The ARCAA Airborne Systems Laboratory (ASL) is a Cessna 172R model general aviation aircraft which has been custom-modified into a sophisticated, low-cost, and flexible flying laboratory.
The ASL is the primary ARCAA flight test aircraft and has been used to support research into automated separation management concepts, guidance and control algorithms, vision-based sensor systems, and a range of other autonomous payloads. The ASL is the primary flight test aircraft for the Smart Skies Project.
The ASL hardware is housed in a series of rack-mounted bays which allow the flexible configuration of the flight payload specific to the hardware needs of a given experiment. This modular system includes:
- a data collection bay comprising a Novatel SPAN integrated GPS-INS navigation system and real-time data logging computer for the accurate measurement and storage of the attitude and position of the aircraft at up to 200Hz;
- a communications bay which can provide a global networking capability through a cellular High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), UHF (900MHz) and Iridium satellite data links;
- a flight management computer and onboard processing rack for the running of experimental software;
- an isolated power system bay with UPS;
- a configurable 10.4″ daylight readable LCD installed in the right hand side cockpit panel for the display of experiment information; and
- a mechanism for operator input through a yoke-mounted PDA.
The ASL has also been fitted with a flexible vision data system. The system can support up to two separate cameras with accurate synchronisation to aircraft attitude data. The flexible payload system can support a range of payloads.
More information: Airborne systems laboratory for Automation Research.
