UKIRT remote operations fail-safe system

Bryan Gorges; Craig Walther; Tim Chuter

doi:10.1117/12.925508

24 September 2012 UKIRT remote operations fail-safe system

Bryan Gorges, Craig Walther, Tim Chuter

Proceedings Volume 8451, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy II; 84510Z (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925508
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Remote operation of a four meter class telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea from 40 kilometers away presents unique challenges. Concerns include: communication links being severed, the computer controlling the enclosure becoming inoperable, non-responsive software, inclement weather, or the operator forgetting or unable to close the dome during a personal emergency. These issues are addressed at the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) by a series of deadman handshakes starting on the operator's end with a graphical user interface that requires periodic attention and culminates with hardware in the telescope that will initiate a closing sequence when regular handshake signals do not continue. Software packages including Experimental Physics and Industrial Control Systems¹ (EPICS) and a distributed, real time computing system for instrumentation² (DRAMA) were used in this project to communicate with hardware control systems and to coordinate systems. After testing, this system has been used in operation since January 2011.

Citation Download Citation

Bryan Gorges, Craig Walther, and Tim Chuter "UKIRT remote operations fail-safe system", Proc. SPIE 8451, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy II, 84510Z (24 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925508

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