LIST OF ABSTRACTS

Session 9: "Software and Automation"

The code for normal points computation. The implementation for SLR-station Lviv

Sofia Apunevych, Stepan Apunevych, Andriy Bilinskyi, Yaroslav Blagodyr
Astronomical Observatory of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine
E-mail: sofiya@astro.franko.lviv.ua

Poster:
The SLR station of Astronomical Observatory of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv has been included into ILRS network in 2002 as Lviv (Code:LVIL, CDP number:1831, IERS DOMES:12368S001, SOD: 18318501).
Currently it sends the data into Eurolas Data Center (EDC) at DGFI/ILRS Global Data Center and Ukrainian Centre of Determination of the Earth's Orientation Parameters at Main astronomical observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The network of ILRS consists of the stations which meet the appropriate demands on precision of data and their format. To preprocess the data of satellite laser ranging the algorithm of normal points was developed by ILRS. The normal points represent some averaged values of flight-times for laser beam traveling from station to target and back. The Lviv station process the data according to this algorithm. The ILRS continually improves the formats of input and output data and provides the recommendations for normal points algorithm for enhance the performance of stations.
We present the yet another implementation of normal point algorithm developed from scratch and based on ILRS recommendations on predictions data format CPF and output CRD format. The main task of the project NoPo is to build the free (in the sense of GNU Public License) open-source framework to be compliant with ILRS demands and fully customizable for the needs of any station. The code is composed in C programming language and available through web-site http://astro.franko.lviv.ua.

SLR Data Atomatic Preprocessing

Ding Jian, Qu Feng, Wei Zhibin
Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping, China
E-mail:dingjianchina@gmail.com

To get the range from observation station to satellite is the only object of SLR. Data and its processing play an important role in SLR engineering. Data processing includes ephemeris prediction, producing tacking file, rude data incepted, preprocessing and result data making given format and so on. And preprocessing is the most complex step in SLR data processing. The meaning of preprocessing is that noise eliminated. How to realize automatic proceeding is the goal of this paper and its also as the object of next SLR generation. Reliability and efficiency are two necessary factors taken into account in automatic processing method.
First, to build an indicator as the standard of automatic processing realized yes or no. Second, to build an effective method for automatic processing.

Software-Modifications for the 100-Hz Zimmerwald Laser System

Werner Gurtner
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland
E-mail: gurtner@aiub.unibe.ch

We describe a number of software modifications in the control and data processing programs needed for the upgrade from 10 to 100 Hz, e.g., an innovative overlap avoidance procedure, a realtime tracking scenario adjustment based on a limitation of the ranges per normal point to a reasonable number, and an improved noise-elimination algorithm in the data post processing. We also show a fairly simple cloud-detection system using the day-time color tracking camera.

The new pointing model of telescope based on tracking data

Medvedsky M., Pap V.
Main Astronomical Observatory National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
E-mail: medved@mao.kiev.ua

Poster:
There is a new error model of pointing the telescope to the satellite for satellite laser ranging. It is based only data which obtained during SLR observations. The observations about 80 passes of satellites have been taken from beginning of September of 2008 year for the construction model. The parameters of the model, a mode of the construction of model are included in article. We are analyzed advantages and disadvantages of the model. This model is used at SLR station Kyiv-Golosiiv 1824 at present day.

On the Generation of SLR Output Files at Mt Stromlo

Christopher J. Moore
EOS Space Systems, Australia
E-mail: cmoore@eos-aus.com

As part of the re-establishment and improvement of the Mt Stromlo SLR station, much of the software systems have been redeveloped, including new post-processing software. With the advent of the new CRD format this has provided an opportunity to consider new approaches to the generation of data products. This paper provides a description of the approach adopted, using XML and XSLT technologies.

Automation - Recent Progress at Mt Stromlo SLR Station

Christopher Moore
EOS Space Systems, Australia
E-mail: cmoore@eos-aus.com

A short report on the progress made at Mt Stromlo SLR station on the development of new automation facilities is presented. Auto-tracking has been in routine operation for over a year and new software applications to support auto-processing have recently been completed.

New ideas in control software for LR-systems with remote assessable,
autonomous process cells

Alexander Neidhardt
FESG, TU Muenchen, Geodaetisches Observatorium Wettzell, Germany,
E-mail: neidhardt@fs.wettzell.de

The requirements for geodetic data acquisition systems like satellite laser ranging systems increase. Shared observations of future transponder targets, the distribution of the resulting data in real-time and the increasing number of possible targets with fast switched between passages for example will offer new possibilities but will also require new solutions for the controlling software. To improve this situation (semi-) automated, remote control systems will become more and more reality. Such complex systems require reliable, transparent and modular structures from upper controlling layers down to the basic single components in combination with sophisticated safety mechanisms in automation. A new idea with remote assessable, autonomous process cells, which can solve component specific requirements encapsulated and autonomously, can generally help to split up the complex system into maintainable, module units. These units are remote controllable and highly automated. In the design of the new Satellite Observing System Wettzell these ideas have been implemented. A similar approach has been proposed for the remote control of the radio telescope at the German Antarctic Receiving Station O's Higgins for geodetic VLBI experiments, where the first steps are realized now.

Implementing the new ILRS CRD data format

Magdalena Kuzmicz-Cieslak, Erricos C. Pavlis
Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET), USA
E-mail: epavlis@umbc.edu

The new CRD format is now set to replace the current formats used to disseminate the ILRS data. Stations are expected to pass compliance tests and then submit their data in CRD by sometime in 2010. We have used data provided in the new format to generate test results, and put in place the process by which we will be "digesting" such data into the current analysis scheme at the JCET AC (using NASA's GEODYN). We will show results obtained using a small sample data set of NP from MLRS. These will be compared to the nominal results obtained from the exact same data set provided in the current ILRS format. Our intention is that following the Poznan workshop, the JCET AC will be ready to accept CRD data from the ILRS network in order to validate stations that wish to convert to this format.

SLR station Riga software upgrade

Kalvis Salminsh
Institute of Astronomy University of Latvia
E-mail: kalvis@lanet.lv

The SLR station Riga is currently being upgraded with the new windows based data management, prediction and on-site data processing software. The new software is designed as a client-server applications for use at the station and as a 3-tier application to access part of the system functionality via WWW. Comparing to the previous version the prediction generation and on-site data processing workflow is improved. Upcoming implementation of CRD format and kHz ranging support is discussed as well.

The Requirements for ARGO Operation System

Yoon-Kyung Seo, Hyung-Chul Lim, In-Kwan Park, Hong-Seo Im, Jong-Uk Park
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute
E-mail: ykseo@kasi.re.kr

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) is developing one mobile and one fixed SLR system from this year which is called ARGO-M and ARGO-F, respectively. KASI is in the step of making the system requirements. The requirements describe the definition and scope of the various software and hardware subsystem which is necessary for developing the ARGO operation system. It also defines function, performance and interface requirements. The operation system consisting of ARGO-M site, ARGO-F site, Remote Operation Center (ROC) inside KASI is designed for un-manned remote access and the automatic tracking and control system that are equal to the main operation concept of ARGO system. To accomplish the un-manned remote operation, we are considering the remote access to ARGO-F and ARGO-M from ROC. The mobile-phone service has allowed us to access the ARGO-F remotely and to control the system in an emergency. To attempt the fully automatic tracking and control system on ARGO-F, we has investigated and described the requirements about the automatic aircraft detection system and the various meteorological sensors. The requirement for the operation system of ARGO will be discussed.