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Apollo Guidance Computer

ltax

Hi Ben and crew,

I think it would be really cool to try to create a replica of the Apollo Guidance Computer from the Apollo missions using modern components. It used a pretty simple interface, and is pretty basic when compared to modern computers.

Thanks

Lucas

  • What capability would you want it to have? Can you give me a modern example of how it could be tested or used?

     

    Thanks,

    Karen

  • in reply to makerkaren

    I doubt it would be practical to try to recreate the actual programs used, but I feel like it would be doable to create the instruction set, which would enable basic mathematical computations to be done. I would imagine that it could additionally be used for things like basic motor control, given that one of the original applications was to make adjustments to things like navigational instruments.

     

    Overall, I guess the appeal is more based on historical context and basic computational concepts than actual usability, which could be looked at as a good thing or a bad thing.

  • in reply to makerkaren

    How about using it to move a model apollo around the floor?

    C

    Just over the top.

  • Looking at what is available on the web, this could be recreated using APM/ ArduPilot software and peripherals.

     

    From this site: Apollo Navigation Guidance and Control - SpaceRef

    The Primary System is composed of the following units:

    A) A three gimbal Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which can be replaced with any 6 to 10 DOF IMU modules (I2C or SPI)

    B)  Spacecraft 3-axis attitude indicators [ FDAI) , that can be simulated using a Raspberry Pi running MultiGcs or QGroundControl or

    Mission Planner software on a TFT Display

     

    image

    C) A one-Dower Alignment Optical Telescope (AOT) through which navigational stars can be sighted to align the IMU

    This can be build using the ADNS3080 optical flow sensor and associated driver running on ArduPilot.

    The "star" could be a LED attached on the ceiling.

    image

    C) A Rendezvous Radar (RR), which measures range, range rate, and line-of-sight angle relative to the LEM by tracking a transponder on the CSM.

    &

    D) A four beam doppler Lending Radar (LR). which senses velocity and altitude with respect to the lunar surface.

    Both of these functions can be simulated with  Laser Range Finders:


    image

     

     

    As you can see, it is now possible to recreate the functionnality of the LEM Guidance computer at a fraction of the price of the original module. It is obviously unfair to compare

    a Raspberry Pi and the MIT onboard computer that was running with 4kword of memory, but I guess that no one is willing to rewrite the 700,000 lines of ArduPilot in a more compact format....

     

    So for the recreation of fly, it is quite difficult to make a reconstruction of the real flight, I guess that could be simulated by manually simulating the flight path according to the flight control.