DTS introduces SLICE6 AIR-TC thermocouple DAQ for advanced flight testing

Diversified Technical Systems, Inc. (DTS), a VPG company and leading manufacturer of SWaP-optimised flight test instrumentation and data acquisition systems for aerospace and defence, announced the release of the SLICE6 AIR-TC, a new thermocouple data acquisition system engineered to significantly reduce payload size and cost in flight-test environments.

Purpose-built for temperature measurements, the ultra-compact system packs 24 thermocouple channels into a 42 × 42 mm footprint, making it ideal for size- and weight-constrained applications such as launch vehicles, hypersonic systems, and other advanced aerospace platforms. Designed for harsh environments, it supports real-time Ethernet data streaming, precise time synchronisation, and reliable operation from approximately -40°C to +80 °C.

"Customers told us they needed a simpler, more cost-effective way to collect thermocouple data in flight," said Rollin White, President of DTS. "With SLICE6 AIR-TC, what once required four modules can now be done with one—reducing both system complexity and cost while maximising valuable payload space."

At approximately one-third the cost per channel compared to the company's SLICE6 AIR data acquisition unit, the SLICE6 AIR-TC prioritises thermocouple measurements into a compact design, enabling engineers to capture critical temperature data more efficiently.

Key Features:

– 42 × 42 × 13 mm, 50 grams

– 500 g shock rated

– Real-time streaming: up to 2k sps/channel

– IRIG 106 Chapter 10, IENA, or TmNS

– Time Synchronisation: IEEE 1588/PTPv2, IRIG-B, & GPS/PPS

– -40°C to +80°C, IP64, MIL-STD-810G, and MIL-STD-461G

– Type K, S, T & E thermocouples

The SLICE6 AIR-TC expands the SLICE6 AIR family of Ethernet-based data acquisition systems designed for mission-critical testing. When integrated with SLICE6 AIR and SLICE6 AIR-BR, it enables engineers to measure parameters such as temperature, force, strain, and vibration on a precision-synchronised timeline, providing accurate, reliable, and repeatable data in the most demanding test environments.