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Abstract
Problem Statement In working with labView and experimental physics at Jefferson Lab the current configuration is a linux based control system. Christiana has posed the task of implementing a windows based network configuration where input and output from the data readings is distributed across the network. With the help of LabView demos and CALabs softIOC we were asked to prove the concept of this windows based configuration to be possible. Specifically the task is to prove (or disprove) that we can serve data using the caLabs soft IOC.
Rationale The current configuration of Jefferson Labs data systems is served on hardware that is obsolete (Networked Apple II boxes) compared to todays standards especially in regards to UX and ease of access. With a windows based implementation Jefferson Lab will be able to update to more current technology as well as enabling a more user friendly environment for the experimental physicists to work with. The impact of this proof of concept allows Jefferson Lab to move forward with an actual implementation on site. It was an ideal project for our team because we could set up a networked test environment on hardware that we had administrator access over. This alleviated the problem of having to ask the IT management department at Jefferson labs to open ports and relinquish privileged access for the purpose of testing this software.
Approach Initially, our team had to develop enough working knowledge of LabView to begin working on our problem. After preparing our team edited a LabView demo to change randomly generated input to String input we could control and serve to the caLabs softIOC. With no firewall restrictions we served input to another computer on our network which was successfully read and displayed in the caLabs/LabView UI. After successfully proving that caLabs soft IOC could indeed send information over the network, we began working on a simplified demo. The goal of this demo is to exhibit the proper usage of caLabs soft IOC over a Windows configured network. The result being a unambiguous implementation that can be scaled up as per the needs of Jefferson Labs.
Results After initial testing we have a documented a proof of concept that with no firewall restrictions that we are successfully able to serve LabView data to caLabs through a network. The results of this concept moves us into the next phase of our project. We have proven this concept will work. We are now hoping to contribute to the effort of an implementation on site. The first transition to this software package, at Jefferson Labs, will be the upgrade of the superconducting test facility called the Vertical Test Area. Another goal is to successfully build a working physical demo of this project with actual hardware PLC’s to display at the senior design expo at the end of the Spring 2015 semester.
Publication Date
2015
Keywords
computer science, LabVIEW
Disciplines
Computer Engineering | Engineering
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Preetam Gosh
VCU Capstone Design Expo Posters
Rights
© The Author(s)
Date of Submission
July 2015