Systems that use EPICS: Design papers?

["Brian Glendenning" <bglenden@cv3.cv.nrao.edu>]

Hello -

I am the head of computing (i.e., software development) for the Millimeter
Array (MMA) project. This will be an astronomical radio interferometer
consisting of a few 10's of antennas and associated instrumentation spread
over a few kilometers at a high site in Chile. The project is funded for a
three-year design and development phase, (hopefully) to be followed by a
full-up construction phase with the instrument being completed in about 10
years. For more details see the MMA's home page at http://www.mma.nrao.edu/

We are considering using EPICS for the control software. While EPICS has
been used in a number of optical projects, it has not been used so far as I
know in any radio astronomy projects. A radio interferometer is considerably
different than an optical telescope, although obviously they share some
characteristics.

What I am most interested in reading about at present are descriptions of
software systems that use EPICS, i.e. where does EPICS fit in, what things
does it do, what does it not do. In other words, where does EPICS fit into
the overall design of the software system. I am interested in astronomy and
non-astronomy applications (in terms of physical size scales and instrument
distribution the MMA might not be unlike an accelerator).

Since this stuff is old hat to all of you, I suggest emailing me any
pointers directly. I would be happy to summarize any responses I get to
other interested parties, unless I am asked to keep a response private.
Starting next week I am on a combination of work and personal travel until
mid-September, so if you don't get a speedy response from me I'm not being
rude, just away from my email!

As an aside, I have some positions to fill. Please feel free to contact me
if you are interested in a software position in this exciting project.

Brian
        Brian Glendenning - National Radio Astronomy Observatory
bglenden@nrao.edu              Socorro NM               (505) 835-7347