HIAPER Data Acquisition and Display System Overview
Chris Webster, Mike SpowartUniversity Corporation for Atmospheric Research
UCAR Confidential and Proprietary
Other Systems (2003)
• University of Wyoming– Single computer 6U VME
• NOAA– P3 uses vacuum tubes, GIV has RAF system– Working on a new data system
• CIRPAS– Distributed National Instruments with Labview display– SATCOM
• NASA DC-8– small system for internal use only
System Architecture; Data Flow
Raw DataProcessor
(time-series & 2d)
SQL Database
Onboard Data Server
OnboardDisplay(s)
UDP Broadcast
Data Logger
DSM
DSM
Data Acquisition and Recording Data Processing and Display
OnboardDisplay(s)
Historical data
Real-time updates
Transmit UDPto ground sql
database
Inputs - Analog - Digital - Serial
HIAPER Data Acquisition System Introduction
• Minimize weight, size, and power.
• Flexible, large number of standard interfaces, limited custom interfaces.
• Suitable to G-V external operating environment.
• Capable of operating unattended during flight, including take-off and landing.
• Remote access to data system and network connected instruments provided by satellite communications.
Overview
• Small distributed sampling modules (DSM).
• Industry standard PC104 DSM architecture (ISA bus).
• COTS hardware for digital interfaces.
• Custom over sampling Sigma/Delta A/D converter with digital FIR filters.
• Eventually replace ADS II in NCAR C-130 and NRL P3 aircraft (ADS III?).
Description• DSMs connected to host computer via local area network.
• Host computer includes redundant CPUs, internal disks, power supplies, and dual external removable disk data recorders.
• Raw data recorded in binary format backward compatible with present ADS-II.
• Seven card PC-104 enclosure. Includes one slot for power supply, one for CPU, and one for timing card.
• Up to 4 instrument interface cards in one DSM.
• 5 ½ x 5 ½ x L.
PC-104 DSM
Requirements
• Digital data collection:– Serial data:
• 11 channels asynchronous RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 up to 115K baud.• USB 1.1 host control, 2 channels for PMS-2D, ~ 200K bytes/sec.• ARINC-429 12.5K and 100K baud, 4 Rx, 2 Tx.• Programmable logic provided for ease of implementing bi-phase,
APN-232, etc. Anything I/O card.
– Parallel data:• Flexible 32-bit bi-directional bus with strobes. Configurable as 1x,
4x, 8x, 16x, and 32 bits. Anything I/O card.
– Pulse counters:• 16-bits, double buffered with strobes. Anything I/O card.
Requirements Contd.
• Computation:– Host PC control computer running Linux. – DSM processor running RTLinux.– Host control computer records data, runs instrument
control program, interfaces to satcom, and runs data processing and local display programs.
• Communications and Control:– 100baseT CAT-6 Ethernet data LAN (expandable to 1
GHz). – GUI soft-key programmable instrument control program
via host control computer.
Requirements Contd.
• Time Synchronization and Distribution:– GPS time-of-day distributed to DSMs via IRIG-B
network from the time server.– GPS 1PPS signal distributed to all DSMs.– GPS time-of-day distributed via NTP.
• Display:– Data recording, processing and display programs to run
on host PC.
Hardware• Arcom Viper CPU (PDA):
– Intel XScale 400 MHz processor.– 1.4W max. power dissipation.– -40° C to +85° C operating temp. range option.– 64M bytes RAM.– 256K bytes battery backed SRAM.– 10/100baseT Ethernet.– Dual USB ports (DSM console?).– 5 serial ports >= 230.4K baud(4 RS-232, 1 RS-422/485).
• Jxi2, inc., IRIG-B time/frequency processor:– Multiple time code formats (IRIG-A, IRIG-B,
DC Level Shift, etc.).– Three user selectable pulse outputs, 1 Hz – 1.5
MHz.– One “heartbeat” bus interrupt.– GPS 1 PPS input synchronization with internal
clock, 10 MHz oscillator.
• Power Supply:– +5, +/- 12 VDC PC-104 card AC-to-DC
converter.
Network topology
display-netdata-net
DSM
DSM
Display
Display
TimeServerIRIG & NTP
DataServer
self-recordinginstrument
Iridium-net
DSM
DSM
InmarsatSATCOM
System Architecture; Data Flow
Raw DataProcessor
(time-series & 2d)
SQL Database
Onboard Data Server
OnboardDisplay(s)
UDP Broadcast
Data Logger
DSM
DSM
Data Acquisition and Recording Data Processing and Display
OnboardDisplay(s)
Historical data
Real-time updates
Transmit UDPto ground sql
database
Inputs - Analog - Digital - Serial
Display System Architecture
Raw Data
Processor(time-series & 2d)
SATCOM(on ground)Display(s)
netCDF (HRT)
QC
SQL (LRT)
Image Data
“Smart”Instruments
OnboardServer
Imaging(e.g. AIMR)
OnboardDisplay(s)Processor
(e.g. MCR)
Videotitling
UDP BroadcastUDP
Access to Data - onboard
• ASCII data feeds of scalar time-series– Network UDP broadcast
– Multiple and configurable
– Serial feed; Digi SP-One (converts UDP to RS232)
• SQL Database/repository– Network read-writable by anyone
– has permissions control
– easy to use and very common
Display Program
• Portable (Windows, Linux & Mac) with ease of total install. Qt for GUI, Qwt for plotting.
• As near real-time as possible (current delay is ~2.5 seconds from DAQ to display).
• “standard” displays should cover all obvious and current time-series plots and RAF facility instruments.
• Real-time & Post-processing
“Standard” display types• Time-series• XY & flight track• ASCII
– lists– Fixed– QC
• Histograms• PMS-2D• Skew-T• Imager which can handle “scans” as defined• Video (ftp direct to camera for RT).• GIF/PNG/JPG viewer
Quality Control/Check (QC)
• Range check
• Spike detection
• Flat-line detection
• Level shift
Display Hardware
• Commodity rack mount (vs. built in)– Take advantage of latest technology– Laptop still best solution
• Battery = UPS
• Thin & light
– Wireless notepad computers?