Free-Flight Investigations

Purpose To determine the aerodynamic coefficients of a wide range of free-flight models, including spin- and finstabilized projectiles and space vehicles To assess the performance of on-board electronic components and navigation algorithms.	Results Aerodynamic data reduction of a wide variety of projectiles, including space vehicles Real-time observation and transmission of the attitude of large- and medium-caliber projectiles using 3-D magnetometers withstanding up to 55 000 g’s Design and test of navigation lgorithms using DSPs.
Skills Design and integration of high-G withstanding electronic components (sensors, transceivers, antennas, flight recorders) Design of specific launch devices (sabots) Aerodynamic data reduction based on a 6-DOF ballistic model Attitude and position estimation using Kalman-based navigation algorithms.	Facilities ISL’s 6/7-DOF ballistics code BALCO, including an inverse 6-DOF model Free-flight outdoor testing range equipped with 40 mm, 90 mm and 105 mm guns, Doppler radar and high-speed video trajectory trackers Electronic design and development tools.
Flying rod equipped with 3-D magnetometers	Snapshot of the sabot separation
Model of a space probe equipped with sensors	Snapshot of the space probe flight