The prototype IR cloud camera is suffering the wear and tear of a machine not designed for outside use. I'm concerned because certain failures may take months to fix. For example, the control system uses custom boards that might take a long time to repair and the software source code is lost, requiring a system re-write if the PROM fails.We decided not to build spares or backup the software because the boards and PROM are corroded into their sockets and disassembly might do permanent damage. To head off the possibilty of future down-time I'm suggesting we rebuild the electronics now.
Robert Barkhouser and Tom Reeves from JHU spent a day at APO with Jon Brinkmann and Craig Loomis to see what it would take to rebuild the control system electronics. I instructed them not to add any new functions such as the cold reference or sky brightness monitor we've occasionally discussed. Their proposal (linked below) describes an upgrade plan consistent with APO requirements. They've included improvements to other potential trouble spots but failures at these points are not critical.
To replace the control system, write new software, and install and test the product is $22K.
Proposal:
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Powerpoint File
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