Details
Epic
Not Assigned Description
The MeerKAT+ is an extension to the existing mid-frequency MeerKAT telescope. It is chiefly characterised by the addition of twenty SKA spec antennas to the existing 64 MeerKAT antennas, as well as an increase of the maximum baseline from 8 to 18km. The latter in particular results in a 5 to 10 scale increase for the SDP over that of the standard MeerKAT. To satisfy this we expect to deploy a system of around 10 PFLOPs in late 2022. A system of this size is highly useful for scale testing ahead of the deployment of the SKA SDP. In addition the MeerKAT and proposed SKA SDP architectures have much in common, allowing SKA components to be relatively easily tested on a production telescope. From an algorithmic perspective, the heterogenous array requires solutions that will be directly portable to SKA.
This development also aligns well with the requirements for commissioning systems in the early array releases.
Epic Hypothesis Statement (https://www.scaledagileframework.com/epic/)
| For | the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory as well as engineers, architects and other stakeholders in the development of the SKA SDP |
| who | seek to deliver an enhanced MeerKAT, as well as retire architectural and development risk through real-world tests of individual components and architectural concepts that are developed by the DP ART during the bridging phase |
| the | MeerKAT+ Science Data Processor |
| is a | large-scale, production system |
| that | produces continuum and spectral imaging products in a pipeline fashion from correlator visibility data under control from a central telescope manager and acts as an exoskeleton onto which a variety of processing ideas can be bolted. |
| Unlike | some existing radio observatory science processing platforms |
| our solution=============== | has the advantage of being deployed under real world conditions on a scale that is relatively comparable to that required for the production SKA SDP, as well as closely following the same architecture as that currently proposed for SKA |
| Outcome hypothesis |
|
| Leading Indicators | Due to the underlying architectural similarities, it is practical to perform black box testing of SKA SDP components on a live telescope, thus providing early feedback on the performance and design of these components. Science observation based validation of these components, and the wider MeerKAT+ SDP will form the body of evidence. |
| NFRs | This deliverable will also help to demonstrate the delivery of a complete SDP using SAFe (albeit at a relatively small scale). |
