The control system of the active main reflector for FAST

Authors: Qiu Y.; Zhu L.

Source: Astrophysics and Space Science, Volume 278, Numbers 1-2, 2001 , pp. 261-265(5)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

The main reflector of FAST consists of about 1800 elementary units. Each unit has three adjustable supports to fix its position, and its position is adjusted by mean of mechanical actuators. According to the radio source position at any given time, all the actuators are continuously adjusted to form a proper paraboloid in real time during the course of the observation. The basic requirements of such a control system are discussed. A fieldbus control system based on LonWorks technology is suggested to control all 1800 actuators. The main advantages of this distributed control system are its reliability, flexibility, efficiency and economics.

Keywords: Spherical Radio telescope; LonWorks control system

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Beijing Astronomical Observatory, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100012, China

Publication date: 2001-01-01

• In this: publication
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• In this Subject: Astronomy
• By this author: Qiu Y. ;  Zhu L.

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