The System Engineering Mosaic for The African VLBI Network

Transcription

1 The System Engineering Mosaic for The African VLBI Network TL VENKATASUBRAMANI (venkat) Project Manager and Project Engineer Issue /11/16 The 10th International E-VLBI Workshop Broederstroom, South Africa Nov 14-16, 2011 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 1

2 Plan of the Talk Motivation for an African VLBI Network (AVN) The Approach for AVN The SE Processes set in place for AVN Development of a Generic User Requirement Specifications (URS) for a VLBI Station The Mosaic to expand AVN beyond Ghana: The Check List Essential Human Resources Cost Estimates 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 2

3 Motivation SKA-SA has been mandated by the Department of Science and Technology, South Africa: To use the currently available window of opportunity for creating an African Network of VLBI-capable radio telescopes from redundant large satellite antennas To explore setting up new VLBI facilities at SKA-Bid locations in those countries without such redundant antennas 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 3

4 Motivation Such a network would bring new science opportunities to SKA-Bid Partner Countries (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia) on a short time scale, enable participation in SKA pathfinder development and science. It will demonstrate that Africa has a positive approach and clear focus to specify, build, operate, look after and use radio astronomy infrastructure and thus help to create the environment for bringing the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) to Africa. It will develop the required Human Resources and indigenous skill base in the Continent towards the above 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 4

5 Overall Approach The Conversion option is currently in progress in Ghana. It is planned to be investigated in THREE other Partner Countries (Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia) and near HartRAO in South Africa, but need not be limited to these locations The new dish and infrastructure option is to be investigated for the other FOUR partner countries (Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique) and near Klerefontein in South Africa, but need not be limited to these locations. 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 5

6 Project Approach An ambitious Road Map has been agreed during the May 2011 visit by SA Team to Ghana. This involved THREE Benchmarks to lead to a Phase 1 target of successful demonstration of fringes between Ghana and South Africa in 5 GHz RF band by Dec Subsequent operation and development phases will have to be handled by Ghana. The Approach to achieve the goal is to adapt and adopt the System Engineering (SE) Methodologies as demonstrated successfully for KAT 7, rigorously applied for meerkat in South Africa and likely to continue in SKA. The adaptation needs to take into account the way the Partner Country works and the practicalities with reference to collaboration with South Africa 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 6

7 The SE Hierarchical Levels Level Title Definition Remarks 7 Organisation International Astronomy and other related organisations 6 User Scientists, Operation Manager and Maintainers to define overall facilities and support infrastructure (including logistics, spares, manuals etc) International SKA, African VLBI Network etc KAT-7 and meerkatin South Africa, KuntunseRadio Telescope, other stations in Partner Countries of AVN 5 System Entity resulting from integration of all technical On-site realisations Segments (telescope, infrastructure and operational facilities) 4 Segment Integratedassemblies of subsystems Telescope, Infrastructure, Operational facilities 3 Sub-System Integrated sub-assemblies Components to form Segment like Antenna, Receiver, Back-end etc 2 Assemblies Integrated components in a sub-system Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) like motors, feeds, PCBs etc 1 Components Lowest level entities that can be used in assemblies Shop Replaceable Units (SRUs), consumables, materials Adapted from System Engineering Management Plan for meerkat by Thomas Kusal et al 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 7

8 The SE Approach for AVN A Simultaneous Bottom-Up (Level 4 5) and Top-Down (Level 6 5) approach is being followed in view of the tight time-line. The risks associated with the approach is the Tail (Level 4) wagging the Dog (Level 6), which needs to be carefully avoided. 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 8

9 The SE Approach for AVN The System Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) for AVN uses the essential and minimal SE processes to ensure checks and balances at a few critical baselines for each of the AVN activities 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 9

10 The SE Approach for AVN The Project Timeline for conversion envisages a VLBI Demonstration in a period of around 18 months from transfer of ownership of a working antenna (i.e. the antenna structure is sound,; it has been verified and can be steered electrically). to the Conversion Team. 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 10

11 The Development of URS The basic activity of developing User Requirement Specification for a VLBI Station has been satisfactorily completed It provides a template for tabulating each of the User Requirement Specifications (URS), as has emerged during various discussions and brainstorming sessions It reviews existing documents/ literature as listed in the section on Applicable Documents with appropriate cross-referencing. The template makes provision for tabulating station-specific requirements as new antennas are identified for conversion into VLBI stations across the continent. It describes and standardises the top-level numbering scheme [R- CC.xxx.yy-NNN] for each of the requirements so as to ensure traceability. 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 11

12 Contents of the URS 1 INTRODUCTION Purpose of this document Numbering Scheme 7 2 APPLICABLE AND REFERENCE DOCUMENTS Applicable documents Reference documents 9 3 REQUIREMENTS Antenna Specifications Receiver Station Controller: System Type: NASA/EVN FS System Antenna Steering Controller Weather Station Station Infrastructure Power Controller Specifications Science Processes Human Resources and Training /11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 12

13 Check-list In case of New dish and Infrastructure Option, following check-list needs to be addressed: Contour Map for optimising location Data on Soil condition needed for designing antenna foundation Wind, Humidity, Hailstorm, Snow, Temperature and similar data for the past few decades to help in optimal dish and receiver design Inputs on existing RFI potential from radars, TV stations, airports, flight paths and cellular stations to strengthen receiver adequately Minimising Near-by RFI from neighbours Would a MINIMUM Exclusion and Coordination zones be feasible? 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 13

14 Check-list An RFI Survey needs to be planned to get a baseline at the Site. Development plans on the table and anticipated growth for the next few decades around the Telescope Site Current frequency allocation status, especially National Deviations if any, in the Partner Country in 1 to 22 GHz band with allocation in SA taken as reference Infrastructure details: Power, Transport (road, rail ), data network etc In addition, the experience with Ghana in the last nine months has led to the creation of an Essential Needs Check List to verify communication, equipment and other facilities for smooth progress of the project. 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 14

15 Project Organogram DRAFT The project needs a dedicated Project Manager / Engineer supported by a team of Working Group Leaders with appropriate engineering qualification and experience. The Working Group Leaders will mentor junior engineers, technicians and operators in South Africa as well as in each of the partner countries where telescope conversions happen. There will be five Working Groups (WGs) in the disciplines of Project Management (PMWG), Control and Monitor (CMWG), Receiver Line-Up (RFWG), Software (SWWG) and Structural/ Mechanical (SMWG) Engineering. 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 15

16 Human Resources South Africa Project Manager A team assigned to focus on a maximum of TWO partner countries, comprising of: System Scientist 1 System Engineer 1 Mechanical Engineer 1 Receiver (RF) Engineer 1 Control System (Electronics/Digital) Engineer 1 Computer/software Engineer 1 Electronics Technician /11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 16

17 Human Resources Each Partner Country Project Manager (Full Time) and Activity Coordinator Mechanical Engineer - 1 Receiver (RF) Engineer 1 Control System (Electronics/ Digital) Engineer - 1 Computer/software Engineer 1 Civil/Infrastructure Engineer (new facility only) -1 Electronics Technician 1 Mechanical Technician 1 Electrical (Heavy Current) technician /11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 17

18 Human Resources Operations Phase An Operations Plan need to me made to run the facility after commissioning for the life time of the telescope together with the HCD plan for Users of the facility. It will be useful for the Project Manager to continue as Site Manager or Chief Scientist of the Facility THE DETAILS COULD BE ADAPTED/ ADOPTED FROM EXISTING SCHEME AT HartRAO 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 18

19 Modus Operandi The teams in partner countries will be trained by a similarly structured team in South Africa to realize technology and knowledge transfer and ensure that partner countries can maintain their facilities independently of South Africa on completion of the Initial phase as set in the definition of tasks. The South African team of Work Group Leaders should be able to guide the effort in at least two countries simultaneously. If conversions in more countries are to be done in parallel, the South African team needs to be suitably augmented. Training and development of a local science user team in each country will have to be handled through the bursary and or other avenues within the partner countries and/or in South Africa. 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 19

20 Cost Estimates Summary of conversion cost (estimates) No Description Cost estimate Notes Capital cost of the conversion 1 Hardware cost estimates for Phase 1 of the AVN project per partner country ( ) ZAR 7,952, HR and related costs during conversion SA Human Resources and related costs (accommodation, S&T allowances etc.) 2 for Phase 1 ( ) ZAR 6,920, Recurring cost / Operations costs (Aug 2011 estimates) Cost to be shared with partner country whenever possible 3 Partner country: Operations Cost on an yearly basis in each partner country location ZAR 1,421, Cost per annum Capital costs for upgrades Phases 2 and 3 (2013 onwards) Cost per annum typical Phase 1 conversion to take approx. 18 months 4 Partner country: Hardware cost estimates for Phase 2 and 3 upgrades ZAR 3,350, Addition of second / third uncooled dual-polarization microwave receivers and cryogenic dual-polarization receivers 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 20

21 Cost Estimates An effort for a new antenna would need an additional outlay of approximately ZAR 60 million for each partner country towards antenna cost (22m class antenna). The cost for buildings, infrastructure, roads and other needs will have to be worked out on a case-by-case basis. The expansion of the AVN as an e-avn is in the thought process for taking up as an activity at the appropriate time. 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 21

22 Conclusion The AVN is an approved endeavour by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of South Africa and has made considerable strides in the last nine months. The contribution of HartRAO and meerkat teams for the current status of the project is highly appreciated. Thanx for the patient listening! Questions? 2011/11/16 SE Mosaic for AVN Issue 1 22