MIMO Direct field acoustic control
Data Physics MIMO Direct Field Acoustic Test Controller Provides Superior Control of Loudspeakers for Acoustic Noise Tests. The 800 Series MIMO Acoustic Controller Can Generate Acoustic Fields with Uniformity Unmatched by RATF Chambers.
Before being launched into space, a satellite must be test to verify it can survive the intense acoustic environment of launch. Testing has traditionally been performed only in reverberant chambers. But today with the advent of MIMO control technology and enough independently driven loudspeakers, direct field acoustic testing is not only a viable alternative to RATF testing – it has many advantages over RATF testing as well.
MIMO Acoustic Control for Direct Field Acoustic Testing
A proven alternative to PWT/RATFs is using loudspeakers and a Multi-Input Multi-Output controller to generate the desired acoustic field. NASA described proper procedures for DFAT testing in NASA-HDBK-7010.
DFAT tests require less infrastructure and equipment and are thus more cost effective than a PWT or RATF setup. The MIMO controller is also able to create a more diffuse acoustic field, minimizing over- or under- test on different parts of the test structure.
Together with our partners at d&b audiotechnik Data Physics can provide a complete turnkey system for DFAT testing, including both the loudspeakers and MIMO Controller. In tests run in 2019, 145dB OASPL was held for over 10 minutes with all control microphones within +-3dB across all octave bands. A grid of measurement microphones was also used to measure OASPL around the entire field, and all measured within +-3dB of 145 (Field Uniformity graphic above).
