HIGH-PRECISION SERVO SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED MAGNETIC TAPE STORAGE SYSTEM

A servo system for a magnetic tape storage system includes a magnetic tape (550) including a first servo band (573), and a first data band (575). An auxiliary servo pattern (575A) is embedded within the first data band (575). The auxiliary servo pattern (575A) is modified to generate an updated auxiliary servo pattern (688A) during a writing pass as data is being written to the first data band (575). The servo system can further include a magnetic tape drive (326) including a head assembly (456) having (i) a first write head (482) that writes data to the magnetic tape (550) as the magnetic tape (550) moves relative to the head assembly (456) in a first tape direction, (ii) a second write head (484) that writes data to the magnetic tape (550) as the magnetic tape (550) moves relative to the head assembly (456) in a second, opposite tape direction, and (iii) an auxiliary servo reader (487) positioned in a shadow of one of the first write head (482) and the second write head (484).