Volume 5, Number 1     January/February 1997

  Technology Transfer

Portable System Cuts Time, Paperwork

ROCESSING SPACE SHUTTLE PAYLOAD processing missions test procedures can be time consuming and paper-intensive.

A new portable data collection system cuts the time to process a procedure, reduces the paper used and improves information gathering after the test.

The Quality Assurance Portable Data Collection (QAPDC) system, developed under the Small Business Innovative Research program (SBIR) for NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) will help KSC migrate to a paperless procedure system for Space Shuttle payload processing operations.

The QAPDC system won the NASA SBIR of the Year Award (software category) at Technology 2006.

SENTEL Corporation of Alexandria, Virginia, OPTIMUS Corporation of Silver Spring, Maryland, and KSC developed the system. SENTEL and Optimus are commercializing the system. KSC is developing the system for use in Space Station processing.

QAPDC incorporates a hand-held, pen-based computer platform. The system can install many data collection forms, record data against those forms, imprint controlled signature authority, maintain the integrity of the data collected and relay the data to a computer network for analysis and archiving.

John Lekki of KSC said KSC has tested the prototype and "overall the concept is good. We still have some adjustments to make, but we'll be able to get away from the paper system." QAPDC's deployment is about a year-and-a-half away.

The KSC launch team has direct communication with the inspector and immediate status of completed tests with the system. Lekki said, "Data is collected and transmitted through the KSC network in real time."

SENTEL Chief Technical Officer Kevin Jackson said, "The unique part is that QAPDC is not tied specifically to any piece of hardware. This enables clients to use their existing hardware. Since it is Windows-based we have all of its advantages and can ride on improvements in that system. We can also make it Web capable."

The server system has an intelligent forms converter that automatically formats the form or procedure electronically for execution on a pen computer.

Information temporarily can be stored on the pen computer and later transferred to a central personal computer. QAPDC can search and retrieve interactions and generate task status reports and trend analyses.

QAPDC benefits include real-time task monitoring and improved data availability. QAPDC reduces latency, paper-intensive inspection processes and need for re-keying data.

QAPDC also could be used by the aerospace and airline industries, the shipbuilding industry, warehouse and shipping industries, law enforcement agencies and public utilities. "Our goal is to have a commercial product next year," Jackson said.

For more information about the product, contact John Lekki at KSC. Call 407/867-3690
or Kevin Jackson at SENTEL. Call 703/739-0084 FAX: 703/739-6028 E-mail: kjackson@sentel.com
Please mention that you read about it in Innovation.