Miniature Network Data Acquisition & Encoding Product for Flight Test Applications

Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions has introduced its next generation miniature network data acquisition (MnACQ) encoding product, the MnACQ-2700. 

The new MnACQ-2700 enables an Ethernet-based network data acquisition solution for analog and bus data capture and system safety monitoring applications. 

With two Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports that support both 100Base-T and 1000Base-T, the product provides total data (a.k.a. bulk data) and selected data to a Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) network for demanding applications such as new aircraft development and technology refresh programs. The MnACQ-2700 also provides Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM) outputs up to 40 Mbps for real-time telemetry of mission and safety critical data. The product is configurable using IRIG-106 Metadata Description Language (MDL) and by Curtiss-Wright’s TTCWare software utility.

The MnACQ-2700 enables FTI engineers to support today’s higher quantities of test data and faster avionics bus rates. Designed for simultaneous acquisition of bulk and selected data and multi-cast outputs in multiple industry-standard formats (such as DARv3, TmNS, and CH10 UDP) at GbE speeds, the MnACQ can capture all the data on a bus and telemeter selected data as desired. The unit also integrates with existing complete system-level FTI solutions from Curtiss-Wright, eliminating the need to replace the existing test hardware to meet evolving data acquisition requirements.

With its increased acquisition speed to accommodate higher avionics bus speeds, Curtiss-Wright’s new MnACQ-2700 miniature network data acquisition encoding product further highlights the company’s commitment to develop new solutions that meet growing customer data acquisition requirements. 

The MnACQ-2700 product supports two internal backplanes. The first backplane is compatible with all legacy MnACQ modules, enabling users to multicast selected data in industry standard formats such as DARv3, TmNS, and CH10 UDP at GbE speeds. The secondary backplane supports bulk and selected data capture from a single high-speed analog or bus module. The data can then be multi-casted simultaneously with the selected data from the first backplane. 

In lieu of the high data rate acquisition module, the secondary backplane can also be used to incorporate a recorder slice into the Data Acquisition Unit (DAU) module stack. Because the in-stack recorder module can record data from the stack, it eliminates the need for a separate recorder unit, greatly reducing system complexity for stand-alone data acquisition applications, e.g., for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The MnACQ-2700 can also be configured as a stand-alone recorder for recording the entire network’s data. 

Highly scalable and Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) optimized, the MnACQ-2700 supports a wide range of sensors and transducers. It is available separately or as an integral component in a fully integrated flight test system solution based on Curtiss-Wright’s broad data acquisition product line.

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