PROGESS REPORT - 15 FEBRUARY 1963

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A000100140005-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 20, 1963
• Content Type: MF

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20 March 1963
MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director, NPIC
SUBJECT: Progess Report - 15 February 1963
As you know the previous week and a half spent in this facility
was primarily taken up by clearances, orientations, and briefings from
the various organizations within NPIC.
As of this date, I have not been able to identify an overall
"System Plan" which is coherent. To extend my overall knowledge of the
computer oriented measurement system I visited three companies that
are preparing measurement-plotting equipment for you. I find when
visiting that some of the detail
specifications for equipment from those three facilities are still
vague. However, this could well be my lack of astuity in uncovering
the specifications in question. I find a lack of understanding as to
the needs of equipment maintenance and development.
I visited their facility bruary 1963, spending some
three hours with I looked at their equipment,
saw it in operation, and examined some of their test procedures, asking
them how those procedures of checkout fitted with the specifications
to which they were working. They gave me a copy of an outline entitled
"Design Perimeters of Offline Measuring Equipment Output." I noted
there is provision for a set time called, I believe, "time-out". However,
specifications as to the time that the timer should be run, had not
been received by them. They are now setting this timer to be two seconds.
Under paragraph 6 of the above mentioned paper it indicates, "After a
set number of items of transmission under computer control, an "acknowledged"
or tterror signal" will not be returned and the timer will run out." I have
not been able to find the logic for the "set number of items". There are
some 16 position switches for formating and 5 switches which are readout
controls, yet to be labelled. One critical point seems to be that of
identifying the accuracy of the system from the operator through the com-
puter and return to him. For example it would seem that a higher accuracy
could be obtained from man and machine depending upon the magnification
level he has selected to evaluate the frame in question. As far as I know,
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%amlli *MW
it is not anticipated at the present time to identify the magnification
used.
Another example might be measurement between two points of the
film. I assume that there will be a minimum of one fiducial mark
readout. It will be used to set the frame number in question along with
he machine serial number, and maybe the logic used to analyze. He
may use four fiducial markers for zeroing in and the operator, as I
understand, will then go through his measurement analysis. I assume
that at the end he will return to some reference point to close the
"loop". If, for example, the digits read out on the final measure are
not the same as the original zeroing, what logic is used for the computer
to indicate an error? Does the error then go back into the reading or
is an error signal sent to the operator and he then starts over? If
the latter procedure is followed I am sure that the operator will probably
be disenchanted rapidly by the "monster" in front of him.
In going over thel ]equipment I find it to be of high quality
and well along approaching a promised delivery date of 15 March 63.
I do not believe that the computer programs will be in shape to accept
readings from this equipment when it arrives.
Both my last visit and this visit I have the distinct impression
that the computer programming personnel are completely engulfed with
panics of an outside origin such as preparation for the "L" flights
by the 28th of this February or by such tantilizing erruptions as the
punch paper tape reader giving erroneous information when trying to use
the "compatibilit ro ram" for running "batch" programs previously
developed for the" Computer. For example, I find that
himself has been almost entirely tied up for a week and a half trying to
unscramble this one malfunction. I understand from
one more programmer has recently arrived in
brings to a total of 8 the programming power available.
become productive in about six months.
that
shop which
The latter should
I find that the documentation for either existing programs or
programs in the making is extremely sketchy which then forces this
establishment to rely entirely upon the sincerity and dedication of a
few individuals. It is my firm belief that the frustration level is
mounting very rapidly in the programming area, which will increase the
probability that computer programs will not be delivered in an
expeditious manner.
Let us now review briefly the plotter which is being purchased from
the This plotter, to be
225X1
25X1
25X1
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remotely located from the computer, will be driven from a 202B Datanhone
terminal 3 ntn p
different from that used by an y"" "C1- J-Uglc is entirely
that the Programming p tab plotter. I find
people here are intending to write programs
"when they have a chance" to use this plotter. It would seem extremely
appropriate for this organization to subr.ontract as much of the standard
-plot nrngrsmc to the
subroutines which they ow well and couldubevconverted ~ many
with easesto
be used in this facility. To start from scratch and develop the entire
logic for using this plotter would in my opinion be a large waste of
programmer time especially when these programmers are so urgently needed
for programs which can not be easily subcontracted. In other words the
plotter is a standard item, the plot routines could be used by calling
for subroutines which are standard in the world outside our black
curtain.
It seems to me that in purchasing "off the shelf" products such as
the above mentioned plotter should be bought without the cloak of security
which unnecessarily complicates the purchase. I would be glad to go
into more detail with regard to this plotter if you care to. It will
be delivered by March 29, and I seriously doubt that it will be able to
be driven by any programs presently being developed for at least three
to six months.
Let us now talk briefly about the
where they stand. I talked primarily to must- aay
for a piece of equipment as complicated as that to be delivered here by
mid April they seem to be exceedingly far from the delivery. I examined
some designs for the logitudinal measurement digitizing using a vacuum
roller, and I would guess that the possibility of maintaining longitudinal
accuracy to the degree specified will be exceedingly difficult to obtain.
They were intending to drive both the vacuum rollers one of which would
have digitizer of some yet to be specified make, in unison with a
roller at the opposite end of the measuring engine. I am sure that
there will be slippage and creep between these two. The constant takeup
tension on the takeup spools will not be transmitted across the vacuum
roller. Some type of slip clutch on the idler roller is required. I
am sure that there is a potential measurement error due to this creepage
and the possibility of rezeroing at the fiducial mark will probably
be uncertain. I am sure, also, that it is a high possibility of
snapping the film during its translation. The fixed gap between the
glass plates of .010 in. plus or minus a adjustable tolerance of .003 in.
seems to me a potential danger'when transporting the film at pretty
high speeds. A grain of dirt on the film will in all probability
completely multilate the film, will scar the glass plattens, and in
essence requiring a replacement of these plates when this happens. It
would seem to me that a minimum of a dozen spare plattens would be
required with this measuring engine. I believe also that there is a
25X1
25X1
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high probability that heat will not dissipate fast enough from the
emulsion in the film due to the isolation of the film by a thin air layer
from the "cooled platten". Their previous viewers, I believe have
always been a clamp type viewer which will allow heat to dissipate through
into the platten. However, I am far from my technical field of operation
in these details. It must be looked at by someone who is more familiar
and with previous experience. You asked for me to put my ideas down
as they came without too much analysis and that I am doing.
1. The supervisor in charge of the 490 computer and his subordinates
in the programming staff have such a tremendous programing job to be
accomplished that I seriously doubt that they can deliver an acceptable
system in a reasonable time. My recommendation would be to think
seriously of:
a. Subcontracting a portion of your programming to organizations
who have good programming capability.
I recommend a ackage of approximately 15 man years of effort
be arranged with over the next year. Attaches is a list of
programmers who would be available for various lengths of time.
The salary and present security clearance is noted in ink.
The appropriate people are 22 in number with a minimum experience
level of one year in space programming.
b. Increasing the programming capability at this facility
although the programmer market is very difficult to break
through.
I think that the programming people here should probably
spend more time documenting the program specifications. This would
be very difficult for an outside organization to do with their
limited background in your processing requirements.
2. I find a very high degree of dedication by most of the personnel
with whom I have come in contact. In some regard this tends to be a
detrement to the future smooth running of your organization in that
they do have a tendency to be completely encircled by the urgency of
the laptest panic button, and cannot do an adequate job of either planning
for future systems or actively developing this system. I recommend that
line management require well integrated plans at all management levels here.
3. In discussing with) land his group I find a very high
degree of competency and a driving force which certainly should accomplish
great strides. However, they are, I believe, and this is only
conjecture being given cast off equipment such as the Minicard system
from some other organization. In order to make this system work I
believe a large amount of effort will have to be applied in order to
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get this system in running condition only to find that there are many
more easily useable systems available on the market. Therefore, I would
recommend serious consideration or review of other equipments
such as File Search by Li than forcing the collateral data to be presented
on a Mimicard system.
4. If a requirement for a very rapid information retrival system is
and I think it is, I believe that eventually
required here
,
equipment and people will have to be updated to something beyond a 1E01
tab system. I would recommend a serious study to be made which might
combine the two facilities, using common, backed-up, equipment within a
two to three year period.
5. Maintenance of equipment and good logical development of new
equipment requires top grade electronics systems, men plus technicians
who can do good preventative maintenance. I recommend that the group
responsible for defining new equipment also have a responsibility to
keep the equipment in a good operating condition and that the operating
personnel have a right to approve new equipment prior to its being
delivered to the operating area.
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