Design and Construction of the HIAPER Cloud Radar Control and Safety Subsystem

The HIAPER Cloud Radar is a millimeter wave radar being developed by NCAR that will be used for the study of cloud microphysics. Once its construction is finished it will be mounted on a research aircraft to collect data. While it has been tested on the ground and calibrated, some subsystems are required to be designed and built to ensure an optimum operation. A control subsystem is to be incorporated into the radar system to route signals and add security measures by means of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The control system is expected to have high noise immunity as it uses differential lines and coaxial cables for data transmission. While ground testing the radar it might t be crucial to turn off the transmitter in case a sizable object or a person crosses the beam as it could damage the transmitter and radiate the person. The control subsystem is able to disable the transmitter by computer control or physical switches. It is also capable of disabling the servos that move the beam reflector in case of an emergency. Transmission of synchronized pulses is also part of the design as the pulses are sent from the computer into the control system, transformed into differential signals for noise immunity and routed to the radar pod. Once the design is complete testing and debugging of the PCB will follow to rid the circuits of any faults.