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FROM:
BURROUGHS CORPORATION
Detroit, Michigan 48232
Phone: 875-2260, Ext. 2234
or contact:
Richard J. Brady
Defense, Space and Special Systems Group
Paoli, Pennsylvania
Phone: NIagara 4-6962
_______________________________________________
FACT SHEET
AN/GSA-51
Radar Course Directing Group for the Back Up Interceptor Control
System (BUIC)
FUNCTIONAL
DESCRIPTION: BUIC is a semi-automatic backup to SAGE which
provides for conduct of the air battle in the event that portions
of SAGE become inoperative. Burroughs Corporation is providing the
AN/GSA-51 Radar Course Directing Group which functions as the
central control for Air Surveillance and Weapons Control for the
BUIC system and includes the following general capabilities:
- Air
Surveillance
- Acceptance
of radar data from long range radars.
- Formation
of tracks based on radar input presentation of this data
for evaluation by operators.
- Provision
of capability for manual track information and automatic
maintenance of tracks.
- Weapon
Control
- Display
of available weapons to permit pairing with tracks and
manual commitment.
- Automatic
analysis of commitment to assure intercept ability.
- Automatic
transmission of pre-launch and fire command based on
operator input.
- Automatic
generation and transmission of guidance commands.
The
AN/GSA-51 consists of a Burroughs D825 modular data processing
system. It is in the modular data processor that the operational
program is stored and executed. For the BUIC application, two
computer modules, six memory modules and three input/output
modules are utilized. Data exchange occurs simultaneously between
any memory and any computer or input/output module. The modular
nature of the equipment not only permits operation of the system
when some modules are inoperative, but also permits convenient
expansion to increase capability. The data processor can be
readily expanded to up to four computers, 16 memories and 20
input/output modules with no obsolescence of hardware or software.
Input/output modules for the BUIC system consist of message
processors and controller-comparators.
BUIC accepts
radar information from long range radar sites via the message
processors. The data is temporarily stored, formatted into
computer words, and transferred to core memory via a
controller-comparator. Controller-comparators handle data
transfers between core memory and all devices except computers.
A computer,
operating on the data stored in core memory, performs all the
computations necessary for generating appropriately formatted
display data. The display data, stored in core memory, is
transferred via a controller-comparator to the display fields of a
drum, which in turn automatically presents this data to each
display console 30 times each second. To accomplish all of this,
the computer executes a succession of program segments called up
from the drums.
Display data
available at each display console, which includes up to 12,288
symbols or vector segments, is selected by an operator by means of
15 category selectors. Radar data displayed includes current data
together with up to seven history points to permit track
initiation. Once the operator initiates a tracking action by means
of a light pen on the display, the computing system automatically
maintains the track by prediction and examination of incoming data
for correlation. Height requests are automatically generated and
transmitted based on track priority, or may be operator initiated.
When it is
established that defensive action is to be taken, the operator can
call up weapons status information, which is being continually
updated via card reader inputs. He can then call upon the computer
for solutions to possible intercepts, the solutions being made to
appear at the requesting display console. Once a weapon is
assigned, the computer generates the necessary launch and guidance
commands, and the track on the weapon is initiated automatically.
The launch and guidance commands, stored momentarily in core
memory, are accepted by the message processor, formatted, and
transmitted over the appropriate communication lines. All the
while, messages are being exchanged as required with adjacent air
defense sectors.
Peripheral
equipment performs support functions. Magnetic tape units are used
for simulation inputs and recording for training, and backup
storage for programs. A typewriter is a backup input for the card
reader and is also used in system maintenance. A status display
console presents indications of which units are
"on-line," or "in test," or in a failed state.
It also houses the central power control to assure orderly system
shutdown without loss of stored data in the event of a power
failure. A line printer provides high-speed printout to permit
rapid program evaluation and change, and evaluation of test
missions. Simulator message composers are training aids for
weapons director, for both initial training and maintenance
proficiency.
Since the
D825 is a functionally modular data processing system, it is
possible to achieve increased availability without full duplexing.
This is accomplished by providing additional modules of the
computer, memory, input/output module and an additional display.
While the operational program is functioning, an error recovery
program is being cycled in one computer, one memory, and one
controller-comparator.
Computers
are continually exchanged between the "backup" and
operational group and other modules are continually checked. The
operational program continually stores "safe data" to
permit recovery from a temporary computation interruption. If an
error is indicated, the operational computation is temporarily
suspended and the system is turned over to the error recovery
diagnostics program, which identifies the faulty module and
notifies the operator via the status console and typewriter
printout. The system is returned automatically to the operational
function with information on what modules are available for use,
and the operational program reconfigures, utilizing the safe data
previously stored. This recovery period will vary from about 15 to
30 seconds. The failed module is then further analyzed, repaired
and returned to the operational system.
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