Moog Inc. – Schaeffer Magnetics Division
The client requested availability of a consultant to perform software
maintenance and modification on an as-needed basis. Mr. Weekley
performed ongoing maintenance, modification, and repair of existing
software to control cycling and test of stepper motors for spacecraft
solar array deployment arms and antenna positioners.
Moog Inc. – Schaeffer Magnetics Division
The client requested troubleshooting and repair of software for
automated life cycle testing of a stepper motor for a spacecraft
deployment arm. The software is intended to run continuously for
very long periods of time but was shutting down in days or weeks. Mr.
Weekley identified several poor programming practices that could
lead to unexpected shutdown of the software, and modified the code
accordingly.
Preece Inc.
The client requested a complete automatic test system for a smart
control valve for water flow control for a combustion and fluids
experiment on the International Space Station. The product to be
tested consisted of a control valve operated by a stepper motor, a
flow sensor, and a microprocessor-based controller unit. Mr. Weekley
selected equipment, designed interfaces, developed software, and
integrated hardware and software based on an HP data acquisition
unit, two National Instruments data acquisition boards, a flow
computer, a digital I/O board and relay board. An RS-485 serial
communications board is used to communicate with a temperature
chamber controller. A script-driven test engine was developed, with
parameter files read from Excel spreadsheets using ActiveX. Data
sheets are also printed from Excel under LabVIEW control. Mr.
Weekley simulated the Preece smart valve system and the NASA computer
and developed a control algorithm before any prototype hardware was
available. Mr. Weekley also set up remote monitoring of test status
and temperature control screens. Remote screens are viewable across
a network using a standard web browser.
Boeing
The client ordered a test system to perform high rate production
testing of a hand-held military transceiver. Mr. Weekley developed
instrument drivers and a test executive, as well as writing the
software for individual tests. The acceptance test system tests up
to four units simultaneously and the thermal test system tests up to
20 units simultaneously. Software used includes LabVIEW 5.0, LabVIEW
4.1, and C. Hardware for the acceptance test system is based on a
GenRad Geneva GR2000 with added RF test equipment. Equipment
includes a spectrum analyzer, signal generators, a power meter, a bus
emulator, an audio analyzer, a GPS constellation simulator, and a VXI
counter and DMM. Hardware for the thermal system includes a scanner,
a DMM, and DIO card.
Pacific
Scientific
The client requested a 12 channel pressure
transducer waveform system to monitor the discharge of a fire
extinguisher bottle. The client wished to have a system that could
be easily re-configured by R&D personnel, and could handle a
combination of pressure transducers and thermocouples. Mr. Weekley
wrote the software and implemented the system. The software uses the
channel configuration capabilities of NI-DAQ and LabVIEW. Hardware
is a 32-channel data acquisition card.
Pacific
Scientific.
The client requested automation of a complex manual
procedure to measure pressure response under a variety of conditions
on a space vehicle pressure regulator. Mr. Weekley developed the
software and selected and integrated the hardware. The application
features a scrolling strip chart display, continuous streaming of
pressure and temperature data to disk, automatic acquisition at
higher data rates at appropriate times without operator intervention,
and the use of LabVIEW to control Microsoft Excel through OLE. Hardware
includes a 32 channel data acquisition board and an analog
output board. The analog output board was used to simulate the
output of pressure transducers and thermocouples so the application
software could be developed without the use of the actual pressure
test stand.
Pacific
Scientific.
The client wished to replace a plotter and
oscillograph with a PC-based automatic data acquisition system. The
system is used for testing of a missile pressure regulator. Mr.
Weekley selected transducers, designed interface circuitry, and
selected the computer and peripherals. Mr. Weekley wrote the
software using LabVIEW and the LabVIEW SPC toolkit. Hardware
includes an 8 channel data acquisition board, fast response pressure
transducers, and a sound card and speakers.
Pacific
Scientific.
The client requested a system to measure high speed
temperature waveforms at twelve points in a temperature chamber
during the discharge of a fire extinguisher bottle. Mr. Weekley
specified the thermocouples and the data acquisition hardware and
wrote custom software filters to produce a fast response without
excessive noise on the signals. The programming language was LabVIEW
and the hardware was a 32 channel data acquisition board.
Pacific
Scientific.
The client requested a portable system to measure
gas concentration in an aircraft engine nacelle. Mr. Weekley
selected the hardware and developed the software using LabVIEW. The
system uses a laptop PC and a PCMCIA data acquisition card to measure
the analog voltage output from a gas analyzer instrument and control
six solenoids to route the gas flow to the analyzer. The solenoids
are operated from the parallel port of the PC. Data is automatically
placed in a pre-constructed Excel worksheet and chart.
Pacific
Scientific.
The client requested a system to monitor a
temperature/humidity chamber for acceptance test of the chamber and
later use in product testing. Mr. Weekley wrote the software in the
LabVIEW language. The chamber controller is communicated with using
a GPIB interface card.
Pacific
Scientific.
The client requested a fire detector acceptance test
system. The system measures voltages and resistances for acceptance
test of a continuous thermocouple type of fire detector wire. Mr.
Weekley developed the application using LabVIEW. The hardware
includes a GPIB interface card, a digital I/O board, a DMM with an
integral 10-channel scanner, and an 8-channel relay board.
Pacific
Scientific.
The client requested a system to perform in-process
test of a continuous thermocouple fire detector wire. The system
controls a stepper motor that pulls the fire detector wire through a
tube oven, stops at the specified length interval, and soaks at a
specified time before taking measurements. Mr. Weekley developed the
application using LabVIEW. The system uses a GPIB interface card to
communicate with two DMM’s, and communicates with the stepper
motor
indexer through a serial port.