Software Development Using an Agile Approach for Satellite Camera Ground Support Equipment

Chapter 7 - Safety considerations for the ground environment

A major influence on performance and lifetime of steel-based structures is corrosion. Some such structures include ground support equipment (GSE). GSE plays a vital role in the safety and efficiency of aircrafts and airports worldwide. GSE encompasses all support equipment at airports, necessary for the function and logistical operation of airports, air bases and other aviation facilities. According to the IMPACT study undertaken by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) in 2013, the global cost of corrosion was estimated to be US$2.5 trillion, equivalent to 3.4% of the global GDP at the time. The corrosion of GSE can be attributed to a number of factors present including, but not limited to, moisture in air, salt particles in coastal winds and industrial pollutants from fuel. For these reasons, corrosion prevention through means of protective coatings is of utmost importance; as well as a strict programme of corrosion inspection and repair. Traditional means of protection against corrosion centre around Hot-Dipped Galvanising (HDG). This is the process of applying a protective zinc layer to steel in order to prevent corrosion of a component or structure. One of its major issues is cost. This is primarily due to the need to outsource galvanising to external contractors, especially for manufacturers that do not have the capacity or capability to undertake the process in-house. HDG also happens at high temperatures of ~450°C. This requires a great amount of energy and would be impossible to implement in-house for manufacturers. The repair of HDG sections is also a concern. This often sees the protective Zn coating removed and the section welded to repair. In this instance, the steel substrate is left unprotected and susceptible to corrosive attack. The common solution here is Cold Galvanising Coatings (CGCs) or Zn Rich Paint (ZRP). ZRPs are, however, laden with issues; poor adhesion, UV degradation and poor galvanic contact with the substrate. These shortcomings mean the service life of ZRPs and CGCs are limited.The current work focuses on developing a lower-temperature alternative centred around fusible alloys. The aim is to provide a corrosion-resistant coating that can bond with the substrate at lower temperatures, be applied on-site and offer galvanic protection. The fusible alloy is mixed with zinc powder to create a novel corrosion resistant coating. The coating may also be used for repair of galvanised GSE, which often sees welded areas left susceptible to corrosive attack. Microstructural analysis was carried out as a function of Zn loading weight as well as curing time and temperature. A systematic study on curing time and temperature identified the optimal processing parameters for the novel coating. Heating of below 250°C was used to melt the fusible alloy to envelop the zinc. This can be achieved using a conventional oven, while Near Infrared (NIR) heating was explored as a rapid heating option. The resulting optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that the fusible alloy acts as a matrix, while “islands” of Zn are dispersed therein to offer galvanic protection. The use of a metal matrix in the microstructure allows for superior electrical contact between the sacrificial Zn and the structural steel substrate, unlike that given by most CGCs and ZRPs. Electrochemical studies, such as Zero Resistance Amplitude (ZRA) and Open Circuit Potential (OCP), and accelerated corrosion tests, implementing the Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique (SVET), have shown that the coating offers excellent galvanic protection to steel in a 1% NaCl electrolyte. ZRA galvanic corrosion tests demonstrated that current flow between components was negligible. This suggests no obvious self-corrosion in the coating, despite the nobility of fusible alloy components. Current OCP results show that adding Zn to the fusible alloy shifts the OCP from -425mV to -970mV in a 24hr test in 1%NaCl. This is comparable to that of Zn which is stable at -1V and shows promise when compared to bare steel at -700mV, meaning the coating offers galvanic protection to the steel. This is reinforced by SVET maps of coated steel samples, confirming that steel remains cathodic to the coating throughout tests, showing that performance improves as a function of Zn content. Adhesion tests, using the 0t method, show the peak performance comes at a known Zn wt% with cracks appearing and propagating as Zn wt% is increased. Overall; peak microstructure, corrosion protection and adhesion are achieved and demonstrated. The resulting product is a robust, protective, and dynamic coating; a step forward in the fight against corrosion of steel and protection of HDG.

With the rapid development of aviation weapon equipment and the introduction of advanced technologies, new aviation support system concepts and support modes are emerging in recent years. Military aircraft support equipment is not only the material basis of an integrated support system for aviation weapon equipment, but also a significant factor affecting the combat effectiveness and the support cost. The improvement of support equipment performance and utilization rate contributes to the performance and the safety of weapon equipment. Ground support equipment carries a lot of basic support work and plays an increasingly important role in the ground support system. Combined with the research status of military aircraft ground support equipment, the configuration optimization of domestic military aircraft support resources and the status of ground support equipment standard system, this paper points out the main problems existing in military aircraft ground support equipment in China, and briefly describes the development trend of future aircraft support equipment, providing help and enlightenment for aviation support research.KeywordsGround support equipmentResearch statusConfiguration optimizationStandard systemDevelopment trend

In the early stages of the exploration systems mission directorate (ESMD), during the transition from the orbital space plane project (OSP) program to the constellation program, the requirements for 1-G (Earth gravity) human factors were not well-defined. Since that time, the requirements have been defined at different levels of maturity for flight hardware/software, ground support systems (GSS) and ground support equipment (GSE). Effectively all areas are leveraging human factors for optimizing ground processing of flight hardware. This paper gives an overview of these areas; within the outer-mold-line of the flight hardware, at the ground systems to flight systems interface, and the design of the GSS and GSE leading up to the flight systems interface. The major focus of this paper is on the current requirements and processes for infusing human factors into the designs of GSS and GSE. This paper aims to explain to the human factors practitioner how human factors were infused into a large program with an existing culture that does not have human factors listed separately in the work breakdown structure (WBS). This paper also aims to educate the constellation program (CxP) about the importance of human factors in ground processing and launch operations of launch vehicles.

The existing software engineering seldom considers software usability, and human-computer interaction (HCI) techniques which can improve the software usability cannot guarantee development efficiency. Recently, more and more stakeholders and users begin to regard the usability as an important software requirement. In order to bring respective advantages of software engineering and HCI techniques into full play to improve software usability and development efficiency, the paper presents user model driven software development, which integrates HCI techniques into software development method by eliciting user model under the participation of user, HCI designer and software engineer. Applications show that the method can be effectively applied to small software development team, and can raise software usability and development efficiency.

the University of Amsterdam, May 20-31, 1974.This Tract collects the lecture notes of five of the courses given.The sixth course, given by Dr. R. Kowalski on Predicate Logic as a Programming Language in Artificial Intelligence, is scheduled to appear elsewhere.We are very grateful to the Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of Pure Research (Z.W.O.)

The demands for new embedded system products that provide new functionality are booming. The system on chip (SoC) technologies enables further cost, feature size reduction and makes embedded system product much more affordable accordingly. However, the software development for SoC product pushes the challenge further in reducing time to market. We propose a framework approach for embedded SoC software development that would (a) enable the parallel development in hardware and software, and (b) provide software framework for cross platform software reuse. Our approach is based on a tunable embedded software development platform (TESDP) that integrates an embedded software framework (ESF) and a simulated hardware framework (SHF). ESF provides a set real-time software frameworks that support cross platform reuse. SHF helps in decoupling the hardware and software development and enable the parallel development in software development parallel with the SoC hardware development. We demonstrate the feasibility of the TESDP approach with the development of a car-borne modular mobile data terminal (MMDT). MMDT provides data communication and global positioning capability for applications in the cargo truck fleet dispatching and monitoring. MMDT can also be applied in the domain related to intelligent transportation system (ITS).

With the introduction of the Industrial/sup IT/ vision at ABB, the coordination of hardware and software development is a crucial aspect that the organization needs to address. Software development and hardware production processes need to be coordinated into one coherent lifecycle model to optimize development. This paper presents some basic concepts in software and hardware development lifecycles and paves the road for a more comprehensive approach for a system development lifecycle.

The Fuel Cell Powered Airport GSE (Ground Support Equipment) Deployment Project was initiated in 2013 between Plug Power and U. S. Department of Energy Fuel Cell Technologies Office (DOE). The project plan included development and deployment of fifteen fuel cell powered units for two years at an airport to understand the feasibility and economic viability of hydrogen powered GSE. Project participants were the Department of Energy, Plug Power, and FedEx. The Memphis, TN airport is the hub of FedEx’s freight operation and was selected as the site for the demonstration portion of the project.

MIRIM is the imager of the Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI), one of the three scientific instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). MIRIM will provide imaging between 5.6μm and 25.5μm, low resolution spectroscopy (LRS) between 5 and 10μm, and coronagraphy at 10.65μm, 11.4μm, 15.5μm and 23μm. The Optical bench Assembly of MIRIM Flight Model (FM) has been integrated and tested between 2008 and 2009 at CEA (Saclay, France). The tests consist in characterisation of optical performances at all wavelengths and in all three modes (imaging, spectroscopy and coronagraphy), using a test bench (or Ground Support Equipment - GSE) that has been developed for this purpose. The GSE comprises a helium cooled cryostat for the instrument itself, a proto-IR focal plane module (with JPL sensor chip and CEA electronics and housing), a warm telescope simulator that delivers a JWST-like beam, and computers and software for running automatic test procedures. It is designed to allow a large set of performance verifications, such as high-resolution PSF measurements, characterisation of coronagraphs, response to monochromatic line or resolving power of the spectroscopic mode, some of them being unique along the test program of the instrument. After a short description of the test equipment, this paper focuses on the tests results. A full assessment of performances is given. When applicable, performances are cross checked with requirements. Imaging mode and coronagraphy had already been validated on optically representative models along the MIRIM development plan, especially with the Engineering and Test Model (ETM) of MIRIM, early 2008. The FM test campaign allowed us to confirm that the flight model behaves as expected in these two modes. We also tested for the first time, and validated, the low-resolution spectroscopy mode.

A set of calibrated platinum resistance thermometers (PRT’s) was used to monitor the temperature of a Blackbody Calibration Source (BCS) and Space View Source (SVS). BCS is Ground Support Equipment (GSE) used to validate the emissive band calibration of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Another GSE, the SVS was used as an optical simulator to provide zero radiance sources for all VIIRS bands. The required PRT temperature 1 uncertainty is less than 0.030K. A process was developed to calibrate the PRTs in its thermal block by selecting a single thermal bath fluid that is compatible with spaceflight, is easy to clean and supported the entire temperature range. The process involves thermal cycling the PRTs that are installed in an aluminum housing using RTV566A prior to calibration. The PRTs were calibrated thermal cycled again and then calibrated once more to verify repeatability. Once completed these PRTs were installed on both the BCS and SVS. The PRT calibration uncertainty was estimated and deemed sufficient to support the effective temperature requirements for the operating temperature range of the BCS and SVS.

The SDL/USU is building a broadband earthlimb-viewing radiometer for the SABER (Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry) instrument. The radiometer will be tested and calibrated before launch in a test chamber that closely simulates the in-flight operational environment of the instrument. SDL/USU has designed electrical ground support equipment (GSE) for this testing to optimize the monitor and control functions of the sensor and calibration sources, and to reduce data collection and processing time. This paper presents the electrical GSE hardware and software designs for the SABER instrument. Data collection, processing, and archival methods are given, as well as a description of the real-time displays that show instrument status and performance. Hardware and software used to control the instrument, test chamber, and calibration sources are presented. The integration of these control systems into a simple user interface is also described.

Resource Depletion Risk for Medical Equipment: Embracing the Circular Economy.

PurposeExamines some of the recent technical developments that are leading to a wider use of powerful methods in medical microscopy.Design/methodology/approachReviews some of the microscopic techniques relevant to medicine, then looks at hardware developments in microscopes, filters and cameras.FindingsHighly sophisticated techniques such as time‐resolved fluorescence measurements are now incorporated in turnkey instruments, using picosecond diode lasers for accurate measurement of fluorescent lifetimes. Advances in optical fibre coating technology in the telecoms field have led to improved filters for fluorescence microscopy, and imaging allows the detection of non‐visible wavelengths and very low light levels. Many microscopes are modular, so that users can upgrade to further capabilities at will. Automatic medical diagnosis software is coming onto the market.Originality/valueHighlights the hardware and software developments that are enabling powerful microscopic methodologies to enter into general use.

Upgrading the infrastructure of old scientific instruments requires the development of new hardware and software which may be expen-sive (in general, these projects lack of enough resources to acquire fast and modern infrastructure to become competitive and functional in the era of digital data). Particularly, the development of software for data acquisition in real time is one of the most important topics in experimental science and industry. However, the constant improve-ments on the data acquisition hardware, discourages the development of software highly optimized in order to minimize the consumption of resources like processor time and read/write memory, etc. In this work, we present a Open Source code called “X Interface to RIS” (Xitris). This is a modular and distributed code which, using rela-tively slow processors and low memory hardware, is able to acquire, display, compress and publish (via Internet) digital data in real time. Xitris was developed for the Solar Radio Interferometer (RIS) at Geo-physics Institute of the National University of Mexico (UNAM) but nowadays is working in another 3 radio observatories.