CERN

Summary

CERN operates a complex arrangement of particle accelerators which scientists use for high energy physics experiments. My role there was to share in the design and development of digital process control systems for the Proton Synchrotron (PS) and Antiproton Accumulator (AA).

I continued to use CAMAC interfacing skills to replace the older analogue controls. The "knobs and dials" user interface was replaced by tracker-balls and touch-sensitive screens. The initial target language was Pascal until the project to develop a real-time compiler was abandoned. The new systems were to use a network of NORD-10 computers, so the decision was taken to develop the low-level control modules in N-PL, the NORD-10 assembly language.

To enable rapid development of the control software, the use of a skeleton or framework approach was adopted. I developed a generic device driver which was then used by developers to create specific device drivers for each type of control equipment.
Skills
N-PL
NODAL
CAMAC interfacing

Responsibilities
Work within the team to specify standard program structures
Work with accelerator engineers to identify the functionality required of each type of control equipment.

Achievements
Developed a framework device driver and trained other developers how to use it to write their own device drivers.
Wrote device drivers for vacuum pumps, power supplies, and bending magnets