Newton STFC-NARIT: A telescope control system for the next generation of facilities

我们提出了一个软件和硬件开发的合作项目，为当前和新的英国和泰国望远镜的一个新的望远镜控制系统。2017年，我们获得了该项目第一阶段的一年资助，该项目的重点是对拟议系统的关键部分进行需求分析和原型，以与现有的利物浦望远镜系统进行基准测试。我们在这里申请资金，以继续该项目进入第二阶段，在此阶段，我们将开发望远镜控制系统，目的是在2020年初部署在泰国国家望远镜上。泰国拥有一个蓬勃发展的天文社区和一系列令人印象深刻的现有基础设施，沿着一个成熟的工程团队来支持运营。然而，由于他们的许多设备是从外部供应商购买的，因此对其中一些系统了解甚少。例如，TNT的控制系统是基于一个专有的封闭源软件，他们的0.7米望远镜网络也配备了一个完全不同的专用接口。这对这些设施的长期稳定性是一个风险，影响了生产力，并限制了NARIT团队对当前系统进行升级的能力。ARI拥有并运营LT，并得到STFC的运营支持。该设施有一个定制的既定望远镜控制系统（TCS），该系统有良好的文件记录，易于理解，并有源代码。然而，按照现代标准，它已经过时了，它是从艾萨克·牛顿组望远镜上使用了几十年的基于VMS的系统发展而来的。ARI打算在未来十年内建造大型机器人望远镜（LRT）：一个新的4米级机器人望远镜，因此需要为该设施开发新的控制软件。显然，人们希望建立一个通用的模块化系统，该系统也可以部署在现有的LT上，通过现代技术提高可靠性和控制能力。现在已经开发了许多现代语言（如Python）的天体测量库，使用这些库的新的基于Linux的TCS将是开放的和可维护的，并且适用于一系列基础设施。因此，一个提供可以部署在各种不同设施上的控制框架的合作项目是一个互利的目标。最终产品将是一个系统，将用于双方拥有的设施。根据两个合作伙伴的能力和专门知识，该项目可以很容易地分为两个部分。望远镜控制有两个层次：低层次的“快速回路”软件控制，用于驱动各个轴的伺服系统;高层次的“慢速回路”控制软件，用于处理天体测量，将RA和德克斯转换为带有时间戳的轴位置和速度。泰国望远镜的“快速回路”工作将由NARIT工程团队领导，并得到当地专业人员的支持，例如泰国-德国研究所经验丰富的机电一体化工程师。更高级别的“慢循环”工作将由ARI领导，ARI拥有现有的专业知识和建立的新技术基准测试和测试系统。

We propose a collaborative project of software and hardware development towards a new telescope control system for current and new UK and Thai telescopes. In 2017 we were awarded a year of funding for the first phase of this project, which is focused around a requirements analysis and prototype of critical parts of the proposed system for benchmarking against the existing Liverpool Telescope systems. We apply here for funding to continue this project into the second phase, in which we will develop the telescope control system with the aim of deployment on the Thai National Telescope in early 2020.Thailand has a burgeoning astronomical community and an impressive array of existing infrastructure, along with an established engineering team for the support of operations. However, since much of their equipment has been purchased from external suppliers some of the systems are poorly understood. The TNT control systems for example are based around a proprietary, closed source software, and their network of 0.7 metre telescopes have also been supplied with an entirely different, dedicated interface. This is a risk for the long term stability of these facilities, compromises productivity and limits the ability of the NARIT team to provide upgrades to the current system.The ARI owns and operates the LT, with operational support from STFC. This facility has a bespoke and established telescope control system (TCS), which is well documented, well understood and with source code available. However, by modern standards it is out-dated, having been developed from the VMS-based system in use on the Isaac Newton Group telescope for some decades. The ARI intends to build within the next decade the Large Robotic Telescope (LRT): a new, 4-metre class robotic telescope, and so will need to develop new control software for this facility. It will obviously be desirable to build a versatile, modular system which could also be deployed on the existing LT, bringing enhanced reliability and control via modern technologies. Many astrometric libraries in modern languages such as Python have now been developed and a new Linux based TCS using such libraries would be open and maintainable, and applicable to a range of infrastructure.A collaborative project to deliver a control framework which can be deployed on a variety of different facilities is therefore a mutually beneficial goal. The end product will be a system which will be used on facilities owned by both partners. The project can be fairly easily divided into two components based on the capabilities and expertise of the two partners. There are two levels of telescope control: the low-level 'fast loop' software control which drives the servos for the individual axes and the higher-level 'slow loop' control software which deals with the astrometry, converting RAs and DECs into axis positions and velocities with timestamps. The 'fast loop' work for the Thai telescopes will be led by the NARIT engineering team, with support from local expertise such as experienced mechatronics engineers at the Thai-German Institute. The higher level 'slow loop' work will be led at the ARI, where there is existing expertise and established systems for the benchmarking and testing of new technologies.