Sensors facilities

Acoustic Sensors

Panama City, FL

Experimental Acoustics - Our scientists and engineers have extensive experience in conducting both laboratory and at-sea measurements, and in analyzing and interpreting the acquired data. Several facilities are available for conducting controlled freshwater experiments: the Acoustic Test Pool (nonmagnetic), the Acoustic Test Facility, and the Physical Acoustics and Special Projects Laboratories. Experiments can be done on scale models to full-scale vehicles. Controlled sea measurements utilize a 6-foot high stationary sonar tower. It is deployable by divers in any water depth less than 20 feet, has vertical tilt and horizontal pan motors, and can accommodate several sonars or other pieces of equipment at one time. This tower has been used in the past to measure various acoustic parameters of targets, water, and sediments, and for assessing competing sonars. Our personnel can plan and carry out the entire test, from preliminary environmental impact statements and safety plans, to the scheduling of craft, divers, and riggers, in addition to complete post-test analyses.

Acoustic Technology Laboratory

Picatinny Arsenal, NJ

This laboratory contains an electro-magnetic worldwide data collection and field measurement capability in the area of acoustic technology. Outfitted by NASA Langley with a multitude of acoustical data collection equipment and computers, this facility provides a clean, quiet, temperature-controlled and relatively dust free laboratory environment. The Army's signature library for threat systems is maintained in this facility. Digital computers provide the capability for quick-look analysis, data reduction and display. Meteorological data collection instrumentation provides data on atmospheric conditions such as wind speed and direction, barometric readings (pressure), and relative humidity.

Advanced Automation Controls and Sensors Lab

Philadelphia, PA

Electronic fabrication and testing lab. 2” flow loop for testing of advanced control hardware and software. Tenny Twenty Environmental Chamber. Two high temperature ovens. Fume hood. Two optical tables for fabrication of optical sensors.

AFFTC General Test Support Fleet

Edwards AFB, CA

The general test support fleet includes both instrumented and production F-15, F-16, A-37, T-38, T-39, C-141, and other aircraft types. Many of these aircraft have been extensively modified with an airborne data system to collect avionic bus or sensor data. Several are configured as generic testbeds to support quick reaction instrumentation requirements. The AFFTC also operates several specialized pacer aircraft used to evaluate test aircraft airspeed instruments. Some aircraft are equipped with telemetry re-radiation capability, originally modified in support of B-2 and Cruise Missile programs, to retransmit and/or record airborne telemetry data.

Controlled Archaeological Test Site (CATS)

Vicksburg, MS

CATS facility is at the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), Champaign, IL. This 1-acre test site includes a variety of subsurface features carefully designed to simulate phenomena and materials commonly encountered at prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. Test features simulate postholes, pits, hearths, house floors, burials, earthen embankments, etc. Other targets include bricks, concrete blocks, and (in a restricted area) metal objects. The precise location, depth, dimensions, and position of each object and feature have been recorded, mapped, and photographed. A geophysical survey was conducted before test site construction to ensure that no unknown features were present.

Environmental Chamber No. 4

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Environmental Chambers No. 2 and 3

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Intelligent Sensor-Based Robotics Laboratory

Picatinny Arsenal, NJ

The ARDEC Automation and Robotics Laboratory has developed unique facilities and capabilities in the area of advanced sensor based robotics control systems, distributed and cooperating robotics systems, advanced crew station architectures and embedded decision aids, voice/natural language machine vision and impedance control techniques. The laboratory has implemented and demonstrated an intelligent sensor based robotics control system for two Puma 560 robots, instrumented with arm mounted cameras, force/torque sensors, range sensors, IR sensors and tactile sensors, which have the capability to cooperatively execute complex tasks communicated over a voice natural language interface.

Intrusion Detection System (IDS) Test Site

Hanover, NH

Magnetic Sensors

Panama City, FL

Applications - NSWC Panama City has demonstrated the capability to deploy magnetic sensors towed behind aircraft and surface platforms. One of our first applications was to clear ordnance from the Suez Canal. Under the Magnetic and Acoustic Detection of Mines (MADOM) Advanced Technology Demonstration, NSWC Panama City successfully deployed a superconducting gradiometer to detect totally buried ferrous mines and demonstrated the effectiveness of acoustic and magnetic sensor fusion. Subsequently the gradiometer utilized in MADOM was the premiere sensor in an unscripted survey to locate unexploded ordnance in the Technology Demonstration of the Mobile Underwater Debris Survey System (MUDSS). We have used magnetic sensors for efforts as diverse as the characterization of weapon and platform magnetic signatures, environmental remediation, special warfare, and numerous applications for state and federal agencies such as forensics work and drug interdiction. In addition to these efforts to detect, locate, and characterize magnetic targets, we have developed approaches for underwater electromagnetic communication and vehicle navigation. Recent developments have been pursued to deploy magnetic sensors onboard unmanned underwater swimming and crawling vehicles and to demonstrate capabilities in high-speed operations.

North Oscura Peak

Kirtland AFB, NM

North Oscura Peak is an Air Force Research Laboratory site in the northern portion of the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The facility is designed to assemble and evaluate advanced sensor, tracking and atmospheric compensation systems.

RCS Van

Newport, RI

The Fishers Island RCS Measurement Range consists of a mobile radar truck, two radar shore sites, and a calibration tower. This facility, in conjunction with the SSTP, supports the test and evaluation of electromagnetic sensors in an open ocean environment. The Range is equipped with a mobile, coherent, stepped frequency instrumentation radar system capable of making full polarization scattering matrix measurement across the frequency range of 2-18 GHz. The radar system is equipped with a video tracking capability for measurements of dynamic targets.

Salinity Temperature and Roughness Remote Scanner (STARRS)

Washington, DC

Submarine Sensor Test Platform (SSTP)

Newport, RI

The Submarine Sensor Test Platform (SSTP) facility is an RCS/antenna measurement platform consisting of a shore site and an open ocean site 900 feet offshore. Large mast structures are mounted on the platform while on shore. The SSTP is then moved by a winch to an offshore docking station for testing. Antennas on the platform can be connected to onboard measuring devices for collecting antenna pattern or impedance data.

Triaxial Earthquake and Shock Simulator (TESS)

Vicksburg, MS

CERL operates the TESS, a unique dual-mode shock and vibration test facility, which, in its biaxial mode, simulates a wide range of transient shock vibrations typical of military applications requiring large accelerations over a wide frequency range with moderately heavy test specimens. In the triaxial mode, it can simulate a variety of vibration environments including earthquakes and random vibrations, as well as log-sweep and resonant searches. In this mode, the TESS can test larger specimens over larger displacement ranges more typical of seismic vibrations. The table below lists the performance parameters for the two test modes. The TESS combines a high payload capability with a broad frequency range, high acceleration performance, a wide displacement range, and simultaneous, independent control of up to three axes of vibration. Biaxial performance is rated with a 12,000 pound payload, and the triaxial performance with a 120,000 pound payload. Larger payloads can be tested at lower acceleration levels, while smaller payloads can be tested at up to twice the rated accelerations.

Very Shallow Water Sensor Testbed

Panama City, FL

The testbed is an autonomous, cylindrically shaped, battety powered vehicle with a diameter of 19 inches. The testbed can operate in a fully autonomous mode or can receive remote control commands via RF or fiber optic links. It has an extended range at a speed of 5 knots. It can accommodate a payload of up to 400 pounds and 7 cubic feet. The testbed is launched and recovered using surface support craft. Operating speeds are 5 - 10 knots.