Software architecture and development plan for a 4m fully autonomous observatory (New Robotic Telescope)

Joao Bento; Robert J. Smith; Doug M. Arnold; J. J. Fernandez-Valdivia; Javier León Gil; Josué Barrera Martín; Miguel Torres

doi:10.1117/12.2629053

29 August 2022 Software architecture and development plan for a 4m fully autonomous observatory (New Robotic Telescope)

Joao Bento, Robert J. Smith, Doug M. Arnold, J. J. Fernandez-Valdivia, Javier León Gil, Josué Barrera Martín, Miguel Torres

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12189, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy VII; 121890C (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629053
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Abstract

The New Robotic Telescope (NRT) is a new UK/Spain 4-m optical telescope on La Palma. When complete it will be the world’s largest and fastest, fully autonomous optical observatory and is being designed to address the coming era of time-domain and transient astrophysics. We summarise the planned software architecture, presented as a complete, coordinated observatory system from telescope axis control, through intelligent, automated scheduling, up to the user interfaces available at astronomers’ home desks. We have adopted a blend of proven software from existing telescopes with developing new systems suited to the telescope’s unique requirements and to modern web-based, collaboration models. We pay particular attention to aspects of the software stack that distinguish this project and enable the unsupervised, autonomous science operations in which observers around the globe can specify and monitor their observing requests intra-night without needing any support from observatory staff.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Joao Bento, Robert J. Smith, Doug M. Arnold, J. J. Fernandez-Valdivia, Javier León Gil, Josué Barrera Martín, and Miguel Torres "Software architecture and development plan for a 4m fully autonomous observatory (New Robotic Telescope)", Proc. SPIE 12189, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy VII, 121890C (29 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629053

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