http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/137598069

Framework for AFFTC T & E of Information Fusion and Aerospace Vehicle Management Systems

The research objective of this grant is to provide understanding about the nature of multi-platform and distributed data fusion and the influence that such methods might have on flight-testing of future multi-platform systems at major range facilities such as Edwards Air Force Base (the Air Force Flight Test Center, AFFTC). and also with a special focus on Electronic Warfare (EW) aspects and impacts. This report describes a basis and structure for both understanding and describing the Data Fusion-related issues and components of test operations in ways that are considered both technically correct from a Data Fusion viewpoint, and consistent from an architectural viewpoint. This instrument's purpose is to establish a consistent basis for contemplating and understanding any possible future test environment that involves Data Fusion processing concepts in order to cost-effectively define, design. implement, and maximally reuse test support components and data analysis capabilities at AFFTC; said otherwise, the bottom-line benefit of a Framework is affordability and efficiency in test operations and analyses. Our approach involves, for example, first determining the 'role' for Data Fusion, and ultimately determining the design of Data Fusion components and detailed elements. As for any systems-engineering process, an important first step is to determine also the boundaries of the processes and functions to be addressed: what is inside the boundary of consideration and what is not; the items inside the boundary are labeled the 'Black Box' components in this report. Also, important to the overall Framework definition is the process by which the Framework will be updated; we suggest formalized Configuration Control techniques as used for evolving software.

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