Design of a 4M class low-cost radio telescope

Abstract

The development of a low-cost radio telescope is essential for a large-scale radio interferometry for higher resolution, where a huge number of affordable radio telescopes are required. This thesis presents a detailed process for designing a 4-m class radio telescope with an estimated cost of 4 lakhs INR per unit, with limited resources, manpower and manufacturing accessibility. This project is aimed for facilitating the construction of large array interferometer at a scale 100 numbers of antenna for scientific research and to provide access low-cost telescope for schools and colleges. The design process begins with the creation of a parabolic dish, with a 4-meter diameter and 0.435 f/D ratio. Dimensions and parameters were referenced from other radio telescopes (GMRT, NCRA Pune & IIRI Indore). The dish’s weight and inertia were calculated using CAD and then required torque, gear ratio & friction correction were calculated analytically. Subsequently a study of a supporting base truss was conducted using FEA to ensure structural integrity and safety of the design. The analysis confirmed that the structure will withstand the load and avoid catastrophic failure. Future work involves developing a control system for the telescope using low-cost components that will offer performance comparable to higher-end systems. This system will include a PID feedback system for antenna positioning and tracking. Additionally, a robust backend system for data acquisition and processing will be established using RFSoC FPGA. This low-cost, scalable design provides a promising solution for building large interferometric arrays with affordable individual telescope units.