Title

Automatic Runway Profile Measuring Instrumentation And Runway Properties. Part I: Equipment

Description

An instrumentation system was developed which rapidly measures and records the elevation of the runway. Profile data are recorded in a form which can be used directly by existent data processing facilities at WADD.

The system consists of two parts, the collimator which projects a highly collimated light beam down the runway, and a profilometer equipped with a photoelectric sensor. As the profilometer is towed, the sensor is held centered on the light beam by a servo system. A simple direct drive introduces the profile variations between the surface and the sensor position into a shaft-position-to-digital encoder. The output of the encoder is punched on paper tape.

Accuracy and repeatability tests show that the profile instrumentation system is capable of accuracies which are well within runway data requirements.

Date

1961

Index Abstract

Contrails and DTIC

Photo Quality

Incomplete

Report Number

WADD TR 60-470 Part I

Creator

Turner, D. F.

Brown, R. S.

Snyder, W. E.

Corporate Author

Midwest Research Institute

Laboratory

Flight Dynamics Laboratory

Extent

38

PB Number

PB171998

Identifier

AD0266895

Access Rights

OTS

Distribution Classification

1

Contract

AF 33(616)-6512

DoD Project

1367

DoD Task

13451

DTIC Record Exists

No

Distribution Change Authority Correspondence

None

Report Availability

Full text available by request

Date Issued

1961-02

Abstract

An instrumentation system was developed which rapidly measures and records the elevation of the runway. Profile data are recorded in a form which can be used directly by existent data processing facilities at WADD.

The system consists of two parts, the collimator which projects a highly collimated light beam down the runway, and a profilometer equipped with a photoelectric sensor. As the profilometer is towed, the sensor is held centered on the light beam by a servo system. A simple direct drive introduces the profile variations between the surface and the sensor position into a shaft-position-to-digital encoder. The output of the encoder is punched on paper tape.

Accuracy and repeatability tests show that the profile instrumentation system is capable of accuracies which are well within runway data requirements.

Type

report

Provenance

Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control

Format

v, 38 pages : ill. ; 28 cm.

Subject

Collimators

Runways

Automatic

Configurations

Data Storage Systems

Instrumentation

Landing Fields

Measurement

Mobile

Optical Equipment

Reliability

Sensitivity

Trailers

Publisher

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH : Wright Air Development Division, Air Research and Development Command, United States Air Force

Distribution Conflict

No