The aviation/aerospace scenario in India, both commercial and defence, has witnessed a flurry of activities in the past few years. While the country is still dependent on imports of both hardware as well as technology in the absence of any significant home grown industry in this segment, there are several companies operating in various niches, some independently, and a few in collaboration with overseas principals. There are several areas in which such companies are actively working with various degrees of success and achievements. These include: design and development of software and hardware in avionics, aircraft, ground-based and aerospace systems; cockpit simulation, system integration and testing, fabrication of high quality cables and looms, test jigs and test rigs, automated test equipment; aircraft/helicopter/spacecraft maintenance/refurbishing services, etc.

Hyderabad-based Super Technologies is a leading system integration and product distribution organisation, engaged in providing cutting edge technology solutions. It carries a clear vision of providing the best in the world to engineers in mechanical and electronics development in its technical experience with a good team. The company offers an unrivalled portfolio of products that caters to research & development establishments, defence, aerospace, industrial applications and technical institutions.

Super Technologies offers software solutions include a wide range of electrical and mechatronic engineering applications to meet most user profiles. From mechatronics systems to power systems, from electromagnetism to electromechanics, software solutions are dedicated to increasing productivity and helping client companies improve the performance of their devices and systems. The company has specialised in bringing together component subsystems into a whole and ensuring that those subsystems function together.

Super Advantages

• World class testing facilities with reasonable prices
• Instant services without waiting time
• Generation of quality test reports
• Application and R&D support
• Centrally location for quick logistics
• Combined operations of multiple facilities, and
• Trained operators and maintenance staff.

Among the various principals, Super Technologies have two companies that are specialising in the aviation and space sector: Nielsen Engineering & Research and Princeton Satellite Systems.

Nielsen Engineering & Research

Since 1966, Nielsen Engineering & Research (NEAR) has been providing its customers with analysis, research, design, and development services in the areas of fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, flow-related sensors, and aerodynamic hardware solutions. NEAR's staff of highly competent engineers and scientists offer a unique combination of depth and breadth of knowledge, generating innovative and effective solutions in a cost- and time-efficient manner. Analytical services are available to customers who require data for evaluating new ideas, for supporting wind tunnel and flight tests, and for FAA certification efforts. In addition, NEAR's research, design, and development resources satisfy the needs of customers who require assistance with the creation of new products or the enhancement of existing systems or processes.

To accomplish these objectives, NEAR offers 1) a range of aero/hydrodynamic analysis tools including computational fluid dynamics, engineering level numerical methods, and custom-designed analytical software, 2) laboratory and wind tunnel testing, 3) hardware development and evaluation, and 4) a knowledgeable and dedicated staff with the experience to know which tool or combination of tools is the most applicable and effective for a given situation.

NEAR provides all levels of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic design and analysis ranging from basic engineering methods to advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations. These tools, coupled with NEAR's capabilities for analysing complex fluid phenomena, are applied to customer's problems to achieve accurate and efficient solutions. Practical project experience in both analytical and experimental aerodynamic techniques is the basis for NEAR's excellent reputation for delivering results for commercial programs.

NEAR has a highly competent and innovative staff of scientists and engineers. Areas of competence range from applied aerodynamics analyses to basic research into the fundamental aspects of fluid phenomena. The small size of the company is an asset which allows for quick and cost effective solutions to real problems.

Princeton Satellite Systems

Princeton Satellite Systems Inc., is a small company extending the state-of-the-art in energy and aerospace systems. We are actively developing exciting technology for electricity backup, electric vehicle charging, fusion propulsion, lighter-than-air-vehicles, solar sails, spacecraft formation flying, launch vehicles and spacecraft control and navigation.

Spacecraft Flight Control Experience: The company's engineers have had extensive spacecraft experience prior to joining Princeton Satellite Systems. Some highlights are listed below:

• GPS IIR control system design
• Inmarsat 3 control system design
• ATDRS control design architecture
• GGS Polar platform control system
• Mars Observer attitude control system for delta-v manoeuvres
• Space Shuttle, and
• Over a dozen GE Series 3000, 4000, and 5000 launches.

Besides, Princeton Satellite Systems sells the SunStation solar powered home power backup and electric vehicle charging systems. Its home backup systems provide backup power in case of outages and produce electrical power whenever the sun is shining saving you money everyday.

The users do not have to deal with hazardous, unreliable, noisy and polluting natural gas or gasoline generators. The PSS electric vehicle charging stations provide charging 24 hours a day in places where it is too expensive to get grid power or where grid power is unreliable. The SunStation is fully autonomous and can be configured as a pay charging station or as a free service for customers or employees.

(Super Technologies, Secunderabad. Tel: 040-66338111. Mobile: 099486-59119. Fax: 91-40-27755249. Email: info@supertechnologies.net)

Launch Vehicle Toolbox

Princeton Satellite Systems' Launch Vehicle Toolbox (LVT), for use with MATLAB?, provides a wide range of utilities to support launch vehicle sizing, design, and performance analysis. The LVT product includes the following three components: Launch Vehicle Module Spacecraft Control Toolbox, and Aircraft Control Toolbox Applications Launch window planning Launch vehicle sizing for early mission concept studies Orbit insertion trajectory design Analysis of sub-orbital range and altitude capabilities, and Re-entry dispersion analysis Features in v1.0M Multi-stage vehicle point-mass model for boost phase simulations User-interactive GUI for developing direct and indirect launch trajectories Newtonian aerodynamic model for hypersonic speeds, and Non dimensional re-entry dynamics model (Shen and Lu, 2007). LVT is available for purchase as a stand-alone product, and as an upgrade for existing SCT customers.

Detailed Missile Loads: MISDL

Fast-running program MISDL employs elements of classical aerodynamic theory, including vortical theory. The software package predicts overall aerodynamic performance coefficients and detailed aerodynamic loading distributions on the body and fins of a missile. The body modelling in MISDL has been extended so that noncircular body shapes can be modelled, including those with chines. The missile finned sections can have planar, triform, cruciform, and low profile fin layouts. Fin planform can be arbitrary. Effects of rotational rates and of nonuniform flow are included. The overall and detailed aerodynamics predicted by these programs are useful to aerodynamic, structural, and control system engineers. The software packages include a postprocessor for generating aerodynamic forces for input to structural analysis program NASTRAN. The prediction programs are not limited to missile configurations, aircraft aerodynamic performance coefficients can also be determined. Range of Flow Parameters Subsonic - supersonic Mach number (fin loads valid to Mach 6.0) Angles of attack up to 30 deg Roll angle arbitrary, and Fin control deflection angles to 20 deg Important Modelling Features Nonlinear effects of body and fin vortices Damping effects due to rotational rates (p,q,r), and Effects of user-specified nonuniform flow Applicable Configurations Up to 3 fin sections Up to 8 fins per fin section Arbitrary attachment and dihedral angles, and Arbitrary fin planform shape Aerodynamic Quantities Computed Overall 6-DOF forces and moments: axial, side, and normal forces rolling, pitching, and yawing moments Fin forces and moments: fin axial and normal forces, fin hinge and bending moments Body pressure distribution Fin load distributions, and Detailed axial force breakdown Output Options Detailed output file TECPLOT? compatible files, and Spreadsheet compatible file As an option, MISDL can be linked with the NEAR store separation program STRLNCH for detailed aerodynamic analysis of store carriage loads and trajectories. MISDL is available for most workstation computers subject to license fees and a software license agreement.