engineering operations: parkes development projects erik lensson, smieee, msmpte head, engineering...

Engineering Operations:Parkes Development Projects

Erik Lensson, SMIEEE, mSMPTEHead, Engineering Operations29 October 2009

CSIRO. ATNF Engineering Operations: Parkes Development Projects

Engineering Operations


Engineering Operations – What we do

• Day-to-day maintenance of ATNF radioastronomy facilities at Parkes, Narrabri, Coonabarabran and (in the future) the Boolardy WA Murchison Radio Observatory (MRO).

• Preventative and corrective maintenance.• Planning for future operations.• Development Projects, facilitating the remote operation of the

Parkes 64m radiotelescope, including planning, development and commissioning, with the support of the ATNF Technologies Theme staff.


Remote Operations?

‘To enable computer control & monitoring of standard telescope

systems’

• Health & Safety (HSE);

• Reliability;

• Rationalise legacy systems

• Scheduling improvements

• Science Operations Centre

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:

• 115 - Parkes Drive Control

• 117 - Parkes Control & Monitor

• 118 - Parkes Receiver Fleet


Health, Safety and the Environment

SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT FOR REMOTE OPERATIONS!


115 - Parkes Drive Control

Objective: Computer control of the MCP (manual Control Panel):

•Development platform hardware nearing completion

•Documented software

•Procedures for safe remote operation


117 - Parkes Equipment Control & Monitor

Objective: Safe, reliable remote monitoring & control of critical telescope systems.

• Focus Cabin• In practice a “remote site”.

• Need monitoring and diagnostic access to the major subsystems (DC power, receiver & translator).

• Improved connectivity, including video and audio monitoring.

• Vibration monitoring


117 - Parkes Equipment Control & Monitor

• Conversion system and signal distribution

• Rationalisation of signal distribution, replacement of manual patch panels with a computer controlled switching.

• RF/IF switching matrix

• Calibration computer controllable (done!)

• Multiband conversion system attenuators computer controllable (done!)


Parkes Equipment Control & Monitor

• Power systems• Diesel/UPS control

• Remote monitoring, diagnostics

• Synchroniser unit for the generator – reliability and remote control & monitoring.


118 - Parkes Receiver Fleet Rationalisation

Objective: Establish a maintainable set of receivers consistent with expected science demand. Planning under way on:

• S/X band – Modify MARS receiver package (widen X-band bandwidth, add S-band LNA’s, design/manufacture new dual-band S/X feedhorn) and add to the Parkes Conversion System ;

• L band (H-OH) – Design & fit new improved feed system;

• C-band – Convert existing K/Ku package with new LNA’s to cover at least 4.8-6.8 GHz (target 4 – 12 GHz);

NOTE: Concurrent demands/competing priorities from other projects for the same ATNF Technologies staff resources → including ASKAP and Project 117 (RF/IF monitoring).


Parkes Receiver Fleet


Development Projects – Systematic Approach

• Make things fit together, for safety & efficiency• Standard approaches and COTS solutions, where possible• Integrated power solutions• Minimise self-RFI (EMC), shutdown of non-essential systems• In addition to installation of hardware/software, need to review

& update (maintenance/operational) handover processes, consistent with relevant AUS/NZ HSE Standards.

• Set, update & review priorities, resource allocations & monitor costs.


Future Challenges

• Consolidating on the Development Projects to support the planned Science Operations Centre (SOC);

• Transition to ASKAP Operations; and• Meeting user expectations under a limited

budget.


Questions?

Contact UsPhone: 02 6861 1733

Email: [email protected] Web: www.csiro.au

Thank you

engineering operations: parkes development projects erik lensson, smieee, msmpte head, engineering...

Documents