SBIR-STTR Award

Knowledge about aerospace ground testing often consists of diffuse and dispersed sets of information that is hard to collect and more difficult to understand and master. This project is designed to utilize artificial intelligence technology for assisting users to locate and understand technical information in manuals for planning and conducting tests in wind tunnel and for increasing the efficiency of training personnel in testing procedures. A computerized manual will be created in the form of Hypertext and an advisory system which stores experts' knowledge and experience. The combined Hypertext manual and advisory system is termed an Intelligent Hypertext (IH) System.Phase I of the project will implement a prototype IH-system for conducting transonic wind tunnel testing. Phase II of the project will extend the concepts to encompass aerodynamic testing knowledge in expanded domains including supersonic, hypersonic, and low-speed V/STOL tunnels.

Potential Commercial Applications:
A general system for capturing and manipulating aerospace engineering knowledge could become a commercial venture.STATUS: Project Proceded to Phase II-

The proposed research is designed to utilize artificial intelligence technology for assisting users locating and understanding technical information in manuals used for planning and conducting wind tunnel tests and increasing theefficiency of personnel training in wind tunnel testing procedures. The objective is to create a computerized manual in the form of hypertext and an advisory system whichstores experts knowledge and experience. The combination ofhypertext manual and advisory system is termed an intelligent hypertext (ih) system. Phase I of the project will implement a prototype ih system for conducting transonic wind tunnel testing. Phase ii of the project will extend the concepts to encompass aerodynamic testing knowledge in expanded domains including supersonic and hypersonic tunnels, dynamic testing, low speed v/stol tunnel. The primary research problem addressed is study of the mechanisms needed to organize knowledge about aerospace ground testing. Typically, such knowledge often consists of diffuse and dispersed sets of information that is hard to collect, much less understand and master. We propose to implement a knowledge organization tool to assist in structuring this knowledge and presenting this knowledge to novices as well as more experienced test engineers.