Method for testing a missile time-space-position unit for missile

• US 7,043,343 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Houlberg, Christian L., Glazner, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US11/198,411
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701 15- 16, 701 23- 24, 701/29, 701 31- 32, 244/3.1, 244/3.11, 244/3.15, 244/3.18, 244/3.19, 244/3.2, 244/3.21, 244/3.12, 244/3.14, 324/537, 324/750, 324/755, 324/73.1, 324/500, 324531-533, 324763-765, 324/759, 702117-123, 702182-188
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/001 Devices or systems for testing or checking
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/23 Testing, monitoring, correcting or calibrating of receiver elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/47 the supplementary measurement being an inertial measurement, e.g. tightly coupled inertial

Abstract

A method for testing the performance of a Missile Time-Space-Position Information Unit. The method is utilized for Functional, Acceptance and Qualification test of the Missile Time-Space-Position Information Unit. The method has the capability of testing the Missile Time-Space-Position Information Unit to verify and document functionality of the Missile Time-Space-Position Information Unit prior to use of the Missile Time-Space-Position Information Unit in an operational environment.

Claims

1. A method for testing a Time-Space-Position Information Unit for a missile comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting one of a first and a second Time-Space-Position Information Unit types for a test wherein a user selects from said first and second Time-Space-Position Information Unit types prior to initiating said test;

(b) providing a part number, and a serial number for said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested to a test computer for a test set wherein said test computer is used to verify that said Time-Space-Position Information Unit performs as required when placed in said missile during the flight test of said missile;

(c) providing a user identification for said user testing said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to said test computer;

(d) providing a first picture on a display screen for said test computer to said user of electrical cables connected to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested to insure proper operation and testing of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit and to allow said user to verify a correct connection of said electrical cables to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit;

(e) providing a second picture on said display screen for said test computer to said user of said electrical cables connected to said test set to allow said user to insure said electrical cables are connected to said test set and to allow said user to verify settings on a power supply for said test set;

(f) verifying a computed location of an antenna for said test set, said user verifying that the computed location indicated on said display screen for said antenna is correct, wherein said antenna receives RF (radio frequency) signals which include GPS data from a plurality of satellites orbiting the earth;

(g) establishing communications with a reference receiver for said test set when communications with said reference receiver were not established during a previous test, wherein said reference receiver receives and processes said RF signals to provide satellite ephemeris data which contains information as to said satellites located in a field of view for said reference receiver including orbital information about said satellites, and satellite timing data;

(h) verifying test criteria for an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a GPS sensor contained within said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested wherein said user verifies the test criteria for said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor;

(i) establishing communications between said test computer and said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested;

(j) turning on power to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested for a specified time period which allows said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to power up to an operational state;

(k) measuring an acquisition time required for said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to track a minimum number of said satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit;

(l) comparing IMU data and GPS data obtained from the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit with the test criteria for said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor;

(m) displaying said IMU data and said GPS data obtained from the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit on said display screen for said test computer; and

(n) displaying test results for the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit on said display screen for said test computer when the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is completed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the minimum number of said satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is four satellites.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is within a range of four satellites to nine satellites.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of satellites utilized to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit provides a minimum of one hundred data samples during the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified time period for turning on power to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested is approximately twenty seconds to allow said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to power up to said operational state.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the acquisition time required for said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to track the minimum number of said satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is within a range of approximately fifteen seconds to ninety seconds which is determined when said user selects from said first and second Time-Space-Position Information Unit types for testing.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of allowing said user to document the test results obtained from the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit and enter user comments into said test computer relating to the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of allowing said user to store within said test computer a complete summary of the test results obtained from the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit including said user comments relating to the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of allowing said user to enter into said test computer a power consumption including a voltage and a current for the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit.

10. A method for testing a Time-Space-Position Information Unit for a missile comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting one of a from first and a second Time-Space-Position Information Unit types for a wherein a user selects from said first and second Time-Space-Position Information Unit types prior to initiating said test;

(b) providing a part number, and a serial number for said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested to a test computer for a test set wherein said test computer is used to verify that said Time-Space-Position Information Unit performs as required when placed in said missile during the flight test of said missile;

(c) providing a user identification for said user testing said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to said test computer;

(d) providing a first picture on a display screen for said test computer to said user of electrical cables connected to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested to insure proper operation and testing of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit and to allow said user to verify a correct connection of said electrical cables to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit;

(e) providing a second picture on said display screen for said test computer to said user of said electrical cables connected to said test set to allow said user to insure said electrical cables are connected to said test set and to allow said user to verify settings on a power supply for said test set;

(f) verifying a computed location of an antenna for said test set, said user verifying that the computed location indicated on said display screen for said antenna is correct, wherein said antenna receives RF (radio frequency) signals which include GPS data from a plurality of satellites orbiting the earth;

(g) establishing communications with a reference receiver for said test set when communications with said reference receiver were not established during a previous test, wherein said reference receiver receives and processes said RF signals to provide satellite ephemeris data which contains information as to said satellites located in a field of view for said reference receiver including orbital information about said satellites, and satellite timing data;

(h) verifying test criteria for an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a GPS sensor contained within said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested wherein said user verifies the test criteria for said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor;

(i) establishing communications between said test computer and said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested;

(j) turning on power to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested for a specified time period which allows said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to power up to an operational state;

(k) measuring an acquisition time required for said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to track a minimum number of said satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit;

(l) comparing IMU data and GPS data obtained from the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit with the test criteria for said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor;

(m) displaying said IMU data and said GPS data obtained from the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit on said display screen for said test computer; and

(n) displaying test results for the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit on said display screen for said test computer when the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is completed;

(o) allowing said user to save a complete summary of said test results which includes user generated data and comments entered into said test computer by said user; and

(p) selecting an acceptance test for said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor contained within said Time-Space-Position Information Unit, said acceptance test including a completion of functional testing of said GPS Sensor and said Inertial Measurement Unit, and an evaluation test of three tri-axially mounted accelerometers and three rate sensors located within said Inertial Measurement Unit, wherein measured IMU biases for the three tri-axially mounted accelerometers and the three rate sensors of said Inertial Measurement Unit are compared with Inertial Measurement Unit test criteria generated by said user.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of displaying said measured IMU biases for the three tri-axially mounted accelerometers and the three rate sensors of said Inertial Measurement Unit and said Inertial Measurement Unit test criteria on the display screen for said test computer which allows said user to compare said measured IMU biases for the three tri-axially mounted accelerometers and the three rate sensors of said Inertial Measurement Unit with said Inertial Measurement Unit test criteria.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of documenting acceptance test results wherein said user documents said acceptance test results by storing said acceptance test results on said test computer.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the three tri-axially mounted accelerometers of said Inertial Measurement Unit comprise X Axis, Y Axis and Z Axis accelerometers.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the three rate sensors of said Inertial Measurement Unit comprise X Axis, Y Axis and Z Axis rate sensors.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the minimum number of said satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is four satellites.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is within a range of four satellites to nine satellites.

17. A method for testing a Time-Space-Position Information Unit for a missile comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting one of a from first and a second Time-Space-Position Information Unit types for a test wherein a user selects from said first and second Time-Space-Position Information Unit types prior to initiating said test;

(b) providing a part number, and a serial number for said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested to a test computer for a test set wherein said test computer is used to verify that said Time-Space-Position Information Unit performs as required when placed in said missile during the flight test of said missile;

(c) providing a user identification for said user testing said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to said test computer;

(d) providing a first picture on a display screen for said test computer to said user of electrical cables connected to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested to insure proper operation and testing of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit and to allow said user to verify a correct connection of said electrical cables to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit;

(e) providing a second picture on said display screen for said test computer to said user of said electrical cables connected to said test set to allow said user to insure said electrical cables are connected to said test set and to allow said user to verify settings on a power supply for said test set;

(f) verifying a computed location of an antenna for said test set, said user verifying that the computed location indicated on said display screen for said antenna is correct, wherein said antenna receives RF (radio frequency) signals which include GPS data from a plurality of satellites orbiting the earth;

(g) establishing communications with a reference receiver for said test set when communications with said reference receiver were not established during a previous test, wherein said reference receiver receives and processes said RF signals to provide satellite ephemeris data which contains information as to said satellites located in a field of view for said reference receiver including orbital information about said satellites, and satellite timing data;

(h) verifying test criteria for an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a GPS sensor contained within said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested wherein said user verifies the test criteria for said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor;

(i) establishing communications between said test computer and said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested;

(j) turning on power to said Time-Space-Position Information Unit being tested for a specified time period which allows said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to power up to an operational state;

(k) measuring an acquisition time required for said Time-Space-Position Information Unit to track a minimum number of said satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit;

(l) comparing IMU data and GPS data obtained from the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit with the test criteria for said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor;

(m) displaying said IMU data and said GPS data obtained from the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit on said display screen for said test computer; and

(n) displaying test results for the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit on said display screen for said test computer when the test of said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is completed;

(o) allowing said user to save a complete summary of said test results which includes user generated data and comments entered into said test computer by said user; and

(p) selecting a qualification test for said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor contained within said Time-Space-Position Information Unit, said qualification test including a completion of functional testing of said GPS Sensor and said Inertial Measurement Unit, and an evaluation test of said Inertial Measurement Unit and said GPS sensor over a specified time period and under a plurality of environmental conditions.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of documenting qualification test results wherein said user documents said qualification test results by storing said qualification test results on said test computer.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the minimum number of said satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is four satellites.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said plurality of satellites required to test said Time-Space-Position Information Unit is within a range of four satellites to nine satellites.