(Sanitized) MULTIPLE FORMAT DATA BLOCK READER

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP78B04747A001600010018-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 29, 2000
Sequence Number: 
18
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 3, 1967
Content Type: 
MF
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP78B04747A001600010018-5.pdf173.39 KB
Body: 
Approved For Release iE0 : CIA-RDP78604747A001600010018-5 TID -132/67 3 November 1967 MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant for Technical Development, NP/C 25X1A TRROUGH: Chief, Technical Intelligence Division, ?PIC SUBJECT: Multiple rormat Data Block Reader 25X1A 25X1A 25X1A 25X1A 25X1A 25X1A ; Excluand fnin antalat domgrading and .01??????.?????.? 1. Prior to receipt of Mission 1101, only small amounts of simulated test data was available to use in checking out the opera- tion of the Data Block Reader. It appeared to perform satisfac- torily in reading the test material. 2. Receipt of Mission 1101 has provided the first operational material to be processed by the instrument. Upon receipt of the film for Mission 1101-1, work was started to read the data block. Initially the instrument performed satisfactorily. About 75% of Mission 1101-1 was read when malfunctions started to occur. It was determined that the Encoder device WAS faulty and IMM.M. "cannibalized" the second instrument for the part. Installation of the replacement part did not oorrect the malfun- tion, and at this writing, the cause and required correction are being investigated. 3. Although complete success with the DBR has not an yet been achIeved, we feel it is merely a matter of time until the "hardware bugs are isolated and corrected. During the period of time when it did operate satisfactorily, the experience we gained pointed to certain currently required operating procedures that are undesirable and time consuming. 4. Current operating procedures, as dictated by the instrument, require that each can of film be re-wound onto a special film reel prior to mounting on the reader. Additionally., a small piece of reflecting tape must be affixed in a specified position before the first data block on a roll and after the last data block. The func- tion of these tape marks is to initialize the read circuitry and indicates the end of a roll of film to the reader.. All the fore- going operations are performed manually. In the case of Mission 1101-1, this procedure required winding and re-winding 125 cans of film and plating 250 pieces of reflecting tape in specified posi- tions. During the time that the reader was performing satisfactorily, 6 man-days were required to read the data from the forward panoramic camera only on/ission 1101-1. .-72-2,/,? /f6i4.7 - 4,227;:n .,4;egy.,./twita 00100( -4"4-'444-4 ?") _el2a ?,: milyaoApp 017..Qoaktdse.,,, 1/4-6-4 25X1A .womoi 25X1A Approved For ReleaseSE T21 : CIA-RDP78604747A001600010018-5 TID/PB- 67 Multiple Format Data Block Reader 5. The time required to process a mission through the data- block reader will no doubt be reduced as operating personnel acquire more experience and proficiency and the hardware "bugs" are eliminated. There will still be an inordinately large amount of time expended in the physical handling of the material as is currently prescribed. Accordingly, it is suggested that the feasi- bility of modifying the subject instrument to eliminate or reduce manual handling be investigated. Specifically, the following changes are desired: a. Provide a capability to mount the film directly on the reader with the spools it is wound on. A series of idler rollers to insure lateral alignment of the film with respect to the read head is suggested. b. Elimination of the requirement for the reflecting tape marks. A manual switch to initialise the read circuit would be preferable and more efficient. The currently pro- vided stop switch should allow the operator to indicate the end-of-roll. 6. To date, only limited experience has been gained in pro- ceasing mission material through this instrument. Additionally, only three formats of the possible twelve the instrument is de- signed to read have been processed operationally. Assuming that there will be a continuing requirement to read data blocks for the current system and probably other systems,using the various available formats, the manual handling of mission material will become a formidable task. Chief, Photogrammetric Branch, TID/NP C Distribution: 49e1i & I - Addressee 1 - NPIC/TID 2 - NPIC/TID/PB Approved For Relea trt8/21 : CIA-RDP78604747A001600010018-5