JACoW is a publisher in Geneva, Switzerland that publishes the proceedings of accelerator conferences held around the world by an international collaboration of editors.
TY - CONF AU - Linde, A.C. AU - Baloyi, X.P. AU - Dube, P. AU - Lekganyane, J.L. AU - Lethole, AM. AU - Mlipha, V. AU - Pretorius, P.J. AU - Silere, US. AU - Sithole, S.S. ED - Schaa, Volker RW ED - Götz, Andy ED - Venter, Johan ED - White, Karen ED - Robichon, Marie ED - Rowland, Vivienne TI - Components of a Scale Training Telescope for Radio Astronomy Training J2 - Proc. of ICALEPCS2023, Cape Town, South Africa, 09-13 October 2023 CY - Cape Town, South Africa T2 - International Conference on Accelerator and Large Experimental Physics Control Systems T3 - 19 LA - english AB - 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. PB - JACoW Publishing CP - Geneva, Switzerland SP - 933 EP - 937 KW - controls KW - GUI KW - interface KW - software KW - PLC DA - 2024/02 PY - 2024 SN - 2226-0358 SN - 978-3-95450-238-7 DO - doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUSDSC06 UR - https://jacow.org/icalepcs2023/papers/tusdsc06.pdf ER -