A Microprocessor-Based Data-Acquisition System for Stall/Spin Research

Accurate data are necessary for the identification of aerodynamic parameters at high angle of attack and in spinning flight. Modern sensors and microelectronic devices are employed in a stall/spin data acquisition system that will be tested in a Schweizer 2-32 sailplane. This instrumentation package will use a quaternion-based "strapdown IMU" algorithm to derive vehicle attitude from angular rate data, and it will use fault-detection logic to identify inflight sensor failures. Details of the system and flight test program are presented, together with results of preflight digital simulation analysis.