Spacecraft Systems Operations Lab: Spacecraft Systems Operations Lab: Radio Telescope Radio Telescope Team Ongo- - 02c 02c Team Ongo April 25, 2007 April 25, 2007 Client: Iowa Space Grant Consortium Client: Iowa Space Grant Consortium Advisor: Dr. Basart Advisor: Dr. Basart
Team Members Team Members Second Sem ester Students Students: : Second Sem ester � Joel Leyh (EE) Joel Leyh (EE) � � Ehsan Rehman (EE) Ehsan Rehman (EE) � First Sem ester Students Students : : First Sem ester � Nick Jensen ( Nick Jensen ( CprE CprE) ) � � Sulianet Ortiz (EE) Sulianet Ortiz (EE) � � Raj Venkatachalam (EE) Raj Venkatachalam (EE) � � Niclo Hitchcock (EE) Niclo Hitchcock (EE) � Fick Observatory
Presentation Outline Presentation Outline � Definitions Definitions � � Acknowledgements Acknowledgements � � Problem Statement Problem Statement � � Operating Environment Operating Environment � � Intended Users and Intended Users and � Uses Uses � End Product End Product � � Assumptions and Assumptions and � Limitations Limitations � Accomplishments Accomplishments � � Project Activities Project Activities � � Resource Requirements Resource Requirements � � Lessons Learned Lessons Learned � Radio Telescope � Closing Summary Closing Summary �
List of Definitions List of Definitions � DAQ: Data acquisition (input/output from computer) � Shaft angle encoder: Electro-mechanical device used to convert the angular position of a shaft or axle to a digital code � Azimuth: The measurement of the horizontal movement of the dish � Elevation: The measurement of the vertical movement of the dish
Acknowledgments Acknowledgments Financial support: • Iowa Space Grant Consortium • Dr. John Lamont and Prof. Ralph Patterson III Advising: • Dr. John P. Basart
Problem Statement Problem Statement � Conversion of satellite tracking equipment into a radio telescope at the Fick Observatory in Boone, IA � Telescope needs to be operable from a remote location, via the Internet
Operating Environment Operating Environment � Amplification system is to be placed outdoor where temperatures ranges from -20 ° F to 110 ° F with possibility of snow, ice and strong wind � Vulnerability to lightning which could lead to signal interference and equipment damage � Remaining part of the system will be held indoors at regular room temperature
Intended Users and Uses Intended Users and Uses Intended Users: Intended Users: � Faculty and researchers in astronomy Faculty and researchers in astronomy � � Astronomy students Astronomy students � Intended Uses: Intended Uses: � Radio mapping of the sky at frequency Radio mapping of the sky at frequency � around 1420 MHz around 1420 MHz � Tracking celestial objects Tracking celestial objects � � Data collection Data collection �
End Product Description End Product Description 408 MHz 10 GHz 1420 MHz A radio telescope to be used by the ISU community that can accurately track & record data from celestial objects with remote operation capabilities.
Assumptions & Limitations Assumptions & Limitations Assumptions: Assumptions: � 1420 MHz is an appropriate frequency for 1420 MHz is an appropriate frequency for � radio astronomy radio astronomy � Dish will pick up relevant signals Dish will pick up relevant signals � � Motors and gearboxes are capable of Motors and gearboxes are capable of � precise movement precise movement � The software and hardware developed in The software and hardware developed in � previous semesters work as intended previous semesters work as intended
Assumptions & Limitations Assumptions & Limitations Limitations: Limitations: � Dish unable to be positioned to true north Dish unable to be positioned to true north � � Positioning accuracy dependant on motors and Positioning accuracy dependant on motors and � gears gears � Radio sources less than 2.5 degrees apart Radio sources less than 2.5 degrees apart � appear as one source due to beam width of appear as one source due to beam width of the dish the dish � Weather conditions limit the work that can be Weather conditions limit the work that can be � done on the exterior components of the dish done on the exterior components of the dish � The dish, mount and other fixtures are The dish, mount and other fixtures are � irreplaceable irreplaceable
Niclo Hitchcock Niclo Hitchcock � Definitions Definitions � � Acknowledgements Acknowledgements � � Problem Statement Problem Statement � � Operating Environment Operating Environment � � Intended Users and Uses Intended Users and Uses � � End Product End Product � � Assumptions and Limitations Assumptions and Limitations � � Accomplishments Accomplishments � � Project Activities Project Activities � • • Attenuator and Remote Control Software Attenuator and Remote Control Software • • Position Sensing Position Sensing • • Scanning and positioning software improvements Scanning and positioning software improvements • • Motor control automation Motor control automation � Resource Requirements Resource Requirements � � Lessons Learned Lessons Learned � � Closing Summary Closing Summary �
Previous Accomplishments Previous Accomplishments � Installation of dish, motors and other mechanical Installation of dish, motors and other mechanical � fixtures fixtures � Major electrical work for motors and positioning Major electrical work for motors and positioning � system system � Purchase of radio receiver system Purchase of radio receiver system � � Preliminary software for operating the telescope Preliminary software for operating the telescope � � Impedance matching Impedance matching �
Current Accomplishments Current Accomplishments � Programmable attenuator installation and Programmable attenuator installation and � software design software design � Remote Control Software design Remote Control Software design � � Motor control box reorganization Motor control box reorganization � � Line driver for positioning system Line driver for positioning system � � Scanning and positioning software improvements Scanning and positioning software improvements �
Project Activities Project Activities Attenuator Attenuator � The previous semester noticed a problem when The previous semester noticed a problem when � the sun was scanned, in which the intensity the sun was scanned, in which the intensity dropped to zero. The signal was overpowering dropped to zero. The signal was overpowering the receiver. An attenuator was required to the receiver. An attenuator was required to prevent this. prevent this. Before After 3dB attenuation
Project Activities Project Activities Attenuator Attenuator � The attenuator must be operable remotely, so The attenuator must be operable remotely, so � that users can prevent signal from clipping at that users can prevent signal from clipping at peak intensities. This can be accomplished using peak intensities. This can be accomplished using a LabVIEW virtual instrument. a LabVIEW virtual instrument.
Project Activities Project Activities Attenuator Attenuator � The software uses LabVIEW components to The software uses LabVIEW components to � operate DAQ card, which sends appropriate operate DAQ card, which sends appropriate signals to the attenuator inputs. signals to the attenuator inputs.
Project Activities Project Activities Remote Control Software Remote Control Software � The attenuator software has been integrated into The attenuator software has been integrated into � additional software which allows dish components additional software which allows dish components to be activated remotely to be activated remotely
Project Activities Project Activities Remote Control Software Remote Control Software � The remote control software operates under the The remote control software operates under the � same principles as the attenuator software to same principles as the attenuator software to control relays using the DAQ card control relays using the DAQ card
Ehsan Rehman Ehsan Rehman � Definitions Definitions � � Acknowledgements Acknowledgements � � Problem Statement Problem Statement � � Operating Environment Operating Environment � � Intended Users and Uses Intended Users and Uses � � End Product End Product � � Assumptions and Limitations Assumptions and Limitations � � Accomplishments Accomplishments � � Project Activities Project Activities � • • Attenuator and Remote Control Software Attenuator and Remote Control Software • • Position Sensing Position Sensing • • Scanning and positioning software improvements Scanning and positioning software improvements • • Motor control automation Motor control automation � Resource Requirements Resource Requirements � � Lessons Learned Lessons Learned � � Closing Summary Closing Summary �
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