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Completed TRL 1 (started at 1, targeting 2)
The project is to research a design/solution for a TM MCS for WFF. This initial phase will be to develop an initial design by gathering requirements and enhancement information from range SME and users. A possible follow up to this project would be to determine if this design can be implemented with COTS or GOTS products or require in-house development.
The basic premise is that you would have your TM system with all associated hardware and network connections. The MCS software would be able to interface with components in the system via the Range Mission Network (RMN). The MCS software would be controlled the TM Coordinator. A support configuration file would be generated for each unique mission. The TM Coordinator would load that file into the TM control computer at their console. That file contains all of the configuration information to configure the antennas (load the INP files, set up the hierarchy of tracking sources, set frequency and polarization, etc.), configure the receivers (frequency, modulation and coding schemes, BWs, etc.) it would configure the RF matrix switches (this will be new to the new TM system) to route RF from each antenna to the appropriate receivers and it would set up the best source selectors (BSS). Data delivery from the receivers/BSSs still needs to be determined out but ideally, we would almost eliminate the Readout function completely and just flow Telemetry over IP (TMoIP) to end users running decom software on their local machines to allow them to process data as needed.
This design would allow for quick changeover of the range TM system between missions or support different missions with different assets simultaneously allowing the range to support multiple missions and vehicles. This system could be enhanced in the future to include assets in Bermuda and Poker Flat. This would allow WFF to deploy minimal staff to these remote sites since they could be remotely accessed and setup with the TM MCS System.
The benefit of this project would be the gathering of requirements, initial design, and known issues with design and hardware interfaces. This information will be a valuable benefit to helping determine if the desired system is an in-house development or a procurement of GOTS or COTS products. This research and findings of this IRAD will provide options and recommendations to the WFF range as they start to ramp up the TM Modernization project.
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