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?