MEMKO launches Non-Intrusive Flight Test Instrumentation (NIFTI) product for rapid, affordable and more flexible flight trials

MEMKO is pleased to announce the launch of its first product to the market; NIFTI, a Non-Intrusive Flight Test Instrumentation system.

Initially developed in Australia by flight test crew, in close collaboration with the RAAF Air Warfare Centre (AWC) and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), NIFTI is a small, aircraft independent, wireless sensing system that collects environmental, acceleration and structural response test data using sensor nodes adhesively mounted to an aircraft’s interior or exterior structure.

Contrary to traditional flight test instrumentation which requires unique and extensive fitouts to an airframe and aircraft systems, NIFTI offers a flexible and cost-effective solution with no interfaces to aircraft systems, allowing for rapid installation and removal of reuseable nodes on any aircraft, from a fast jet to an ultralight.

Non-Intrusive Flight Test Instrumentation

About MEMKO

MEMKO is an engineering and technology company based in Melbourne, Australia. Established in 2007 with its origins in Aerospace, MEMKO’s services now span across multiple industries with a focus on Aerospace and Defence engineering using smart enterprise digital tools across the product life cycle management covering design, systems engineering, digital mock-up, simulation, digital manufacturing and virtual twin. MEMKO is committed to building the workforce of the future, supporting many research and university clients with a combination of industry and market knowledge. MEMKO also delivers training courses for continued education in aviation and aerospace, micro credentials for upskilling in digital manufacturing and official Dassault Systèmes software certification.

Media Contact

Miro Miletic

Managing Director

MEMKO Pty Ltd

(t) + 61 3 8605 7777

(e) miro@memko.com.au

NIFTI node operations can be set by setting a countdown timer, scheduling a capture start and stop time, or through wireless control, with multiple nodes capturing time -synchronised data, all within an easy-to-use Windows App.

Other NIFTI Sensor Nodes features include:

Aerodynamic profile suitable for external mounting directly on locations of interest
Minimum endurance of 2 hours active at -45ºC, 40 hours hibernation at 20ºC
Variable sample rate of up to 4KHz
Nodes available in a tri-axial accelerometer configuration
Mounting adhesives compatible with existing aircraft paint systems

NIFTI is a culmination of MEMKO’s mission to support next-generation innovation within Australia’s aerospace and defence industry. Leveraging its in-house engineering capabilities, digital tools and industry know-how, NIFTI was developed using digital threads and Model Based Systems Engineering methodology from requirements capture through to concept development, including virtual manufacturability, additive manufacturing and physical prototyping.

These initiatives ultimately led MEMKO to be awarded a Silver award in AuManufacturing’s list of Top 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers in Australia.

Sam Mancarella – MEMKO Director of Systems Engineering, and NIFTI’s lead developer – said he was very pleased to build a product that provides flight-testing capability for in-service aircraft.

“The ability to rapidly deploy any number of NIFTI Sensor Nodes, as-needed to any aircraft, means that flight-tests can offer valuable flight test insight on specific aircraft in an affordable, easy to use way,” Sam Mancarella said.

NIFTI is available for purchase now at: https://nifti.aero/