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Software Development for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope's Segment Alignment Maintenance System using LABViewThe software development for an upgrade to the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) was done in LABView. In order to improve the performance of the HET at the McDonald Observatory, a closed-loop system had to be implemented to keep the mirror segments aligned during periods of observation. The control system, called the Segment Alignment Maintenance System (SAMs), utilized inductive sensors to measure the relative motions of the mirror segments. Software was developed in LABView to tie the sensors, operator interface, and mirror-control motors together. Developing the software in LABView allowed the system to be flexible, understandable, and able to be modified by the end users. Since LABView is built using block diagrams, the software naturally followed the designed control system's block and flow diagrams, and individual software blocks could be easily verified. LABView's many built-in display routines allowed easy visualization of diagnostic and health-monitoring data during testing. Also, since LABView is a multi-platform software package, different programmers could develop the code remotely on various types of machines. LABView s ease of use facilitated rapid prototyping and field testing. There were some unanticipated difficulties in the software development, but the use of LABView as the software "language" for the development of SAMs contributed to the overall success of the project.
Document ID
20030000471
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Hall, Drew P.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Ly, William
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Howard, Richard T.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Weir, John
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Rakoczy, John
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Roe, Fred
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation
Location: Waikoloa, HI
Country: United States
Start Date: August 22, 2002
End Date: August 28, 2002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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