Using Wi-Fi technology to transmit telemetry data for UAV flight guidance system development

What is it about?

This work investigates the potential for off-the-shelf hardware to be used as a very low-cost replacement to the expensive missile test telemetry currently used by military equipment suppliers to develop flight guidance systems. Missile tests are essential to create highly accurate simulation models of the missile flight controls to ensure accuracy of live missile fire and fully controlled stability throughout the flight to ensure the missile only strikes intended targets. Since test missiles are expensive one-shot devices the telemetry gathered must be transmitted robustly over the full flight. Development of bespoke telemetry units is expensive; thus the potential for using off-the-shelf components and sub-assemblies to provide telemetry based on the Wi-Fi communications standard is investigated. Over the course of missile development, this would create remarkable financial savings. This work details the design, development, and testing of a Wi-Fi missile telemetry system with the solution being evaluated against required performance requirements.

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Why is it important?

This is about cost reduction, but not at the expense of quality flight telemetry.

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