This is the first ECS PD newsletter. Hopefully we start putting these out on a monthly basis to take stock of the improvements and work we're doing, and let the rest of LCLS know what new things are available from ECS!
Fixed server configuration issues that caused the network interface on the camera servers to periodically reset, disrupting data collection and often worse.
Squashed a bug related to how the photon energy bitmask is generated to make things more failsafe.
An initialization bug for the preemptive PMPS persists, PAMMs should continue to include a cycle of the Arbiter PLC, although not strictly necessary.
Work began on a batch of PMPS UI improvements including date and time overrides, a more streamlined UI arrangement, bigger windows for faults and requests, among many other things.
After some apparent inconsistencies with veto logic, a deep review of a majority of PLC veto logic was conducted to ensure the PMPS would produce faults only when necessary, and not when an obvious veto device should be keeping things safe.
Improperly latching "BPTM timeout" faults have been resolved and will no longer prevent beam seemingly at random.
Fixed bugs:
Added new tools:
And also added several many new devices for LCLS-II!
March began with some PMPS hacks to protect mirror coatings as the undulators and operators continue to impress us all with increasing beam power. These hacks were formalized in a subsequent upgrade that added state-based control to the mirror vertical axes, and the full PMPS integration (on the L line only).
XRT Mirrors M1, M2 and M3 are now connected to the PMPS arbiter and coating protection is now active.
LCLS-II DAQ support has been added for SP1K1's grating pitch! This works up to 120Hz and involves triggering the motion PLC directly to get encoder counts out and sent directly to the DAQ. This can feasibly be re-used to get any values we'd like from the PLC to the DAQ directly. The values are timed into the DAQ using an EVR.
Kaneda, our trusty ears and eyes in the NEH, now roams the halls freely (with supervision). Let the robot revolution commence. Login and access guidance can be found here. More robots following soon in other LCLS areas. Drive safe, have fun!
ECS Platform Dev began exploring the use of Jira as our future ticketing system. We developed an embedded form for submitting issues to our Jira backlog, which can be found in various confluence locations. The goal is to make a very simple and easy process for people to request help from ECS PD. Ultimately we are looking to embed this process directly into our GUI so control system users can effortlessly report an issue, and provide all the helpful context we need to troubleshoot issues. An additional goal is visualizing the ECS PD work queue. Using Jira we can easily embed our backlog in confluence so anyone can see where their ticket is in the queue and lobby to change priority if needed. So far, our backlog is filling up with tasks from the XBD team as well as our own work. The next step will be to really apply Agile processes to organizing and prioritizing our work items.
MEC-U successfully passed CDR review on March. It is a critical milestone achievement for the MEC-U project. Next goal for ECS is to get controls WBS, WBS dictionary, and EOB ready for Director's review and Independent cost review.
For March we closed these activities. Congratulations to task owners!
EPICS: Engineering and Design for FEE lockup
EASE: Engineering and Design for Component Assembly
Exit Slit: Engineering and Design for Assembly
We will get back to TMO DREAM starting April. Near-term goal is to complete final design of 80% of the DREAM control systems. Long-term goal is to get ready for installation by April 2022.