
Projects
Cannon Testing
The Problem
Howitzer cannons are used for military front lines and long range artillery. Some Howitzer cannons are mounted onto tanks. The Howitzer cannon recoil system requires routine maintenance after a period of use. After maintenance is complete, the unit is tested to confirm that the recoil performance remains within spec.
The client chose to replace PLC control systems with a new system using cRIO hardware controlled with LabVIEW software for more accurate timing measurements and data capture.
The Solution
JET was responsible for developing and integrating the test control software. This included reverse-engineering the existing PLC ladder logic code to determine the original requirements, completely reworking the user workflow, and developing new FPGA algorithms to handle noise resulting from shock and vibration.
Integration of the new control system involved verifying control and UI behavior for many different failure cases related to user setup failures, mechanical failures, or electrical system. It also included user management, test data management, and reporting coordination between multiple test systems.
The Outcome
JET’s LabVIEW-based control system for the Howitzer cannon recoil testing decreased test time, increased test data utility, and radically improved user experience.