ICALEPCS2023 - List of Authors (Sithole, S.S.)

Paper	Title	Page
TUPDP070	Open Time Proposal Submission System for the MeerKAT Radio Telescope	666
	R.L. Schwartz, T.B. Baloyi, S.S. Sithole SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa
	Through periodic Call for Proposals, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), allocates time on the MeerKAT Radio Telescope to the international community for the purpose of maximizing the scientific impact of the telescope, while contributing to South African scientific leadership and human capital development. Proposals are submitted through the proposal submission system, followed by a stringent review process where they are graded based on certain criteria. Time on the telescope is then allocated based on the grade and rank achieved. This paper outlines the details of the Open Time proposal submission and review process, and the design and implementation of the software used to grade the proposals and allocate the time on the MeerKAT Radio Telescope.
	Poster TUPDP070 [0.490 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUPDP070
About •	Received ※ 27 September 2023 — Accepted ※ 13 October 2023 — Issued ※ 19 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

Open Time Proposal Submission System for the MeerKAT Radio Telescope

666

R.L. Schwartz, T.B. Baloyi, S.S. Sithole
SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa

Through periodic Call for Proposals, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), allocates time on the MeerKAT Radio Telescope to the international community for the purpose of maximizing the scientific impact of the telescope, while contributing to South African scientific leadership and human capital development. Proposals are submitted through the proposal submission system, followed by a stringent review process where they are graded based on certain criteria. Time on the telescope is then allocated based on the grade and rank achieved. This paper outlines the details of the Open Time proposal submission and review process, and the design and implementation of the software used to grade the proposals and allocate the time on the MeerKAT Radio Telescope.

Poster TUPDP070 [0.490 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUPDP070

About •

Received ※ 27 September 2023 — Accepted ※ 13 October 2023 — Issued ※ 19 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)