FSI Acquisition Electronics Project (2021 - now)

The project aims at creating acquisition electronics for precise distance measurement system with 1000 channels based on Frequency Scanning Interferometry (FSI). It is to be used in Full Remote Alignment System developed for the High-Luminosity LHC upgrade. The goal is to develop a cost-efficient and industry-scale system for the precise measurement of position of accelerator equipment.

My role involves:

• Study of system requirements and operational principles of the underlying novel method to propose and implement a scalable, flexible and cost-effective architecture based on state-of-art off-the- shelf solutions, e.g., high-speed Ethernet, computation using Graphic Processing Units (GPUs).
• Leading a team of hardware, software, gateware developers through the full development cycle to provide acquisition electronics, in collaboration with BE-GM, and with tight deadlines.

IEEE P1588 Working Group: (2013 - now)

IEEE 1588 is the Standard for a Precision Clock Synchronization Protocol for Networked Measurement and Control Systems (also known at PTP). This standard defines a protocol and time-sensitive components enabling precise synchronization of clocks in distributed systems. P1588 Working Group is charged with the maintenance and any future revisions of the IEEE 1588 standard.

In years 2013-2019, the group worked on the third revision of the IEEE1588 standard. It consisted of 5 sub-committees, each dealing with different aspect of the revision: Architecture, High Accuracy, Maintenance, Management and Security. I participated in the Working Group as a representative of CERN being a co-chair of the High Accuracy sub-committee which standardized White Rabbit, and an active member of the Architecture sub-committee. The revised IEEE1588 standard was approved in November 2019 and published in June 2020.

As of 2019, the P1588 Working Group contiues to work on the IEEE1588 standard in newly formed sub-committees: Maintenance, Management, New Features, Security and Outreach. I continue to represent CERN in the group, being a co-chair of the New Features sub-committee, actively participating in the work of the other sub-committees and being the webmaster of the official P1588 Working Group webpage.

White Rabbit Project: 2010 - now

White Rabbit Project (OHWR Wiki/repo) develops a technology based on existing standards (IEEE 802.3, SyncE, IEEE1588) which enables sub-nanosecond synchronization of thousands of devices connected in a network spanning several kilometers. In addition to high-accuracy timing capabilities, White Rabbit entails low-latency, reliable and deterministic data delivery. Initially started at CERN as the next-generation Control and Timing System for the accelerator complex, White Rabbit has evolved into an international collaboration of many research institutes and companies from around the world with a substantial number of various applications (details). My responsibilities in the project include:

• WR Standardization Project Leader and CERN representative to IEEE/ITU-T
• Gateware and software developer contributing to the main WR components: WR Switch and WR Nodes
• Manager and technical leader in hardware, gateware and software developments of the New White Rabbit switch v4
• Integrator and support of WR applications in critical systems at CERN, such as WR-BTrain
• Network designer responsible for CERN-wide WR network guidelines and architecture
• Expert in ensuring determinism and highly reliable data delivery - my PhD
• Conducting environmental and performance tests
• Co-author of the synchronization protocol (WRPTP) specification

F*watch: 2014 - 2015

F*watch is a fully open electronic watch project featuring an integrated GPS receiver. The development started at CERN as an after-work project to make a special present for a retiring colleague who likes hiking and timing. The full design (electronics, mechanics and software) is available under free licenses and the design is exclusively made with free tools. My responsibilities in the project included:

• Mechanics: design of the F*watch case using FreeCAD
• Visual documentation: pictures, a short film F*watch - brief history, and Making of the case.

Universal Measurement System with Web Interface (M.Sc.): 2007 - 2009

Universal Measurement System with Web Interface (UMSWI) is an autonomous, universal acquisition system aimed for high energy physics. It is equipped with easily extensible controls software based on embedded Linux. As an example implementation, simple oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer Web Graphic User Interface (WGUI) and Measurement Interface (ME) were developed for the system. The system was tested at Proton Synchrotron (CERN).
My role in the project was to design and develop gateware (VHDL) and software for the project. The system software consists of Linux-based embedded operating system, Linux Device Drivers, SCPI server, Java Applet and Website.

• Keywords: web application, Java Applet, embedded systems, embedded Linux, FPGA, SCPI, Linux Device Drivers
• The goal of the project: Utilization of the hardware to create an autonomous, universal measurement system with Ethernet interface and operating system on board, in order to enable configuration accordingly to the user' s needs. Creation of TCP/IP and web-based control interface.
• Hardware:
• Main module (Switched-mode Power Supply,Graphic controller, Sound controller, I2C interface, Peripherals: USB, RS232, Ethernet ports, output for built-in LCD-TFT and for VGA monitor)
• Single Board Computer module (ARM9, 128MB SDRAM, Ethernet interface 10/100 Mbit, FLASH 8MB, SD/MMC reader, Interfaces: 2 x Serial ports, 2x USB hub and device)
• Acquisition module (ALTERA Cyclone I, 2 x fast, 105MS/s. 14 bit ADCs,SSRAM : 128k x 32)
• Project's homepage here
• Publication in Proc.SPIE related to the project (see)
• M.Sc thesis : "Universal Measurement System with Web Interface" (download)

Linux Device Drive and Tango Device Server for Power Supply Controller of Magnets: 2008

ALBA Synchrotron has developed a PCI/cPCI interface for the PSI controller for Power Supplies. The power supplies are used for the Storage Ring corrector magnets (for slow and fast orbit feedback) and the corrector magnets of the Insertion Devices. I worked on the software side of the project:

• adapted and upgraded to Linux 2.6 and PCI interface an existing Linux 2.4 VME
• developed Tango device server for both Fiber optic links and serial Line
• developed test application for the PCI/cPCI interface

The Tango server is used by the control system to provide an interface for the operators interface. On the other hand, the Fast Orbit Feedback does not use this server. It uses dedicated software calling directly the driver.
Detailed information was published in an ICALEPCS2009 article.

PSonline - Primary School online (B.Sc.): 2007 - 2009

PSonline is an internet portal created for primary schools to enable exchange of information between pupils, parents and teachers. It is a PHP and mySQL-based website. The project involved studying, learning and using project management methodologies and user feedback acquisition techniques.

• Keywords: web application, PHP, database, mySQL, HTML, online portal, project management, user feedback acquisition
• The goal of the project: Creating system engine written in PHP providing users (pupil, teacher, parent) with individual account, delivering appropriate information to targeted recipients, providing compatibility with other software used by the client.
• Client: Primary School No. 22 in Rybnik (go)
• Project's homepage here
• B.Sc thesis : "PSonline - Primary School Online" (download)