-deg accuracy over large package misalignments, which is not possible with the current procedure.
Document ID
19930070359
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Tripp, John S.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Wong, Douglas T.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Finley, Tom D.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Tcheng, Ping
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: In: International Instrumentation Symposium, 39th, Albuquerque, NM, May 2-6, 1993, Proceedings (A93-54351 24-35)
Publisher: Instrument Society of America
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Accession Number
93A54356
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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