Design Review

Functional System Requirements:

The antennas to be tested will still be tested in the current burn in chamber. The
antennas have a self-test system that is activated by transmitting a 5 volt dc signal to the
antenna. A Directional Finding Antenna (DFA) receiver decoded the analog signal from
the antenna and then communicates with the computer system. The computer system
analyses and evaluates the data sent from the DFA receiver and determines if the
antenna is good or not. Our functional system requirements for the new system are
therefore:
to utilize the antennas self test circuitry.
to use readily available equipment.
to detail pass/fail reports.
to stay as close as possible to the current system.

Functional Decomposition:

A standalone data acquisition system, from National Instruments will accomplish

the following:

send 5 volts to start the self test system on the antennas

routes antenna signals to a signal conditioning and acquisition module with built
in multiplexer functionality

The acquisition module makes the signal into a format that will be able to be read
by LabVIEW analyzes the signal and compares it to the ideal output of a working
antenna

System Analysis:

We have of developed a feasibility study and have determined that the project is
economically, technologically and organizationally feasible.
The scope of our project is to take an existing components that utilizes third party
hardware/software and use an all in house system for our client. We have chosen
National Instruments Data acquisition system and software as the potential replacement.
Problem analysis: This past semester we demystified the parameters of the current
client setup. All the signals being outputted by the current system are now known and
can be recreated using the National Instruments system. As of now we have a block
diagram that represents the proposed solution.

Requirements analysis: we have created a feasibility report. The report includes all the
signals that need to be recreated in the NI data acquisition system and the NI software.
These signals can be recreated using using National Instruments software.

Decision analysis: Now that we have our feasibility report prepared, we are soon going
to present it to our clien. They will study our feasibility report and recommend some
changes. Soon after that, we should start implementing the project.

Detailed Design
Overall Design Flow Graph

Input/Output Specification:

The input for the antenna system will be the 5V self-test starter signal, the output of the
antenna system is the Pass or Fail of the antenna.

User Interface Specification:

We are trying to use the LabVIEW software system with a special designed user
interface to make the antenna self test more easy and more simple. The user interface
will consist the pass or fail notification, received signal record and real time display.
Current test time.

Hardware Specs:

The hardware will consist of:

A: The self-test control
A stand alone data acquisition system/ DC voltage supply
B: The signal process:
A stand alone data acquisition system and a display screen.(sane as above)
C: The antenna evaluation system:
National Instruments LabVIEW system

Software Specs:

LabVIEW software system

Test Specs:
We plan to conduct the overall system test next semester:
Unit Testing

We plan to test all the components that we purchase, and test if there is any malfunction
or
compatibility issue.

Integration Testing

Connect the equipment to the antenna circuit that we built and test the signal that comes
out of the antenna. We plan to how the signal is processing analyzed.

System Testing

Hand the new testing system to our client and use it to conduct a test with the 24
antennas.
Simulation/Modeling:
We have a block diagram that we will be presenting to our advisers later on this week.
Prototype/Testing:
For testing the system we will be given an antenna some time next semester by the
company to test the system that we built.
Design Documents
We have a block diagram and feasibility report has been completed and will soon be
delivered to the client.
Mechanical CAD:
Not applicable
Electrical CAD:
We are not at a stage to have this ready yet.
PCB:
We are not at a stage to have this ready yet.
Software Design:
We will use National Instruments Labview to program our new system.