Curtiss-Wright Expands Axon Airborne Data Acquisition Product Family with Miniature 8-Channel ADC DAU that Supports PoE and Daisy-Chain Connectivity.
he new Axon Pico AXP/ADC/401 brings flexible, remote analog data capture to flight test instrumentation programs.
Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division introduced the Axon™ Pico (AXP/ADC/401) 8-channel ADC data acquisition unit (DAU), the latest addition to its expansive range of data acquisition systems designed for demanding flight test programs. Flight test engineers seek to reduce their FTI system’s wire weight and complexity while easing installation. They also want to leverage distributed architectures that enable remote data acquisition from hard-to-reach places on the test platform while also being able to acquire accurate data in locations that experience extreme shock and vibration. The Axon Pico, Curtiss-Wright’s first DAU to support Power over Ethernet (PoE), helps address these challenging requirements.
This size, weight, and power (SWaP) optimized Axon Pico DAU is designed to be as small as possible without compromising key features. It significantly reduces wiring weight and complexity, enables the remote capture of critical data, and supports daisy-chain connectivity to other Axon Picos without requiring a switch. Axon Picos connect using IEEE 1588 PTP system synchronization. Even better, the high-performance unit delivers data throughput rated at 50 kbps per channel (max.) on its eight analog input channels while supporting all typical FTI analog sensor types. This flexible analog-to-data converter FTI module is ideal for demanding flight test programs like Missile and EVTOL.
“We believe the Axon Pico is the FTI industry’s first miniature standalone analog data acquisition unit with support for Power over Ethernet and daisy-chain connectivity,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. “Our Axon data acquisition systems for critical flight test applications provide flight test engineers with high-speed, flexible solutions for demanding FTI programs. With the introduction of the Axon Pico, we further demonstrate our commitment to delivering the most comprehensive FTI product range available.”
The Axon Pico supports a programmable input range of ±2.4 mV to ±10V and delivers high accuracy up to 0.02% FSR (typical). The DAU supports full-bridge, half-bridge, differential-ended, single-ended, RTD, thermocouple, ICP, and A.C. coupled measurements with both voltage and current excitation. Data is packetized directly from the unit, eliminating the need for a separate chassis. Each unit features two ports carrying 100BASE-TX Ethernet and power over CAT5 (or better) cable.
About the Axon Product Family
The Axon product family is the most advanced airborne data acquisition system available today. It offers low SWaP and the best feature set, data acquisition, and thermal performance on the market. The Axon product family builds on Curtiss-Wright’s heritage as the leading supplier of rugged, reliable data acquisition for aerospace applications.
Axon’s future-proof design, using a high-speed serial backplane (1 Gbps dedicated link per module), supports future high data rates. Its optimized SWaP design enables an Axon module to be located in tight spaces and operate reliably without requiring bulky heatsinks. Axon modules can be hosted in ultra-miniature “Axonite” housings and located remotely, separated from the chassis by up to 10 meters. Locating data acquisition closer to the sensors can significantly decrease the installation time and cost of the instrumentation while reducing wiring weight. Axonites can also save significant system costs in larger installations by minimizing the number of DAUs required in remote locations and eliminating the need for extra chassis controllers and power supplies.