A telescope control system for the next generation of facilities

自2017年以来，我们一直在进行软件和硬件开发的合作项目，为现有和新的英国和泰国望远镜开发新的望远镜控制系统。2017年，我们获得了该项目的第一阶段的一年资金，该阶段的重点是对拟议系统的关键部分进行需求分析和原型，以便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，以继续这个项目进入最后阶段，我们将开发望远镜控制系统，目标是在2021年全面部署在泰国国家望远镜上。泰国有一个迅速发展的天文社区和一系列令人印象深刻的现有基础设施，以及一个成熟的工程团队来支持运营。但是，由于它们的大部分设备是从外部供应商处购买的，因此对其中一些系统了解甚少。例如，TNT控制系统是基于一个专有的闭源软件，他们的0.7米望远镜网络也提供了一个完全不同的专用接口。这对这些设施的长期稳定性构成了风险，降低了生产效率，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。这个设施有一个定制和建立的望远镜控制系统（TCS），它有很好的文档，很容易理解，并有源代码。然而，以现代标准来看，它已经过时了。我们的协作开发项目将交付一个可以部署在各种不同设施上的控制框架。最终产品将是一个多功能的模块化系统，将用于双方拥有的设施。这将首先部署在TNT上，以提高其科学和外联生产力。从中期来看，这将取代利物浦望远镜（LT）上使用的系统，并形成NRT项目控制系统的基础：NRT项目是一个与NARIT参与的主要国际合作项目。除了软件本身，NARIT的主要好处将是来自利物浦望远镜集团的知识转移，该集团拥有超过十年的望远镜控制系统经验和专业知识。这将为NARIT集团提供为未来硬件构建新控制系统的能力，例如目前正在建设的泰国射电望远镜。

Since 2017 we have been undertaking 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 its final phase, in which we will develop the telescope control system with the aim of full deployment on the Thai National Telescope in 2021.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.Our collaborative development project will deliver a control framework which can be deployed on a variety of different facilities. The end product will be a versatile, modular system which will be used on facilities owned by both partners. This will be deployed initially on the TNT, enhancing its scientific and outreach productivity. In the medium term this will replace the system in use on the Liverpool Telescope (LT), and form the basis of the control systems for the NRT project: a major international collaboration with NARIT participation. Aside from the software itself the key benefit for NARIT will be knowledge transfer from the Liverpool Telescope group, which has over a decade of telescope control system experience and expertise. This will provide the NARIT group with the capability to build new control systems for future hardware, such as the Thai radio telescope currently under construction.