ICALEPCS2023 - List of Authors (Pretorius, P.J.)

Paper	Title	Page
TUPDP069	AVN Radio Telescope Conversion Software Systems	661
	R.L. Schwartz, R.E. Ebrahim, P.J. Pretorius SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa
	The African VLBI Network (AVN) is a proposed network of Radio Telescopes involving 8 partner countries across the African continent. The AVN project aims to convert redundant satellite data communications ground stations, where viable, to Radio Telescopes. One of the main objectives of AVN is human capital development in Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) with regards to radio astronomy in SKA (Square Kilometer Array) African Partner countries. This paper will outline the software systems used for control and monitoring of a single radio telescope. The control and monitoring software consists of the User Interface, Antenna Control System, Receiver Control System and monitoring of all proprietary and off-the-shelf (OTS) components. All proprietary and OTS interfaces are converted to the open protocol (KATCP).
	Poster TUPDP069 [10.698 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUPDP069
About •	Received ※ 20 September 2023 — Revised ※ 09 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 13 October 2023 — Issued ※ 28 October 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

TUSDSC06	Components of a Scale Training Telescope for Radio Astronomy Training	933
	A.C. Linde, X.P. Baloyi, P. Dube, J.L. Lekganyane, AM. Lethole, V. Mlipha, P.J. Pretorius, US. Silere, S.S. Sithole SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa
	To establish the engineering and science background of radio astronomy in SKA African partner countries, a need was identified to develop a training telescope which would serve as a vehicle for demonstrating the principles. The Scale Training Telescope (STT) will be used as an interactive teaching tool for the basics of antenna structure and antenna control, both in the design, assembly and operation of the radio antenna. The antenna aims to work as closely to a real radio telescope antenna as possible. The STT allows students at various academic levels in different educational institutions the ability to access an antenna design that can be assembled and operated by the students. The paper will describe the mechanical, electrical and software elements of the STT. The mechanical elements range from the structural base to the rotating dish of the radio telescope antenna. The electrical elements incorporate the electromechanical components used to move the antenna as well as the wiring and powering of the antenna. The software is used to control the antenna system as well as collect, process and visualise the resulting data. A software-based user interface will allow the students to control and monitor the antenna system. The PLC-based (Programmable Logic Controller) control system facilitates the motion control of the antenna, in both the azimuth and elevation axes.
	Poster TUSDSC06 [0.760 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUSDSC06
About •	Received ※ 06 October 2023 — Revised ※ 09 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 29 November 2023 — Issued ※ 09 December 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

Paper

Title

Page

AVN Radio Telescope Conversion Software Systems

661

R.L. Schwartz, R.E. Ebrahim, P.J. Pretorius
SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa

The African VLBI Network (AVN) is a proposed network of Radio Telescopes involving 8 partner countries across the African continent. The AVN project aims to convert redundant satellite data communications ground stations, where viable, to Radio Telescopes. One of the main objectives of AVN is human capital development in Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) with regards to radio astronomy in SKA (Square Kilometer Array) African Partner countries. This paper will outline the software systems used for control and monitoring of a single radio telescope. The control and monitoring software consists of the User Interface, Antenna Control System, Receiver Control System and monitoring of all proprietary and off-the-shelf (OTS) components. All proprietary and OTS interfaces are converted to the open protocol (KATCP).

Poster TUPDP069 [10.698 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUPDP069

About •

Received ※ 20 September 2023 — Revised ※ 09 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 13 October 2023 — Issued ※ 28 October 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

TUSDSC06

Components of a Scale Training Telescope for Radio Astronomy Training

933

A.C. Linde, X.P. Baloyi, P. Dube, J.L. Lekganyane, AM. Lethole, V. Mlipha, P.J. Pretorius, US. Silere, S.S. Sithole
SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa

To establish the engineering and science background of radio astronomy in SKA African partner countries, a need was identified to develop a training telescope which would serve as a vehicle for demonstrating the principles. The Scale Training Telescope (STT) will be used as an interactive teaching tool for the basics of antenna structure and antenna control, both in the design, assembly and operation of the radio antenna. The antenna aims to work as closely to a real radio telescope antenna as possible. The STT allows students at various academic levels in different educational institutions the ability to access an antenna design that can be assembled and operated by the students. The paper will describe the mechanical, electrical and software elements of the STT. The mechanical elements range from the structural base to the rotating dish of the radio telescope antenna. The electrical elements incorporate the electromechanical components used to move the antenna as well as the wiring and powering of the antenna. The software is used to control the antenna system as well as collect, process and visualise the resulting data. A software-based user interface will allow the students to control and monitor the antenna system. The PLC-based (Programmable Logic Controller) control system facilitates the motion control of the antenna, in both the azimuth and elevation axes.

Poster TUSDSC06 [0.760 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUSDSC06

About •

Received ※ 06 October 2023 — Revised ※ 09 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 29 November 2023 — Issued ※ 09 December 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)