The NRL Microwave Space Research Facility. Computer System Software for Control of the 60-ft X-Band Antenna.
Abstract
To extend the Navy's program in satellite communications, a fully steerable 60-ft X-band antenna system has been completed at the Naval Research Laboratory's Microwave Space Research Facility at Waldorf, Maryland. The antenna can be operated in five different modes. In one of these, the digital mode, a general-purpose digital computer has been programmed to provide direct digital control of the antenna position. Software developed at the site has been organized into two operating systems. A nonreal-time system is comprised of a resident monitor and basic utility programs necessary for efficient operation of a computer installation. The second system, which provides digital control of the antenna in a real-time environment, is of a multilevel, time-shared structure. Four software levels are executed on a priority basis by a real-time executive. Two levels may be utilized for execution of auxiliary programs concurrently with antenna control. Several interrupt processing routines provide linkage to the real-time dynamics of the antenna system. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 25, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0719386
Entities
People
- Charles A. Bass
- Theodore F. Schmeckpeper
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory