Aviation

1
Aviation Missile Research, Development,
Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Video Collection
Data Management System
Project Overview
Project Overview
Project Requirements
The AMRDEC Video Collection Data Management
System is an engineering senior design project
with the goal of improving the collection and
management of critical test data for the United
States Army, Propulsion and Structures
Directorate. This directorate, located at
Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville Alabama, is
responsible for conducting various tests on
propulsion systems for the armed forces. The
Video Collection Data Management System
undertook a two pronged approach to the
engineering challenge. The first objective of the
project was to improve the video collection
process at the testing facility. Detailed
analysis of the current collection system led to
two improvement recommendations. The first
recommendation was on how to stream line the
current process and the other recommendation was
for the next generation of collection systems.
The second objective focused on the management of
data generated by the propulsion tests. This led
to a custom data management solution called the
VENOM System that will enable test data to be
easily stored and retrieved from any networked
computer with the proper authorization.
Video Collection Requirements
Data Management Requirements
Project Team Members
Project Advisors

• Capture 4 video/audio feeds simultaneously
• Removable hard drives
• Converts/Export video to .avi format
• Capture at 640 x 480 resolution
• Capture at 30 frames per second
• System must include restore software
• System must include TTL Support
• System must have an open architecture
• System must include instant replay

• System must store digital test data files
• Users must be able to retrieve data from a thin
  client program (browser) connected to the
  application server
• Users must be able to search or filter through
  previously entered test cases to find specific
  test data
• Access to unprotected data must be restricted
• System interface must be simple and intuitive

• Bill Whiteley (Project Manager)
• Electrical Engineer
• Jostin Crass
• Electrical Engineer
• Jonathan Ahlbin
• Electrical Engineer
• Ryan Davis
• Electrical Engineer
• Jonathan Suggs
• Electrical Engineer
• Josh Sadler
• Electrical Engineer

• Andrew Dozier, Ph.D.
• Professor, Vanderbilt University, School of
  Engineering
• Jay Lilley, Ph.D.
• Director, Propulsion and Structures Directorate,
  AMRDEC
• George Arkoosh
• Primary Contact, Propulsion and Structures
  Directorate, AMRDEC
• Chip Clifton
• Teaching Assistant, Vanderbilt University, School
  of Engineering

Ryan Davis joined the project team in the Spring
semester of 2005 Jonathan Suggs and Josh
Sadler graduated at the end of the Fall semester
2004
Next Generation Video Collection
Video Collection, Improvement of Current System
System Diagram

• Next Generation Video Collection Recommendations
• An analysis of existing off-the-shelf video
  collection packages is shown below
• Avid is the best candidate for the next
  generation video collection system.
• Purchase copies of Newscutter XP software to
  install on suitable AMRDEC workstations, one copy
  for each camera.
• Instead of purchasing the Mojos, upgrade to DV-25
  cameras.
• This allows for direct firewire connection
• DV-25 cameras capture at a higher frame rate for
  improve quality

• Current Process
• Physical Capture of DV tapes using Panasonic
  DV2000 and Adobe Premier Pro
• Problems with this process
• Adobe Premier is very extensive and extremely
  difficult to use
• Capture Process is sometimes not reliable and
  takes a long time to complete
• Task needs to be accomplished by someone other
  than current operator, who is a valuable
  engineer, which results in a rather expensive
  capture process
• The current operator needs to be accomplishing
  his engineering tasks instead of fighting with
  the current capture process

Manufacturer Simultaneous Capture of 4 video feeds Simultaneous Capture of 4 audio feeds Convert/Export to .avi Capture at 640x480 Capture at 30 FPS Restore Disks\ Removable HDD TTL Support Open Architecture Instant Playback
Euresys Picolo ? ? ? ? ?
Pelco DX8000 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
DVS SD Station Plus ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
AVID Newscutter XP with Mojo ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

• Improvement of Current Process
• Physical Capture of DV tapes using Panasonic
  DV2000 and Roxio Media Creator
• Solves problems with the current process
• Roxio Media Creator has a very simple user
  interface and is extremely easy to use
• Capture Process is reliable and can be performed
  unattended
• Task can be accomplished by anyone who can
  operate a computer
• Eliminating the need to have the expensive
  engineer perform the capture process
• Roxio also has built in post-production tools for
  easy video editing and media creation

Data Management Solution
The VENOM System Features
Data Flow Diagram
User Features

• The Vanderbilt Electronic Networked Management
  (VENOM) System
• The VENOM System General Concept
• Develop a custom data management software
  application
• Host the application on a networked connected
  application server
• Allow access through standard browser software to
  authorized users
• Venom Operational Concept
• Data is generated and collected from propulsion
  and structures tests
• New test record is created in the VENOM System
  with associated metadata
• Generated test data is uploaded to the VENOM
  System electronic holding bin
• Test data is selected from the holding bin and
  attached to a test record
• Archived test data is available for download
  through searching and filtering of test cases
  based on test record metadata

• Sorting Test Data
• Filter Keyword Search
• Date Title
• Manufacturer Requestor
• Test Type Comments

• Unique Test Record
• Test Title Test Date
• Test ID Test Requestor
• Test Type Test Requestor
• Manufacturer Test Comments

• Administration Features
• Application Configuration
• Connection to remote MS SQL DB
• Location of electronic holding bin
• Location of long term data storage
• Application Settings
• Add / Edit / Delete Manufacturers
• Add / Edit / Delete Test Types
• Set Super User Password

• Super User Features
• View electronic holding bin
• Remove files from electronic holding bin
• Attach files from Holding Bin to test case record
• Edit test records