Achieving Dramatic Increases in TE Effectiveness and Efficiency Leveraging Dynamic and Flexible MS Tools

摘要

Much focus has been brought in recent years to the use of statistical methods to "right-size" overall test plan design using design-of-experiments, combinatorial techniques and other rigorous scientific methods. In 2012 a Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques (STAT) Center of Excellence (COE) was initiated to assist programs in developing rigorous and defendable test plans using state-of-the-art methods. These initiatives are meant to produce smarter overall test plans embodied in a given program as well as to produce smarter test plan loading and scheduling in individual test plan blocks. Less attention has been given to the use of smarter methods in the test execution phase for optimum test-card mission design to increase test-point density and to ensure execution effectiveness to reduce re-flight rates. Modern advances in computer simulation have resulted in tools which enable flexible and interactive virtual environments that can be used to rapidly prototype route designs. Sets of candidate test-point combinations in the assembly of test-cards can be virtually modeled to iteratively arrive at a test mission plan that is more efficient and more robustly designed than by more traditional methods. Here we will review the application of virtual methods of dynamic planning, execution, and post-flight quick-look that has proven able to increase test-point density and more often ensure test-point objectives achievement. Modeling application and iteration methods used to achieve more optimal test-flight designs will be discussed and contrasted with traditional contemporary methods. Final consideration and discussion will describe the overall areas of positive T&E execution phase impact including practitioners' operations efficiency, flight effectiveness & efficiency, post-flight quick-look and forensics analysis and flight safety.