The SPEED test-bed (Segmented Pupil Experiment for Exoplanet Detection) is a high contrast imaging platform whose prime objective is to study coronagraphy and wavefront shaping for large segmented on-axis telescopes. Active control and temporal stability of residual wavefront errors is one pillar to consider for improving detection yields and getting access to object classes with masses ideally down to exoEarths. The SPEED test-bed being more complex than a simple laboratory test bench but less demanding than an on-sky instrument at a telescope, imposes a specific and adapted system and software control development. The paper reports the design of the SPEED system control hardware and software infrastructure that enables the bench to operate efficiently and safely. Because having experts in software engineering processes for laboratory development is rather difficult to afford, the paper will touch on several design items, highlighting aspects which, in our opinion, may be of particular interest for designers and implementers of laboratory control software.
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