[HN Gopher] Calibration Display for NASA (2019)
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Calibration Display for NASA (2019)
Author : omnibrain
Score : 22 points
Date : 2023-03-31 13:32 UTC (1 days ago)
(HTM) web link (www.daliborfarny.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (www.daliborfarny.com)
| qwezxcrty wrote:
| I don't get it, LEDs can be trivially modulated to MHz, why
| nixies? April fool?
|
| I would imagine having a couple of FPGAs, toggling 7 segment LED
| displays can easily do the same thing.
| Luc wrote:
| I don't think it's an April Fools.
|
| - They have a tiny GPS disciplined timing source by Brandywine
| Communications sitting next to the display. Brandywine supply
| very precise timing gadgets.
|
| - They're in Czechia but the box is powered by 110V.
|
| - The camera shooting the sole Nixie tube is a Photron by the
| looks of it.
|
| - There's a video :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK3E55fytC0
|
| - There's a picture posted by a NASA employee:
| https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5110589098977129&set...
| undersolved5 wrote:
| For those wondering why Nasa would even consider using Nixie
| Tubes, here is quick summary. NASA was interested in using Nixie
| tubes as a calibration display because of their high precision
| and accuracy in displaying numerical information. The Nixie tubes
| were specifically used to display time codes for video cameras
| that were being calibrated for use in space missions.
|
| The Nixie tubes were chosen because they are capable of
| displaying numerals with high accuracy and resolution, making
| them ideal for calibrating high-precision instruments like video
| cameras. In addition, the tubes are highly reliable and have a
| long lifespan, which makes them suitable for use in space
| missions where repair or replacement is difficult or impossible.
|
| Furthermore, the article mentions that the use of Nixie tubes for
| this purpose was also driven by a desire to incorporate vintage
| technology into modern applications, in this case, space
| exploration. By using Nixie tubes, NASA was able to achieve both
| the high precision required for their calibration needs while
| also incorporating a unique and interesting visual element.
|
| Overall, the use of Nixie tubes by NASA for calibration purposes
| demonstrates the continued relevance and utility of this vintage
| technology in modern applications. Really cool.
| tablespoon wrote:
| I won't believe it at least until see a reference to this item
| NASA itself, and even then, I'd still be skeptical. It's
| getting filed under "April Fools."
| cbsks wrote:
| This comment smells like GPT. Are you a real person,
| undersolved5?
| WorldPeas wrote:
| Interesting read, I'm surprised these tubes are so fast
| considering my one remaining filament bulb always takes a few
| seconds to warm up after being switched on. Do these use a
| different filament type?
| somat wrote:
| I think the filament stays on and you switch what cathode is
| being used.
|
| edit, I just read the wikipedia page on nixie tubes, there is
| no filament, despite looking like one it is not a thermionic
| vacuum tube. it is a cold cathode gas discharge lamp. so one
| anode with many switched cathodes.
| joezydeco wrote:
| I'm curious about the Uncertainty gauge and what measurement
| drives it.
| [deleted]
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