ACRA CONTROL is proud to be associated with the latest update to the metadata standard that allows customers to use a single configuration method to setup hardware from multiple vendors and provides a platform for a range of tools that accelerates flight test programs.

ACRA CONTROL has been working together with industry partners and customers to create a metadata standard for setup of data acquisition systems. The result is XidML – the only published metadata standard for the FTI community. It is a 100% vendor neutral, iNET compatible XML method for storing metadata in a highly structured form that describes how data is acquired, processed and packaged for transmission, storage or reproduction. It greatly simplifies the task of integrating disparate hardware and software packages into a cohesive system for the companies and programs that are managing large flight test programs.

The XidML 3.0 update incorporates refinements which better meet the needs of the FTI community. This includes the introduction of XdefML which defines physical characteristics and limitations of hardware modules. This now means that the settings and their validation can be developed by anyone for devices from any vendor or user group. A single instrument schema and the ability to nest instruments and parameters offer a simpler, quicker and more intuitive user experience. Additional tools for TMATS translation, report generation and validation will be available soon. For more details on XidML and a copy of the specification, please see www.xidml.org.