Automating atmospheric neutron testing: Minimizing cost and improving statistical certainty

Accurate radiation-induced event-rate predictions are critical in establishing expected electronic equipment performance in natural space and terrestrial avionic environments. Some sources of uncertainty, like environmental software models, cannot easily be improved. However, the statistical certainty of collected data, facility rental expense, and engineering man-power can be optimized through high fidelity automated test. The investment in automated test development results in a lower overall cost of a test campaign, while simultaneously maximizing statistical certainty of the collected data. This is achieved by tailoring the automated test to expedite the event data capture per unit of real time at atmospheric neutron test facilities.