United States Army Test and Evaluation Command

The steeply rising coastal terrain of southeast Alaska can produce a wide variety of terrain-induced flows such as barrier jets, gap flows, and downslope wind storms. This study uses a combination of satellite remote sensing, field observations, and modeling to improve our understanding of the dynamics of these flows. After examining several thousand synthetic aperture radar (SAR) high-resolution wind speed images over the Gulf of Alaska, several subclasses of barrier jets were identified that do not fit the current conceptual model of barrier jet development. This conceptual model consists of an acceleration and turning of the ambient cross-barrier flow into the along-barrier direction when the ambient low-level flow is blocked by terrain; however, the SAR imagery showed many barrier jet cases with significant flow variability in the along-coast direction as well as evidence for the influence of cold, dry continental air exiting the gaps in coastal terrain. A subclass of jets has been observed where the transition from the coastal to the offshore flow is abrupt. The results from these climatological studies have motivated modeling studies of selected events as well as field observations from the Southeast Alaska Regional Jets (SARJET) experiment field campaign in the Gulf of Alaska during fall of 2004. This paper will highlight preliminary results obtained during SARJET, which collected in situ measurements of barrier jets and gap flows using the University of Wyoming's King Air research aircraft.

An addressable mosaic array of resistively heated microbridges offers the potential to project accurate dynamic infrared (IR) imagery. The main purpose of this imagery is to be used in the evaluation of IR instruments from seekers to FLIRs. With the growing development of lower cost uncooled IR imagers, scene projectors also offer the potential for dynamic testing of these new instruments. In past years we have described developments in a variety of IR projectors systems designed for different purposes. In this paper we will describe recent developments in these technologies aimed at improving or understanding temporal and radiative performance.

The PROTURB model, developed by the Battlefield Environment Directorate of Army Research Laboratory, calculates an estimate of optical turbulence strength and its effects on visible and IR imaging and laser system performance. The PROTURB model was earlier compared to data obtained from the REBAL 92 field test held in Bushland, Texas, and data supplied by the Army Test and Evaluation Command Ft. Belvoir Meteorological Team. Recent PROTURB updates included modifying the radiative flux portion of the energy balance model. Here we present a new comparison using data from three locations that differ greatly in meteorological conditions, and moderate climatic conditions. There also exists a considerable difference in site characteristics such as ground conditions and vegetation. We discuss the data collection and reduction effort, and show how this data compares with PROTURB predictions.

As the Department of Defense (DoD) looks to exploit and scale Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities across the warfighting domains, the Army plans to integrate advanced features into many of its combat systems. The benefits of cloud technologies offer promising solutions to these needs. While cloud-based AI-enabled capabilities leverage flexibility, common interfaces, and virtually infinite scale of resources, they suffer from their lack of proximity to the tactical edge. Tactical AI-enabled systems cannot reliably leverage advantages provided by cloud resources due to limited standardized practices for integration of on-premise/edge systems required by the deployed military. Future high-intensity conflict will be fought in a degraded, denied, intermittent, and lowbandwidth (DDIL) digital environment. As a result, tactical AI-enabled systems will be required to operate in a scenario where high speed, reliable cloud access is unavailable. This paper proposes a hybrid-cloud architecture that leverages resources of the cloud, when available, while also maintaining the capability to retrain tactical AI models in the field environment, using on-site computation and storage. The hybrid cloud construct consists of tactical cloud nodes that reside in closer proximity to AI-enabled systems at the edge. They may retain connectivity to the enterprise cloud yet have the ability to provide the common AI development platform and tool sets to support continuous integration, delivery, and deployment. Thus, its ultimate objective is to enable the seamless and expeditious operation of a distributed AI development environment for the Army and DoD that bridges the tactical edge and enterprise cloud.

The Advanced Multispectral Simulation Test Acceptance Resource (AMSTAR) is a suite of state-of-the-art Hardware-In-the-Loop (HWIL) simulation / test capabilities designed to meet the life-cycle testing needs of multi-spectral systems. This paper presents the major AMSTAR facility design concepts and each of the Millimeter Wave (MMW), Infrared (IR), and Semi-Active Laser (SAL) in-band scene generation and projection system designs. The emergence of Multispectral sensors in missile systems necessitates capabilities such as AMSTAR to simultaneous project MMW, IR, and SAL wave bands into a common sensor aperture.

To more efficiently acquire systems, a modified and more inclusive method for reliability evaluation is needed. The continued use of classical reliability assessment methods that solely rely on limited test data while ignoring other relevant information can lead to uninformed decisions, cost/schedule overruns or the failure to employ reliability best practices. Motivated by the Army's current pus to modernize technology and accelerate acquisitions and to address these shortcomings, multiple approaches for improvement are presented here.

Multiple degree of freedom (MDOF) excitation systems and MDOF vibration control systems continue to improve, and are now standard equipment in many dynamic test laboratories. This paper concentrates on the often overlooked process of determination of an input specification for such MDOF systems. A pair of generalized six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) vibration specification development (VSD) techniques are proposed, discussed, and illustrated through an example.

This study outlines the experimental approach used to determine the design margin of the crystal oscillator which is used as the clock on the Digital Electronics Unit of the TOW 2A and TOW 2B missiles. The test methodology and signal analysis techniques used in the experimentally based investigation are described; the results are then compared to a separate investigation which was primarily based on an analytical and modeling approach.

Current test and evaluation methods are not adequate for fully assessing the operational performance of imaging infrared sensors while they are installed on the weapon system platform. The use of infrared (IR) scene projection in test and evaluation will augment and redefine test methodologies currently being used to test and evaluate forward looking infrared (FLIR) and imaging IR sensors. The Mobile Infrared Scene Projector (MIRSP) projects accurate, dynamic, and realistic IR imagery into the entrance aperture of the sensor, such that the sensor would perceive and respond to the imagery as it would to the real-world scenario. The MIRSP domain of application includes development, analysis, integration, exploitation, training, and test and evaluation of ground and aviation based imaging IR sensors/subsystems/systems. This applies to FLIR systems, imaging IR missile seekers/guidance sections, as well as non-imaging thermal sensors. The MIRSP Phase I, 'pathfinder' has evolved from other scene projector systems, such as the Flight Motion Simulator Infrared Scene Projector (FIRSP) and the Dynamic Infrared Scene Projector (DIRSP). Both of these projector systems were designed for laboratory test and evaluation use rather than field test and evaluation use. This paper will detail the MIRSP design to include trade-off analysis performed at the system/subsystem levels. The MIRSP Phase II will provide the capability to test and evaluate various electro-optical sensors on weapon platform. The MIRSP Phase I and II will be advancing current IR scene projector technologies by exploring other technologies such as mobility/transportability, packaging, sensors, and scene generation.

Resistor arrays are the leading technology for testing tactical imaging infrared sensors with a real-time Dynamic Infrared Scene Projector (DIRSP) system. The fundamental goal of a DIRSP system is to project `in-band' infrared imagery to a level of detail such that a Unit Under Test (UUT) perceives and responds to the synthesized scenes just as it would to the real world scenes. In the real world, these tactical scenes are continuous functions that contain both low and high spatial frequencies. Unfortunately, resistor arrays have a discrete number of elements requiring a sampled version of the scenario. The output of the DIRSP is a stepwise continuous radiance distribution that is projected through the DIRSP optics, the UUT optics, and onto the UUT detector array. In many sensors, the UUT detector array produces a sampled version of the irradiance. This continuous to digital to continuous to digital system requires careful analysis regarding the aliasing that may result. Results of such an analysis are presented here. Specifically, the aliasing issues are addressed with results obtained for the typical case of a slightly undersampled sensor (regarded in testing as `natural' aliasing). The analysis indicates the scene projector's spatial frequency limit (i.e., its folding frequency) should exceed the average of the UUT sensor' cutoff spatial frequency and the spatial frequency cutoff of the scene pre-filter (or scene band limit if pre-filtering is not used). This constraint does not eliminate aliasing. Rather is provides for the natural aliasing present in the sensor while avoiding spurious effects from unnatural aliasing in the creation and projection of the synthetic tactical scenes. The scene projector requirement developed in this work is applicable for tactical imagers and imaging missile seekers.

This paper discusses the nature of aviation development testing in the U.S. Army and includes how that testing fits into the Big Picturew of testing which supports acquisition and the life cycle management process.

Weapon system development has historically relied heavily on both hardware testing and computer modeling and simulation.

This report documents the third risk assessment completed for the depleted uranium (DU) munitions testing range at Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG), Indiana, for the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation command. Jefferson Proving Ground was closed in 1995 under the Base Realignment and Closure Act and the testing mission was moved to Yuma Proving Ground. As part of the closure of JPG, assessments of potential adverse health effects to humans and the ecosystem were conducted. This report integrates recent information obtained from site characterization surveys at JPG with environmental monitoring data collected from 1983 through 1994 during DU testing. Three exposure scenarios were evaluated for potential adverse effects to human health: an occasional use scenario and two farming scenarios. Human exposure was minimal from occasional use, but significant risk were predicted from the farming scenarios when contaminated groundwater was used by site occupants. The human health risk assessments do not consider the significant risk posed by accidents with unexploded ordnance. Exposures of white-tailed deer to DU were also estimated in this study, and exposure rates result in no significant increase in either toxicological or radiological risks. The results of this study indicate that remediation of the DU impact area would not substantially reduce already low risks to humans and the ecosystem, and that managed access to JPG is a reasonable model for future land use options.

The usual photographic instrumentation for tests of low-flying missiles is inherently limited by usable fields of coverage or in capacity for tracking at high angular velocities. A camera mount has been developed which avoids limitations by using a rotating mirror to deviate the line of sight. The mirror motion is produced by a rotating cam which may be shaped to conform to various trajectory conditions.

The Department of Defense has increased the use of Major Automated Information Systems (MAIS); in particular Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems seek to simplify business operations, optimize processes, and maximize efficient financial and logistics management capabilities. These automated information systems integrate all departments and functions across an organization into a single, integrated, centralized database software suite which serves all the internal departments' needs. Due to their unique characteristics and non-traditional programmatic structures, these system's often benefit from the evaluation of uniquely defined metrics than what is typically used for hardware centric systems. Often MAIS reliability requirements are at such a high level (essentially accounting only for the combined experience of all users simultaneously) that they fail to fully capture the experience of the individual end user. While system level Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) requirements are necessary, there is a need to focus the evaluation on supplementary metrics that address end user level failures. This paper will discuss innovative approaches to defining reliability evaluations for MAIS programs. This includes understanding how the reliability requirements are defined and what they intend to measure, appropriate use of metrics such as server reliability versus end user experience, and the utilization of additional metrics to provide a meaningful software reliability evaluation to decision makers.

This paper explores various mindsets or paradigms that govern how we consider environmental factors in materiel system design and testing. It particularly cautions against hidden paradigms that may restrict initiatives to increase the efficiency of the materiel acquisition cycle. It also explains paradigm shifts from producing and testing prototypes to substituting simulation for hardware where possible to save time and reduce costs. The key factor in shifting successfully from hardware to simulation is the sage advice and guidance of environmental experts whose basic knowledge of environmental effects is essential in efforts to structure information and experience into databases, models, and simulations. It is shown how the Institute of Environmental Sciences (IES) plays a key role in bringing experts together to address the Department of Defense (DoD) synthetic environment science and technology thrust.

<div class="htmlview paragraph">One purpose of the Army’s reorganization in 1962 was to consolidate and streamline testing of its materiel. Objectives of the Army’s new test organization, the Test and Evaluation Command, are briefly discussed. The scope of testing on military vehicles, including test planning, type of tests conducted facilities used, and reporting procedures, are outlined. Evaluation of test results is compared against military requirements.</div>

Image filtering in sampled dynamic infrared scene projection systems is examined from the point of view of providing an improved insight into the choice of the pixel mapping ratio between the projector and imaging unit-under-test. The 2D vector analysis underlying the transfer of image information in such systems is reviewed and is applied to the dynamic infrared scene projection case. It is shown that the 4:1 (2 X 2:1) pixel mapping ratio previously recommended in a desirable criterion from the spatial fidelity viewpoint, particularly when high spatial frequency information represented by point sources and scene edges is being projected. Cost constraints can, however, prevent the 4:1 mapping ratio from being met, in which case the effects on hardware-in-the-loop simulation validity need to be examined carefully. The vector analysis presented here provides a tool useful for the future examination of such cases.

In the past year, one measurement has been of great interest to those that we support and that is the measurement of optical turbulence or more specifically the refractive index structure coefficient. It is well understood that this parameters is affected by such factors as cloud cover, humidity, wind, solar loading and surface conditions. We present here field measurements from several locations where all of the environmental factors effecting turbulence have been measured along with the turbulence itself. This field data was compared with the US Army Atmospheric Sciences (ASL) Laboratory model called IMTURB. The results of this comparison are presented with comments on areas of improvement both in accuracy and in ease of use.

The TECOM Ft Belvoir Meteorological Team and the Night Vision and Electronic Sensor Directorate of CECOM contracted with EOIR to develop a new instrument which would provide atmospheric transmissivity data in the 35 gigahertz region. The desired instrument would have complete redundancy, long path length, compact size, stable microwave performance, easy field setup and alignment, standard data output, low development risk, and, above all, low system cost. The design by EOIR consists of mostly off-the-shelf components with a design goal of measuring 1% transmission over a 5 km path which corresponds to a rainfall rate of over 64 millimeters per hour. To achieve simplicity of design and field use and to keep cost down, two innovations have been made. First, a new antenna design that uses optical refraction principles replaces the large and cumbersome parabolic antennas and second, an open loop frequency design, as opposed to a frequency tracking receiver, allows for the use of less expensive transmitters and receivers. In this paper we describe the instrument and present some initial performance data.