Time plotting framework for remote display of flight data

This paper describes the design and implementation of a framework for real time plotting offering complete flexibility. The author attempts to synthesize answers to the problem of plotting and modifying the graphical aspects of real time data streamed remotely from an uninhabited aerial system (UAS). The paper is organized into two parts: design and implementation. The design section is divided into three main topics: a) data description and representation in general; b) how it is transformed for primary graphical purposes, and c) how it can be altered for advanced graphical representation purposes. The implementation section discusses code organization and how it can be enhanced by the use of design patterns. In the design section, the way data is represented is briefly discussed at the technical level, but emphasis is mostly put on how data can be described in a generic form, regardless of its nature. Such description encompasses the physical way data is delivered (e.g. serial port, Ethernet et cetera), and how to decode it. The simple data visualization section lays down some basic but useful ideas. There, several aspects are discussed, ranging from digits displaying on a graph, common ways of scaling, zooming it, and mostly how to do so in an efficient way. The third section is an attempt to solve the issue of generic time invariant graphic transformation (zooming, scaling) when applied to a real time context. There, differences between the two display contexts are enlightened. The analysis provides useful information, such as the additional computing requirements needed for a real time plotting software to deliver the same basic graphic features as those present de facto in a classic time invariant one. It is shown that in general, performing graphic operations on real time data is more challenging than doing so on a recorded data file. Such complexity usually translates into an increase in processing time as compared with the same operations performed on diffe- - red data. In order to account for such issues, a classification of potential overhead is created. The implementation section provides the reader with an object oriented paradigm tailored for complex graphic user interface (GUI) design, separating logic from event driven action chains. Following that is an extensive method of factoring functionality by mean of design patterns. The theory presented in this paper is then corroborated by the development of an application designed for real time plotting of data streaming from uninhabited aerial system.