[Gb-ccb] Schedule for GBT-CCB completion

[Tim Pearson]

At our project review meeting in Green Bank on January 16, Brian and I
tried to produce a schedule for completion of the CCB. Here is a
summary. I believe that all of us at the meeting thought that this
schedule was realistic.  We also discussed the impact if a redesign of
the main circuit board is needed after testing: commissioning in
September should still be possible even in this case. Nonetheless, the
schedule is success-oriented, and we should all try hard to keep to
the milestones listed below. Please review them let me know if you see
any problems!

- Tim

1. Completion of the Design Phase

This includes (a) Construction and testing of a 1-channel prototype of
the analog electronics (from detector to A/D converter), to be done by
NRAO personnel at Green Bank. (b) Preliminary design and testing
(simulation) of the FPGA program, sufficient to finalize the choice of
FPGA and computer interfaces; to be done by Martin. (c) Design and
layout of the main circuit board (16 channels with analog electronics,
FPGA, and computer interface); to be done by NRAO.

Milestones

12feb Validate FPGA choice (including USB interface test)
13feb 1-channel prototype detector circuit done (sans filters)
27feb testing of (") done -- caveat: we may not have the final
      filters in time for this
26mar FPGA program written & simulated
26mar main board layout complete, ready to order


2. Project Meeting/Design Review

1-2 April, Green Bank.

This is to give the go-ahead for the construction phase. All Caltech
personnel will attend, including a Cristobal Achermann.


3. Construction Phase

Most of this will be done at Green Bank, and Cristobal will spend a
large fraction his time there. This phase involves: building and
populating the main circuit board; designing and building packaging,
including power control, temperature and voltage monitors, cooling;
acquiring and programming the real-time computer; lab testing; final
FPGA program.

Milestones

23Apr device driver for real time computer written
10may main board fully populated
14may lab testing software complete & installed at GB
17may CCB fully assembled in lab (1 unit)
19jun Lab testing complete

People: Shepherd (computer, software, test software, FPGA program);
Achermann (package design and build, assembly); all (lab tests).  We
tentatively agreed that board population would be done by a Green Bank
technician. Machining can be done at either Green Bank or Caltech/OVRO
(depending on availability).


4. Integration and Commissioning

Integration with receiver and manager software in lab; on-telescope
testing and commissioning. (Manager software to be written at Green
Bank.) If all goes well, we should be ready well before the first date
when GBT commissioning is possible (September 6).

Milestones

19Jun Ygor/manager ready for testing
19Jul Lab integration and testing complete
06sep Begin GBT commissioning


5. Build and commission second CCB for 3mm, and spares.

--
Timothy J. Pearson
Astronomy Dept 105-24, Caltech, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
Internet:    tjp at astro.caltech.edu
Telephone:   +1 626 395-4980    FAX: +1 626 568-9352