Computer programs control and evaluate instrumentation system performance for numerous rocket engine test facilities and prescribe calibration and maintenance techniques to maintain the systems within process specifications. Similar programs can be written for other test equipment in an industry such as the petrochemical industry

Merewether, E. K.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

November 1966
	
Brief 66-10503 
NASA TECH BRIEF	
/& 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U. S. space 
program and to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Computer Program Determines Performance Efficiency of Remote
Measuring Systems 
The problem: 
To develop a procedure for control and evaluation 
of instrumentation system performance for numerous 
rocket engine test facilities and to prescribe calibra-
tion and maintenance techniques to maintain the 
systems within process specifications. 
The solution: 
A set of computer programs for rapidly processing 
measurement system calibration data. The input is a 
set of measurements of transducer responses, and the 
output is a listing of all transducer calibration states in 
the system or the test stand. The results indicate quan-
titative measures of instrument performance. Correc-
tive action is recommended when necessary. 
How it's done: 
The Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) pro-
gram consists of a series of digital computer programs 
that prescribe calibration and maintenance for the 
following measurement systems: 
1. Thrust (force) 
2. Pressure 
3. Temperature 
4. Flow rate 
5. Vibration 
6. Current and voltage 
The MSA program combines automated "inventory-
type" control with modern statistical techniques to 
provide easily assessable information attesting to the 
status of thousands of measuring systems. The pro-
gram output listing or "roadmap" is a comprehensive 
report of the status of each of the measuring systems 
(about 40) at each respective test stand. 
An MSA program can be used on a typical pressure 
measurement in the following manner: (1) transducer 
is subjected to periodic laboratory calibrations per
specification, (2) precision of the transducer is cal-
culated by a computer program, (3) original measure-
ment system is resynthesized, (4) recording element is 
calibrated and precision obtained by automatic data 
processing, (5) computer program appropriately com-
bines the precisions of the system elements for a 
system precision, (6) MSA roadmap apprises test 
personnel of the precision of their pressure measuring 
system, and (7) test personnel can now decide, in light 
of customer requirements, whether the system is ex-
cessively error prone. Corrective action is taken for 
"out-of-precision" systems. 
Notes: 
1. Similar programs can be written for other test 
equipment in an industry such as the petrochemical 
industry. 
2. The detailed calibration, maintenance, and statisti-
cal techniques for the various pressure, thrust, and 
temperature measuring systems can be used by 
many organizations toward establishment of 
methods for measurement in a standard calibration 
analysis laboratory. 
3. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:	 Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B66-10503 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: E. K. Merewether 
of North American Aviation, Inc. 
under contract to 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
(M-FS-1 137) 
Category 01 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights.
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Computer program determines performance efficiency of remote measuring systems

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