Monday, April 22, 2013

Telescope Control System Wrap Around

Space Shuttle Control Panels, by comparison, will help reference the design and construction of new telescope control instrumentation. These systems also can give a preview into the appearance of the new PDT Power Dynamic Telescope control center. The PDT may look different, as currently it does not have an extra seat for the copilot. In the case of the telescope, the copilot is the Big Brain Machine which does not require human seating.
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CONTROL PANEL DESIGN
FOR TELESCOPE FLIGHT CONTROL
PART 1: A look at "wrap around" designs
Designing a new control panel for Big Brain's largest and most powerful Adjunctive and Molecular PDT Telescope, that can be in two places at the same time, is a fun challenge. This blog opens up the possibilities for such a design, gives construction ideas, and is the proponent postulate of many possibilities. 

TELENAUTS WILL CONTROL THE GIANT TELESCOPE just as astronauts control the space shuttle and space station

MiG29 Fighter Aircraft Control Panel

 There are several types of control panels to consider. One type is the desk. A single desk or series of desks hold computers and/or instrument panels. The other style, considered here, is the Wrap Around control panel of the type used in early spacecraft like Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the Space Shuttle. It's also the choice of instrumentation for jet aircraft fighters like the MiG29. The Power Dynamic Telescope PDT is similar in respects of complexity, flight control, positioning, imaging, and various processing etc. A comparison of these instrument control panels will help with the design of the PDT control panel.

USA Apollo Command Module control center blueprint

Aircraft fighter jet and commercial airline pilots also adapt to these cozy space restrictive-space and size instrument flight configurations. They work well in tight enclosures where space is at a premium. This could be a possible design for the Power Dynamic Telescope's control configuration for smaller Labs. Lab space may be minimal at some locations and the Wrap Around design would be ideal. The photos show some examples to consider.

It's highly interesting and useful to examine the types of instrumentation found on jet aircraft and see the patterns and ratios of various lights, controls and instruments as it's undoubtedly beneficial in the analysis for the Power Dynamic Telescope's control panel.

Take a look at the Dassault Alpha Jet instrument panel for an example. Here's a list of all 36 controls.
1) Weapons master switch, 2) Weapons authorization indicator, 3) Clock, 4) Red caution light, 5) Configuration indicator, 6) Mach/airspeed indicator, 7) Course indicator, 8) Eject light, 9) Ejection command switch, 10) UHF control box, 11) Attitude indicator, 12) Standby horizon, 13) Navigation indicator, 14) Voltmeter, 15) Cockpit altimeter, 16) Heading deviation annunciator, 17) Battery test connector, 18) Standby compass, 19) Sight (with camera), 20) Accelerometer, 21) Hydraulic pressure indicator, 22) Amber fail light, 23) Hydraulic pressure selector switch, 24) 250L fuel warning light, 25) Wing tank end of transfer lights, 26) Fuel quantity indicator, 27) Pylon tank end of transfer lights, 28) Engine fire warning lights, 29) Engine tachometers, 30) Engine bleed valve lights, 31) Engine tailpipe temp indicators, 32) Engine flowmeter indicators, 33) Encoding altimeter, 34) Rate of climb indicator, 35) Com/nav control transfer annunciator buttons, 36) Intercom control box

The North American F100 (see left) also has 36 flight related controls. Reviewing the list of these controls will help understand not only the layout design but the most efficient operation.
1) Drag chute handle 2) Airspeed mach indicator 3) Heading indicator fast slave button 4) Missile indicator lights 5) Heading indicator slave cutout switch 6) Heading indicator 7) Fire and overheat warning lights
8) Fire overheat warning sys test button 9) Altitude indicator 10) Altitude indicator fast ejection button 11) Accelerometer 12) Trigger safety switch 13) Hydraulic pressure gage selector switch 14) Flight control hydraulic system pressure failure caution light 15) Loadmeter 16) Hydraulic pressure gage 17) Oil pressure gage 18) Tachometer 19) Engine Differential Pressure gage 20) Fuel flow indicator 21) Exhaust temperature gage 22) Landing gear emergency lowering handle 23) Fuel quantity gage test button 24) Cockpit pressure altitude indicator 25) Bomb target wind control 26) Fuel quantity gage 27) Drop tank emergency jettison handle 28) Vertical velocity indicator 29) Clock 30) Radio magnetic indicator 31) Tacan range indicator 32) Course indicator 33) Turn and slip indicator 34) Altimeter 35) Light 36) Command radio remote channel indicator.


Notice the large number of gages in the F100, more exists for visual feedback than actual switches for input. Now compare to the Space Shuttle. There are many more configuration switches. According to NASA, these are also for redundancy - in the event of a failure of one system, another can be brought online. The Shuttle has many flight control configurations for flight control modes. This is similar to the PDT Telescope with its requirement for various modes with each observation and flight control project mission. PDT Mission Control will have the ability to pre-config the telescope, modify the instrumentation while in the fly zone, and heavily use instrumentation upon target acquisition. Post process again will rely on instrumentation.

NASA Space Shuttle Endeavor's Command Deck has flight controls at the front, back, sides and top. These instruments include a large number of both input and output style panels, displays, switches, and indicator lights. A joystick sets attitude control for yaw, pitch and roll, and turn knobs set analog-like settings. Controls are divided into several areas. For example, there are two communications systems, intercom, external camera control, flight control, navigation, steering, re-entry, reaction control system, rendezvous, docking maneuvers for orbit, gyroscopes, and other controls.

TYPES OF CONTROLS
OUTPUTS Controls can have output indicator functions for viewing, like gauges and lights.
INPUTS These are typically toggle switches, setting switches that turn to specific positions, and pushbuttons to initiate specific real time actions. Other inputs include joysticks, keyboards, and sensor devices involving temperature, acceleration, etc. Controls also include virtual controls on a computer screen.

CONTROL POSITION
It becomes apparent, the most frequent-used controls should have easy and close access. Instruments can be arranged in front and at the sides, depending on complexity. In the case of the USA Space Shuttle, controls are also behind and above the astronaut. With the PDT Telescope, the "Telenaut" could likewise have controls surrounding his or her location. The vision for this arrangement is a small size room with instrumentation surrounding the Telenaut.

List of Power Dynamic Telescope Controls
http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/04/power-dynamic-telescope-updated-controls.html

Marc Arys web site has details about the Alpha Jet.
http://yellowairplane.com/Book_Reviews/Alpha_Jet/Alpha_Jet_5.html