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Show j T Vol 31 no. 6 Dugway.UtBh March 27, 1986 "Published in the interest of the personnel of Dugway Proving Ground" Compyteir pro gjiraoi variables oh "DPG-testln- by Usa Slmunacl A new software system developed by a computer programmer here allows computers to control every aspect of tests. Jim Gibson, a computer programmer for Technical Systems directorate developed a program that he said is "generic." "It can be applied to any type of test," he said. "In industry, one computer program is designed.; to do one thing," Jim Barnes of Instrumentation branch said. "Since the generic program can be applied to anything, it puts us in a leading edge of technology." Safety and repeatability were the main concerns with turning tests that involve live agents from manually to computer operated. "It just so happens that this is saving the government money," Assistant Project Officer Gary Bodily said. Most tests require that a piece of equipment be challenged by agent. Before, people with rubber - protective clothing would physically test the equipment and operate valves that control temperature, air pressure and other variables within a test. Now, a computer controls all the switches.' "The safety factor of the tests has greatly in- -, creased by keeping people out of contact with hot agent In case something does go wrong, the computer has emergency control switches for every variable being operated and a main switch that ' can bring the test to safe levels and allow manual Tony Flippo of weapons branch said. . In the past, in order to complete a test, equipment was tested at Dugway and then sent to other installations for quality control. Accuracy and reliability will increase with the computer controlling tests. The need for quality control re-. shut-down- ," g tests by other installations is eliminated. Gibson's program has many advantages besides the fact that new programs won't have to be written for other tests. "We will be able to run tests a lot faster," Bodily said. "The repeatability and reliability could not be matched with humans at the controls." With computers at the controls, Dugway's abilities are expanded. "We can tell how equipment ' reacts to agent' and we can analyze the piece in challenge while it's working. We're able to see how long the equipment will last and if there is danger of malfunction down the road," Gibson said. "We still need people to know how the test operates and to be able to do the job in case something happens," Gibson said. "So there is no need to worry about job displacement. The jobs have just become more sophisticated and specialized." People must still maintain knowledge of the system, Flippo said. "A computer can't pick up a a system together." pipe The computers are set up in a portable van and can be relocated to any test site. They can also be transported by aircraft to other installations for tests. Dugway is the only test installation within TECOM to have this computer ability. "It makes Dugway look good and will allow us to win bids on more tests," Bodily said. People from several different organizations have come together to make this program work. Under a "test team concept, people have been working to get it off the ground," Bodily said. Testing will become a lot easier with this program, Bodily said. "It lets people do what they're good at; watching for. big mistakes, not little . or-pu- t Kevin Proctor keeps an eye on the samplers 16 ones." The arrival of spring gives .i. The tentative plan calls for cleaning up the post in the morning, followed by tree planting. The Utah Farm Bureau will give some advice on planting the res- idents a chance to see the ground that had been covered for so long.. Its anceiicwerV may lieave some- -' like a thing to be desired ...... br-vo- After the sprucingup. Post spring slated to families in the housing area to plant around their homes. and tree clean-u- p The trees', bone meal, stakes, and instructions for planting the Honeylocust and Russian Olive trees can be picked up from Sharpe at the Golf Club after 8 ajn., April 26. . planting are done, plans are being made for a cookout at the golf shack and the whole community is invited. Money for this one p.m. cookout has al- For this reason, the post beautification committee met clean-u- p trolled by a computer program written by Jim Gibson, a programmer for Technical Systems directorate. (U.S. Army photo by Usa Slmunacl) con-nect- ed to a test being performed on an F-oxygen, system. All valves controllng air pressure, humidity and other environmental conditions are being con- - Civilian Welfare Fund, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Commun- ready been donated, The following organizations volunteered to help plant the trees: BSA Troop 481, 5 trees; will involve munity clean-ucommon and areas, folyards .Ditto Area, 30 trees; Golf lowed by planting 500 trees around post." " The scheduled date for the, post beautification is April 26. . The Morale Support Fund, March 13 to plan a spring cleanup which would involve soldiers and civilians as well. "The project is to have the installation beautified by residents and have a cookout to show appreciation," said CSM John Sharpe, committee chairman. "The comp. . ity Club have volunteered to 1 " provide sodas and food to have a cookout to show the community its appreciation for the hard BSA Troop 517, 50 trees; Child Development Center, 25 trees; Outdoor Recreation, 10 trees; work. We will all put in cleaning and planting. At 1 p.m., show up at the golf club with sore muscles and a healthy appetite. The chefs from HHC DPG have vo- Course, 50 trees; DPG Soldiers, 50 trees; Community Club, System, 10 trees; Dugway High School Juniors and Seniors, 25 trees; Elementary School, 25 trees; 175 trees will be available lunteered to do the cooking according' to' 1SG Leland Barnes, of HHC. "I believe it's a good way start the year and get the post cleaned up," Sharpe said. -- 'f rr.?,; -7. v-. to; ' a 1! K i If t I? ?.J.- -: f ,,JA..fir.v.; i"!" ' ' ' '' f ' - - - - .. ' . . - ,: TSlflj" !"'--- '- - " ' - jmm SjSSSS-- - r--- -v .y -i.-.0- :-: fe4'V.' yii' .,'-y. .1 ; . - - r.'.iv f .' V'. A.':- " "i- i; " . f- - f j. - if J jj it "7 . . ... ; Cy v- -.-, . - W;K - vv .1 , ,VAT:"iw'-:vi",'--.V-, ''' v.:--?-;.- y y. ' - t 6501 sfi ' t '. It ".. .. ... f ., . i;:y.-.-- .- - ; . ; by SSds , 1 " been landing on sandbags to access their radio site located on the mountain. The 12x12 pad was designed by Air Force vehicle mechanic Jimmy Roberts. It was built from scrap metal at no cost to the government "Aviation was getting Bred of landing on the sandbags," Carmen Zac-cerchief of 6501 Dugway operations said. Lifting of the 2,030 pound pad was done by the " 1- t. '1' J4J- 1 I '3 HH53 helicopter crew from Hill Air Force Base. Air Force Tech. SgL Tony Beasley of the 6514th from Hill Is shown rigging the helipad, left. The helicopter lifts the helipad, right, and heads to- ter di, 1 moves heUpad . The 6501st Air Force range squadron here built and airlifted a helipad to Granite mountain recently. Until the new helipad was placed, helicopters had re-pes- Ji J ' f v .. r - . .. j : . ward Granite mountain where crews directed and placed the pad facing an 60 mph downwash from the propellers. Once In place, pilots from Michael Army Airfield here landed a UH1H helicopter on the pad to test It out (U.S. Air Force photos by Roy fudge) " ' J. |