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At least 109 records · Page 6

A versatile data acquisition system for Goldstone

A data acquisition system set up at Goldstone was described. It is capable of recording a wide variety of parameters from widely separated geographical locations with varying integration times and recording speeds. It is fast, accurate, and modular in form so that it can be readily expanded. The accuracies of the system are discussed, and examples of data recorded with the system's capability of operation with preprocessing are given.

Reid, M. S.↗

The UCR gamma ray telescope data acquisition system

A description is given of an electronics system based on the DEC Falcon SBC-11/23+, which has been designed and built to support a balloon-borne double Compton gamma-ray telescope. The system provides support for commands, data acquisition, data routing and compression, and photomultiplier tube gain control. The software consists of a number of interrupt-driven routines of differing priorities to handle each system task. This includes two circular buffers for onboard processing and bit encoding before transmission of the information to the ground computer. Acquisition of gamma-ray events at rates above the 200-Hz telemetry constraint is easily achieved.

O'Neill, T. J.↗

A Modern Ethernet Data Acquisition Architecture for Fermilab Beam Instrumentation

The Fermilab Accelerator Division, Instrumentation Department is adopting an open-source framework to replace our embedded VME-based data acquisition systems. Utilizing an iterative methodology, we first moved to embedded Linux, removing the need for VxWorks. Next, we adopted Ethernet on each data acquisition module eliminating the need for the VME backplane in addition to communicating with a rack mount server. Development of DDCP (Distributed Data Communications Protocol), allowed for an abstraction between the firmware and software layers. Each data acquisition module was adapted to read out using 1 GbE and aggregated at a switch which up linked to a 10 GbE network. Current development includes scaling the system to aggregate more modules, to increase bandwidth to support multiple systems and to adopt MicroTCA as a crate technology. The architecture was utilized on various beamlines around the Fermilab complex including PIP2IT, FAST/IOTA and the Muon Delivery Ring. In summary, we were able to develop a data acquisition framework which incrementally replaces VxWorks & VME hardware as well as increases our total bandwidth to 10 Gbit/s using off the shelf Ethernet technology.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Real-time detection and data acquisition system for the left ventricular outline

To automate the data acquisition procedure, a real-time contour detection and data acquisition system for the left ventricular outline was developed using video techniques. The X-ray image of the contrast-filled left ventricle is stored for subsequent processing on film (cineangiogram), video tape or disc. The cineangiogram is converted into video format using a television camera. The video signal from either the TV camera, video tape or disc is the input signal to the system. The contour detection is based on a dynamic thresholding technique. Since the left ventricular outline is a smooth continuous function, for each contour side a narrow expectation window is defined in which the next borderpoint will be detected. A computer interface was designed and built for the online acquisition of the coordinates using a PDP-12 computer. The advantage of this system over other available systems is its potential for online, real-time acquisition of the left ventricular size and shape during angiocardiography.

Reiber, J. H. C.↗

A low-cost optical data acquisition system for vibration measurement

A low cost optical data acquisition system was designed to measure deflection of vibrating rotor blade tips. The basic principle of the new design is to record raw data, which is a set of blade arrival times, in memory and to perform all processing by software following a run. This approach yields a simple and inexpensive system with the least possible hardware. Functional elements of the system were breadboarded and operated satisfactorily during rotor simulations on the bench, and during a data collection run with a two-bladed rotor in the Lewis Research Center Spin Rig. Software was written to demonstrate the sorting and processing of data stored in the system control computer, after retrieval from the data acquisition system. The demonstration produced an accurate graphical display of deflection versus time.

Posta, S. J.↗

High Speed Data Acquisition for Real Time Feedback in a Light Duty Engine Combustion-Mode Switching Application

The paper describes the integration of a high-speed data acquisition and diagnostics controller used in an advanced engine platform. The controller enables ultra-low emissions and new benchmarks of engine efficiency while running a Gasoline Compression Ignition (GCI) cycle on a 2.2L, 4-cylinder engine. The system enables real-time combustion feedback and vibration analysis in engines. The paper focuses on: (1) the development of an interpolative sampling algorithm for transposition of time acquired data to the crank angle domain using a production crank sensor (60-2 tooth wheel); (2) the control unit, high-speed data acquisition, communication rates between the dedicated data acquisition and base controller to ensure cycle-to-cycle feedback; and, (3) validation exercises using cylinder pressure measurements. Here, the study shows how the algorithm resolves cylinder pressure information over an engine cycle, validating its robustness across acquisition rates of 50 and 200 kHz, with crank angle resolutions of 0.5° and 0.1°. Results show that the 50 kHz, 0.5° hardware yield combustion phasing and torque estimates within 0.1° and 1% torque of those attained with the 200 kHz, 0.1° hardware. Finally, study shows the dedicated controller and communication speeds allow for next-cycle fuel injection correction for speeds above 5000 rpm.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Data acquisition for a real time fault monitoring and diagnosis knowledge-based system for space power system

The design and implementation of the real-time data acquisition and processing system employed in the AMPERES project is described, including effective data structures for efficient storage and flexible manipulation of the data by the knowledge-based system (KBS), the interprocess communication mechanism required between the data acquisition system and the KBS, and the appropriate data acquisition protocols for collecting data from the sensors. Sensor data are categorized as critical or noncritical data on the basis of the inherent frequencies of the signals and the diagnostic requirements reflected in their values. The critical data set contains 30 analog values and 42 digital values and is collected every 10 ms. The noncritical data set contains 240 analog values and is collected every second. The collected critical and noncritical data are stored in separate circular buffers. Buffers are created in shared memory to enable other processes, i.e., the fault monitoring and diagnosis process and the user interface process, to freely access the data sets.

Wilhite, Larry D.↗

100 Gb/s High Throughput Serial Protocol (HTSP) for data acquisition systems with interleaved streaming

Demands on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) data transport have been increasing over the years as frame sizes and refresh rates increase. As the bandwidths requirements increase the ability to implement data transport protocol layers using "soft" programmable logic becomes harder and start to require harden IP blocks implementation. To reduce the number of physical links and interconnects, it is common for data acquisition systems to require interleaving of streams on the same link (e.g. streaming data and streaming register access). Further, this paper presents a way to leverage existing FPGA harden IP blocks to achieve a robust, low latency 100 Gb/s point-to-point link with minimal programmable logic overhead geared towards the needs of data acquisition systems with interleaved streaming requirements.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Development of Labview based data acquisition and multichannel analyzer software for radioactive particle tracking system

A DAQ (data acquisition) software called RPTv2.0 has been developed for Radioactive Particle Tracking System in Malaysian Nuclear Agency. RPTv2.0 that features scanning control GUI, data acquisition from 12-channel counter via RS-232 interface, and multichannel analyzer (MCA). This software is fully developed on National Instruments Labview 8.6 platform. Ludlum Model 4612 Counter is used to count the signals from the scintillation detectors while a host computer is used to send control parameters, acquire and display data, and compute results. Each detector channel consists of independent high voltage control, threshold or sensitivity value and window settings. The counter is configured with a host board and twelve slave boards. The host board collects the counts from each slave board and communicates with the computer via RS-232 data interface.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

High Speed PC Based Data Acquisition and Instrumentation for Measurement of Simulated Low Earth Orbit Thermally Induced Disturbances

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Disturbance Verification Test (DVT) was conducted to characterize responses of the Observatory's new set of rigid solar array's (SA3) to thermally induced 'creak' or stiction releases. The data acquired in the DVT were used in verification of the HST Pointing Control System on-orbit performance, post-Servicing Mission 3B (SM3B). The test simulated the on-orbit environment on a deployed SA3 flight wing. Instrumentation for this test required pretest simulations in order to select the correct sensitivities. Vacuum compatible, highly accurate accelerometers and force gages were used for this test. The complexity of the test, as well as a short planning schedule, required a data acquisition system that was easy to configure, highly flexible, and extremely robust. A PC Windows oriented data acquisition system meets these requirements, allowing the test engineers to minimize the time required to plan and perform complex environmental test. The SA3 DVT provided a direct practical and complex demonstration of the versatility that PC based data acquisition systems provide. Two PC based data acquisition systems were assembled to acquire, process, distribute, and provide real time processing for several types of transducers used in the SA3 DVT. A high sample rate digital tape recorder was used to archive the sensor signals. The two systems provided multi-channel hardware and software architecture and were selected based on the test requirements. How these systems acquire and processes multiple data rates from different transducer types is discussed, along with the system hardware and software architecture.

Sills, Joel W., Jr.↗

A Future Vision of a Data Acquisition: Distributed Sensing, Processing, and Health Monitoring

This paper presents a vision fo a highly enhanced data acquisition and health monitoring system at NASA Stennis Space Center (SSC) rocket engine test facility. This vision includes the use of advanced processing capabilities in conjunction with highly autonomous distributed sensing and intelligence, to monitor and evaluate the health of data in the context of it's associated process. This method is expected to significantly reduce data acquisitions costs and improve system reliability. A Universal Signal Conditioning Amplifier (USCA) based system, under development at Kennedy Space Center, is being evaluated for adaptation to the SSC testing infrastructure. Kennedy's USCA architecture offers many advantages including flexible and auto-configuring data acquisition with improved calibration and verifiability. Possible enhancements at SSC may include multiplexing the distributed USCAs to reduce per channel cost, and the use of IEEE-485 to Allen-Bradley Control Net Gateways for interfacing with the resident control systems.

Figueroa, Fernando↗

Gaussian processes for autonomous data acquisition at large-scale synchrotron and neutron facilities

The execution and analysis of complex experiments are challenged by the vast dimensionality of the underlying parameter spaces. Although an increase in data-acquisition rates should allow broader querying of the parameter space, the complexity of experiments and the subtle dependence of the model function on input parameters remains daunting owing to the sheer number of variables. New strategies for autonomous data acquisition are being developed, with one promising direction being the use of Gaussian process regression (GPR). GPR is a quick, non-parametric and robust approximation and uncertainty quantification method that can be applied directly to autonomous data acquisition. We review GPR-driven autonomous experimentation and illustrate its functionality using real-world examples from large experimental facilities in the USA and France. We introduce the basics of a GPR-driven autonomous loop with a focus on Gaussian processes, and then shift the focus to the infrastructure that needs to be built around GPR to create a closed loop. Finally, the case studies we discuss show that Gaussian-process-based autonomous data acquisition is a widely applicable method that can facilitate the optimal use of instruments and facilities by enabling the efficient acquisition of high-value datasets.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Development of Data Acquisition System for nuclear thermal hydraulic out-of-pile facility using the graphical programming methods

This paper describes the design of data acquisition system (DAQ) that is connected to a PC and development of a feedback control system that maintains the coolant temperature of the process at a desired set point using a digital controller system based on the graphical programming language. The paper will provide details about the data acquisition unit, shows the implementation of the controller, and present test results. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

The application of a computer data acquisition system for a new high temperature tribometer

The two data acquisition computer programs are described which were developed for a high temperature friction and wear test apparatus, a tribometer. The raw data produced by the tribometer and the methods used to sample that data are explained. In addition, the instrumentation and computer hardware and software are presented. Also shown is how computer data acquisition was applied to increase convenience and productivity on a high temperature tribometer.

Bonham, Charles D.↗

The application of a computer data acquisition system to a new high temperature tribometer

The two data acquisition computer programs are described which were developed for a high temperature friction and wear test apparatus, a tribometer. The raw data produced by the tribometer and the methods used to sample that data are explained. In addition, the instrumentation and computer hardware and software are presented. Also shown is how computer data acquisition was applied to increase convenience and productivity on a high temperature tribometer.

Bonham, Charles D.↗