NASA 13-Inch Magnetic Suspension and Balance System User Guide

About this manual

This document serves as a user guide for the digital control system of NASA Langley Research Center's 13-inch Magnetic Suspension and Balance System. It details controller concepts, including control algorithms and software block structure, as well as system configuration and operational procedures. The guide was developed to support digital control of wind tunnel models, offering advantages such as advanced algorithms, model adaptability, and synchronized data acquisition.

The system is implemented on a PDP 11/23+ minicomputer, with software structured for modularity and ease of modification. The guide includes sections on hardware startup and shutdown, run-time screen display, keyboard commands, and limitations. It also references previous versions of the software and hardware configurations used at other institutions, such as Southampton University and MIT.

What's inside

• Introduction
• Controller Concepts
• System Configuration
• Controller Users Guide
• Appendix A: Compilation and Linking
• Appendix B: Source Code Listings
• Appendix C: PDP 11/23 Configuration
• Appendix D: Hardware Checkout Procedures

Frequently asked questions

What is the product described in this manual?

The NASA/LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER'S 13-INCH MAGNETIC SUSPENSION AND BALANCE SYSTEM.

What computer system is used to control the system?

The PDP 11/23+ computer system.

What is the typical loop repetition rate for the NASA LaRC 13" MSBS?

Typically 256 cycles per second.