National Ignition Facility integrated computer control system Page: 4 of 14
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deterministic response are implemented at the edges of the architecture in front-end computer equipment. In any event, no
hard real-time control is distributed over the computer network.
Over twenty distributed software applications will operate the NIF control system hardware from a central control room
[Figure 2]. The software architecture is sufficiently abstract to accommodate diverse hardware and it allows the
construction of all the applications from an object-oriented software framework that will be extensible and maintainable
throughout the project life cycle. This framework offers interoperability among different computers and operating systems
by leveraging a common object request broker architecture (CORBA). The ICCS software framework is the key to
managing system complexity and, because it is fundamentally generic and extensible, it is also reusable for the
construction of future projects.
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Figure 2 Computer rendering of the NIF control room
A brief summary of performance and functional requirements follows [Table 1].
Computer restart < 30 minutes
Post-shot data recovery < 5 minutes
Respond to broad-view status updates < 10 seconds
Respond to alerts < 1 second
Perform automatic alignment < 1 hour
Transfer and display digital motion video 10 frames per second
Human-in-the-loop controls response within 100 ms
Table 1 Selected ICCS performance requirements
Summary ICCS functional requirements:
" Provide graphical operator controls and equipment status
" Maintain records of system performance and operational history
" Automate predetermined control sequences (e.g. alignment)
" Coordinate shot setup, countdown, and shot data archiving
" Incorporate safety and equipment protection interlocks
2 Control System Architecture
The ICCS is a layered architecture consisting of front-end processors (FEP) coordinated by a supervisory system [Figure
3]. Supervisory controls, which are hosted on UNIX workstations, provide centralized operator controls and status, data
archiving, and integration services. FEP units are constructed from VME/VXI-bus or PCI-bus crates of embedded
controllers and interfaces that attach to control points (e.g. stepping motors, photodiode sensors, and pulse power). FEP
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Van Arsdall, P.J., LLNL. National Ignition Facility integrated computer control system, article, June 1, 1998; California. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc706529/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.