| Title |
Components of a Scale Training Telescope for Radio Astronomy Training |
| Authors |
- A.C. Linde, X.P. Baloyi, P. Dube, J.L. Lekganyane, AM. Letholepresenter, V. Mlipha, P.J. Pretorius, US. Silere, S.S. Sithole
SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa
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| Abstract |
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.
|
| Paper |
download TUSDSC06.PDF [0.573 MB / 5 pages] |
| Poster |
download TUSDSC06_POSTER.PDF [0.756 MB] |
| Cite |
download ※ BibTeX
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※ EndNote |
| Conference |
ICALEPCS2023 |
| Series |
International Conference on Accelerator and Large Experimental Physics Control Systems (19th) |
| Location |
Cape Town, South Africa |
| Date |
09-13 October 2023 |
| Publisher |
JACoW Publishing, Geneva, Switzerland |
| Editorial Board |
Volker RW Schaa (GSI, Darmstadt, Germany); Andy Götz (ESRF, Grenoble, France); Johan Venter (SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa); Karen White (SNS, Oak Ridge, TN, USA); Marie Robichon (ESRF, Grenoble, France); Vivienne Rowland (SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa) |
| Online ISBN |
978-3-95450-238-7 |
| Online ISSN |
2226-0358 |
| Received |
06 October 2023 |
| Revised |
09 October 2023 |
| Accepted |
29 November 2023 |
| Issued/td>
| 09 December 2023 |
| DOI |
doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-TUSDSC06 |
| Pages |
933-937 |
| Copyright |
 Published by JACoW Publishing under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s), the published article's title, publisher, and DOI. |
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