Welcome¶

Welcome to the CGSE framework documentation.

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What is the CGSE?¶

The CGSE (Common-EGSE) is a comprehensive framework for managing and operating test equipment in laboratory environments. EGSE stands for Electrical Ground Support Equipment, encompassing all hardware and software systems used to test, calibrate, and validate space instruments throughout their development lifecycle.

The CGSE architecture typically includes:

Computing infrastructure: A dedicated server running the CGSE software suite for test execution, data collection, and archiving, paired with client workstations that provide user interfaces for equipment control and monitoring
Temperature control systems: Precision controllers that regulate thermal conditions by managing heaters and continuously monitoring temperature sensors, essential for thermal vacuum testing and temperature calibration procedures
Mechanism controllers: Specialized systems that operate positioning equipment such as hexapods (six-degree-of-freedom motion platforms), linear stages, rotation stages, and other mechanical actuators with high precision
Optical test equipment: Controllers for various optical instruments including lasers, light sources, attenuators, spectrometers, and optical power meters used in optical alignment and performance verification
Additional instrumentation: Any measurement or control device with network connectivity (Ethernet, USB) and an accessible API, including power supplies, signal generators, multimeters, oscilloscopes, and custom test fixtures

The CGSE framework provides standardized interfaces, automated test sequences, data management capabilities, and synchronization between these diverse systems, enabling reproducible and efficient testing campaigns.