Autofib--2 software control systems and user operation

Ian J. Lewis; Lewis R. Jones; Ian Robert Parry

doi:10.1117/12.176789

1 June 1994 Autofib--2 software control systems and user operation

Ian J. Lewis, Lewis R. Jones, Ian Robert Parry

Proceedings Volume 2198, Instrumentation in Astronomy VIII; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176789
Event: 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1994, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

The first part of this paper describes the microcomputer software that controls the individual mechanisms of the Autofib-2 instrument. All previous microprocessor systems built for the William Herschel Telescope used a variant of the Forth language to implement the control system; however, Autofib-2 is the first instrument to be controlled using a UNIX-style real-time operating system. Facets of the implementation will be discussed, including the reengineering of the interfaces in OS/9 C to allow connection to the existing interinstrument communications systems (Utility Network). The algorithms needed to successfully configure 160 fibers taking into account prime focus corrector (PFC) distortions are also discussed. The second part of this paper describes the astronomer-level control system running on the VAX System Computer. Details will be given of the way in which the astronomer's target field is defined and converted into the configuration data to be sent to the microprocessor system, including the mapping of the PFC distortions and the acquisition of new target fields.

Citation Download Citation

Ian J. Lewis, Lewis R. Jones, and Ian Robert Parry "Autofib--2 software control systems and user operation", Proc. SPIE 2198, Instrumentation in Astronomy VIII, (1 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176789

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