SBIR-STTR Award

This document is a Phase I SBIR technical and cost proposal submitted to the US Air Force by GDP Space Systems, a division of Delta Information Systems, Inc., in response to SBIR Solicitation Topic Number AF98-275. The purpose of this proposed program is to investigate appropriate technologies and define the hardware and software requirements for a state-of-the-art PC-based Advanced Telemetry Processing and Display System (ATPDS). This system will be flexible and expandable with low acquistion and life-cycle support costs. A series of defined tasks will be completed to identify and analyze system requirements, review alternative approaches and various potential system architectures, and develop a conceptual design of a PC-based Advanced Telemetry Processing and Display System. System hardware and software functions will be partitioned, and applicable commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies considered for their applicability. Design trade-offs will be performed and presented along with the capabilities and any limitations of the recommended system architecture. The program will include the development of a validation test plan for the proposed system to be used in Phase II as the basis for a validation and qualification of the ATPD system.

Benefits:
PC-based Advanced Telemetry Processing and Display system employing the latest technologies has significant potential in both the government and commercial flight test and satellite ground station applications. Other appli- cations also exist in the medical, automotive, and the oil industries. The problem of high cost and inflexibility of real-time data acquisition systems would be resolved as a result of this SBIR.

This Phase II proposal is a direct result of the successful completion of USAF Phase I SBIR (#AF98-275). This proposal describes a program to develop a next generation "Advanced PC-Based Telemetry Processing and Display System" (ATPDS). In Phase I of the SBIR effort, GDP Space Systems researched the feasibility of a high performance multi-function telemetry input module (TIM), other applicable hardware, PC technologies and software. As a result a requirements document was developed and a candiate telemetry architecture was recommended. A validation test plan was written to encompass this new system concept. A state-of-the-art "Network Centric" client/server based architecture resulted. This next generation telemetry system takes advantage of the latest software operating system (Windows NT) and the latest hardware advances. The software structure takes advantage of the most current object oriented techniques. The proposed system is flexible, scalable, and makes maximum use of COTS PCS and third party hardware, software, and middleware. A high performance TIM module combines a Bit Synchronizer, Frame Synchronizer, Time Code Translator, and PCM Simulator on a single card. Because of the extensive use of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chips the TIM includes the capability of being downloaded with various logic personalities at runtime. This feature greatly expands the flexibility of the system. The proposed distributed processing telemetry system with open architecture is flexible incorporating standard PCs and networks along with a high performance multi-function TIM and COTS support modules. The system is easily scalable allowing it to replace aging legacy systems at a fraction of their original cost. This is a tremendous bottom line cost savings to the government. GDP Space Systems is committed to the development and commercialization of this product.

Benefits:
A PC-based Advanced Telemetry Processing and Display system employing the latest technologies has significant potential in both the government and commercial flight test and satellite ground station applications. Other applications also exist in the medical, automotive, and the oil industries. The problem of high cost and inflexibility of real-time data acquisition systems would be resolved as a result of this SBIR.