SSOL: Radio Telescope IRP PresentationTeam Ongo-02c

December 6, 2006

Client: Iowa Space Grant ConsortiumAdvisor: Dr. Basart

Team MembersSecond Semester Students:Katie Hulet (EE)Phil Reusswig (EE)Mike Blasi (CprE)

First Semester Students:Joel Leyh (EE)Ehsan Rehman (EE)Srisarath Patneedi Sunny (CprE)Fick Observatory

Presentation OutlineDefinitions Acknowledgements Problem Statement Operating Environment Intended Users and Uses End Product Assumptions and Limitations

Accomplishments Project Activities Resource Requirements Lessons Learned Closing SummaryRadio Telescope

List of Definitions DAQ: Data acquisition

Shaft angle encoder: Electro-mechanical device used to convert the angular position of a shaft or axle to a digital code

Impedance: Measure of opposition to electric current propagation in a transmission line.

Azimuth: The measurement of the horizontal movement of the dish

Elevation: The measurement of the vertical movement of the dish

AcknowledgmentsFinancial support: Iowa Space Grant Consortium Dr. John Lamont and Prof. Ralph Patterson III

Advising: Dr. John P. Basart

Problem StatementConversion 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 Amplification system is to be placed outdoor where temperatures ranges from -20F to 110F 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 UsesIntended Users:

Faculty and researchers in astronomyAstronomy students

Intended Uses:

Radio mapping of the sky at frequency around 1420 MHzTracking celestial objectsData collection

End Product Description 408 MHz1420 MHz10 GHzA radio telescope to be used by the ISU community that can accurately track & record data from celestial objects with remote operation capabilities.

Assumptions & LimitationsAssumptions:

1420 MHz is an appropriate frequency for radio astronomy

Dish will pick up relevant signals

Motors and gearboxes are capable of precise movement

The software and hardware developed by previous semesters work as intended

Assumptions & LimitationsLimitations:

Dish unable to be positioned to true north

Positioning accuracy dependant on motors and gears

Radio sources less than 2.5 degrees apart appear as one source due to beam width of the dish

Weather conditions limit the work that can be done on the exterior components of the dish

The dish, mount and other fixtures are irreplaceable

Fick Observatory is nearly 20 miles away from ISU

Phil ReusswigDefinitions Acknowledgements Problem Statement Operating Environment Intended Users and Uses End Product Assumptions and Limitations

Accomplishments Project ActivitiesMotor control automationImpedance matchingShaft angle encoderWeb serverScanning and positioning software improvements

Resource Requirements Lessons Learned Closing Summary

Previous AccomplishmentsInstallation of dish, motors and other mechanical fixtures

Major electrical work for motors and positioning system

Purchase of radio receiver system

Preliminary software for operating the telescope

Last Semesters AccomplishmentsStatic IP address for observatory

Diagnosis and repair of faulty electronic components

Research module to remotely control telescopes power systems

Integration of existing software components

Design and implementation of automatic scheduling software

Obtained telescopes first raster scans

Current AccomplishmentsMotor control automation

Impedance matching

Shaft angle encoder

Web server for remote access via a webpage

Scanning and positioning software improvements

Project ActivitiesMotor control automationProblem:Currently power is locally manually controlled

Fick Observatory is in Boone, IA

Project ActivitiesMotor control automationApproaches considered: Leave power on continuously

Automate power supply via relays, FET, or BJT by means of computer

Project ActivitiesMotor control relay

Joel LeyhDefinitions Acknowledgements Problem Statement Operating Environment Intended Users and Uses End Product Assumptions and Limitations

Accomplishments Project ActivitiesMotor control automationImpedance matchingShaft angle encoderWeb server Scanning and positioning software improvements

Resource Requirements Lessons Learned Closing Summary

Project ActivitiesImpedance matchingProblem:This is the first semester the team had the opportunity to quantitatively look at the system signal and losses.

The feed horn is not matched to the coax line running to the amplifier. This is a source of signal loss.

The process of impedance matching will result in the best possible signal strength, and the best possible data for the user.

Project ActivitiesImpedance matchingApproaches considered:Stub tunerSimple length of coax placed on the lineRequired to know parameters of the feed horn

Adjustable shorting plateAlready permanently installed in the dishBrute force method of tuning we need to track the Sun!

Project ActivitiesImpedance matching

Project ActivitiesImpedance matching

Results320Minimum - 35 120 210 140 210Maximum - 550410The best position from the analysis was at the limit of the adjustment, which allowed for greatest distance between the monopole and shorting plate.

AttenuatorThe previous semester noticed a problem when the sun was scanned, in which the intensity dropped to zero. The signal was overpowering the receiver.BeforeAfter 3dB attenuation

Ehsan RehmanDefinitions Acknowledgements Problem Statement Operating Environment Intended Users and Uses End Product Assumptions and Limitations

Accomplishments Project ActivitiesMotor control automationImpedance matchingShaft angle encoderWeb serverScanning and positioning software improvements

Resource Requirements Lessons Learned Closing Summary

Project ActivitiesShaft angle encoderProblem:Current positioning system based on potentiometer

Output is an analog signal which is susceptible to various forms of electrical noise

Positioning system must have higher resolution than 0.1

Project ActivitiesShaft angle encoderApproaches considered:Shaft Angle EncoderAbsoluteIncrementalIntuitive Binary EncodingGray Binary Encoding

Project ActivitiesShaft angle encoderImages courtesy of Wikipedia.com

Line DriverLine noise reduction

Mike BlasiDefinitions Acknowledgements Problem Statement Operating Environment Intended Users and Uses End Product Assumptions and Limitations

Accomplishments Project ActivitiesMotor control automationImpedance matchingShaft angle encoderWeb serverScanning and positioning software improvements

Resource Requirements Lessons Learned Closing Summary

Project ActivitiesWeb serverProblem:

Currently remote access is limited to Windows remote desktop

Need a user friendly remote interface for telescope control

Limit access to authorized users

Project ActivitiesWeb serverDesign:LabVIEW built-in web server with internet toolkit

Remote power relay must be installed

Project ActivitiesWeb serverImplementation:Configure network settings in LabVIEW and router

LabVIEW must be running to host website

Convert LabVIEW modules to web compatible version

Project ActivitiesWeb server

Project Activities Scanning and positioning software improvementsProblem:Raster scan needs to output intensity values to file

Raster scan needs real time gauges during scanning

Positioning software is inaccurate

Project Activities Scanning and positioning software improvementsImplementation:Add gauges and file output to raster scan using LabVIEW

Project Activities Scanning and positioning software improvementsImplementation:Verify astronomical equations in positioning software

Sunny PatneediDefinitionsAcknowledgementsProblem StatementOperating EnvironmentIntended Users and UsesEnd ProductAssumptions and LimitationsAccomplishmentsProject ActivitiesResources and ScheduleSchedule Personal EffortFinancial RequirementsClosing MaterialsProject EvaluationFuture ActivitiesLessons LearnedRisks & Risk ManagementClosing SummaryQuestions ?

Schedule

Sheet1

Task NameDurationStartFinishAug-06Sep-06Oct-06Nov-06Dec-06

21284111825291623306132027411

Remote Motor Control Box

Testing14 days9/16/069/29/06

Implementation16 days9/30/0610/15/06

Documentation9 days10/16/0610/22/06

Power Supply Stabilization

Research14 days9/25/0610/8/06

Implementation7 days10/9/0610/16/06

Documentation5 days10/16/0610/20/06

Raster Scan

Modification42 days9/11/0610/25/06

Documentation6 days10/22/0610/28/06

Positioning Software

Modification53 days10/9/0612/9/06

Documentation6 days12/4/0612/9/06

Shaft Angle Encoder

Research15 days9/18/0610/2/06

Documentation6 days10/2/0610/8/06

Impedence Matching

Research43 days9/10/0610/22/06

Implementation26 days10/23/0611/17/06

Documentation5 days11/27/0612/1/06

Web Server

Implementation87 days9/4/0612/8/06

Documentation12 days11/27/0612/8/06

Website66 days9/25/0612/8/06

Maintenance of Fick5 days12/4/0612/8/06

Documentation5 days12/4/0612/8/06

Personal Effort

Financial Budget

Project Evaluation

Future Required ActivitiesIntegrate an automated power management solution

Combine all software into a user-friendly web-based interface

Calibrate system for accurate positioning

Continue improving software interactivity with hardware

Lessons LearnedTechnical:Positing system of the dishShaft Angle encoders, PotentiometersImpedance matching LabVIEW concepts and standards

Non-Technical:The importance of team planning and communicationMaking decisions as a groupImportance of clear and concise documentationImportance of time and task management

Risks & Risk ManagementRisk of shock or electrocution while working on the motor control box Power should be disconnected before beginning work

Loss of software or any vital data for the projectRegularly create backups

Loss of team member Obtain information about his/her activities from their log book

Closing Summary The purpose of this project is to restore the dish so that it will be fully operational for use in radio astronomy. This semester we have been working on :Researching the usage of shaft angle encoders Building and integrating the relay system for remote activation of the control boxIncorporating a web server and providing access via a web interfaceResolving errors related to the positioning of the dishUpon completion of this project, the dish at Fick Observatory will track and record data from celestial objects for use by the ISU community.

Questions?SSOL: Radio Telescope Team Ongo-02c