Notes
Slide Show
Outline
1
Observatory
Remote Control & Automation
  • A Presentation to the
2
Overview
  • Introduction
  • Remote Control
  • Automation
  • System Definition
  • Plan Your  System
  • Connection Types
  • Remote Connection Software
  • Security / Protection
  • Telescope Control
  • Camera Control
  • Auto Focusing
  • Control of Roofs & Shutters
  • Dome Rotation Control
  • Building a Simple Control Interface
3
What is Remote Control?
  • Remote Control
  • “The ability to control hardware and/or software from a remote location”.


  • Important factors to consider:
  • - Distance: Directly related to level of remote control that is needed.
    Further = more.
  •     - Location:  What utilities are available?  Power, Internet, Telephone?
              How Secure it the location?

  • - Feedback: What do you know about your system’s status and its environment? Where is your scope pointing? Is the roof open or closed?
  •      Is it raining, cloudy, windy?


  •    - Reliability: It’s a must! Some failures may just be inconvenient, others can be very costly!
4
What is Automation?
  • Automation:
  • “To make a procedure or process automatic”
  •    - Hardware:
    Telescope (pointing)
    Camera     (image acquisition)
  •      Roof / Shutters   (Auto Open/Close)


  •    - Software:  
     Image Processing
     Plate Solving
     Observation Planning


  • Level of Automation
  • - Partial
    - Total
5
System Definition

  • Why do you want remote control or automation?
  •      - Is it for necessity?
  •      - Is it for convenience?
  •  What do you need to control?
  •        Determined by distance & location.
6
System Definition (cont.)
  • What do you want to control or automate?
    • - Telescope  - Camera(s)   - Focuser(s)      
      - Roof / Shutters  - Dome Rotation
      - Light Box - Dew Heaters 
      - Emergency Shut-off  (power strips)
  • Consideration to Safety
  •         - Equipment
  •         - Personnel
7
Plan Your System
  • Think about how you will use your system.
  •      - Present
  •        Will your system be able to do all the
  •        tasks you want to do now?
  •      - Future
  •        Will you be able to do the things you
  •        want to do in the Future?
8
Plan Your System (cont.)
Simple
Network
Layout
9
Plan Your System (cont.)
Detailed
Network
Layout
10




Plan Your System (cont.)
Power
Layout
11
Connections
  • Connection Types
  •  Hardwire
  • - Networked
  •   - Requires a computer and or other device on remote end (router
  •          switch etc).
  • - Direct Connect
  •   - Connects directly to remote device (USB, Serial, parallel etc.)


  • Wireless
  • - Networked
  •   - Requires a computer with a wireless access device on the remote
  •          end.
  • - Direct Connect
  •   - Requires a matching  wireless device on the remote end (USB,
  •          Serial, etc.  Bluetooth devices are common).
12
Connections (cont.)


  • Hardwire Connection
  • Pros:
  • - Speed
  • - Secure
  • - Less prone to interference
  • - Inexpensive for short temporary runs.
  • - More Reliable


  • Cons:
  • - Can be difficult to implement in existing structures
      (walls / trenching)
  • - Trip hazard when used in temporary setups
13
Connections (cont.)
  • Wireless


  • Pros:
  • - Not as labor intensive to install
  • - No drilling
  • - Good for temporary setups


  • Cons:
  • - Can be expensive
  • - Speed / Bandwidth restrictions
  • - Security*
  • - Subject to interference
    - Distance limited*
14
Remote Connection Software
  • Remote Desktop Connection:
    Server: Vista Business & Vista Ultimate Windows XP-Professional, Remote Desktop Web
  •     Client: Vista, XP, 2000, ME and Win98
  • Real VNC:
  •    Server and Client for Windows 95/98/ME, 2000, XP, UNIX, and LINUX  platforms.
  • Log Me In:
  •    Internet based remote access software. Free and Pay Versions
  • (All above software runs over local Lan or Web)
15
Protection: Passwords, Firewalls, Virus Scanners, & Spy Scanners
  • Username & Password
  •     - Strong Passwords (Abcd123$)


  • Firewall
  •     - Software:
  •       Zone Alarm, Norton, Vista, Windows XP.
    - Hardware:
  •       Router (Linksys, D-Link, etc)
  • Virus Scanners
  •     - Norton  - MacAfee (careful with virus scanners as they can be resources hogs)
  • Spy Scanners
    - SpyBlaster - Search & Destroy.
16
Telescope Control
  • Telescope must be motorized.
    - Goto scopes are ideal for remote control.
  • - Serial connections.
  • Low speed, doesn’t require much  bandwidth
  •  Make sure you scope is up to the task.
  •      - Repeatable pointing
    - Low Periodic Error or good PEC
    - Balanced
  •  Know your scope.
  •     - Sounds, speed, movement
  • Keep an eye on it.
  •     - Webcam, Netcam, Video, Slingbox
17
Telescope Control (cont.)
  •   Telescope Control Software
  • Manufacture’s OEM packages.
  • - Try them first, they may have enough
       features to accomplish your goal.
  • -  Generally not suitable for unattended automation.
18
Telescope Control (cont.)
  • Aftermarket Software.
  • - If possible try them before you buy them (some of them are costly).
  • - TheSky
  • - Starry Night
  • - ACP
  • - CCD Commander
  •     - CCD Autopilot
    - Cartes du Ciel*
  • - MPO Connection
    All the above programs are ASCOM compatible
    *Freeware
19
Camera Control
  • Cameras (Webcams, DSLR , CCD & Video)
  •    - USB, Serial and Parallel connections
  •    - High speed and bandwidth needed for
       fast image transfer.
  •    - Capture card needed for Video
  • - Film users can control cameras via a DIY
      serial or parallel port shutter controller.
20
Camera Control (cont.)
  •   Software
  • - OEM software may fill your needs
  • - Aftermarket software is more flexible
  • MaximDL
  • CCDSoft
  • - Supports scripting
  • - Interface with aftermarket telescope  
      control software.
  • - Most are capable of telescope control.
21
Remote Controlled
 Flat Field Light Box (Adirondack)
22
Focusers
  •  Motorized Focusers
  •     - Non OEM focusers require a separate
     control port.
     - Most OEM focusers not indexed, can not move to previous or preset positions.


  •  Auto Focus
  •      - FocusMax  (MaximDL / CCDSoft)
    - @Focus     (CCDSoft)
  •       - @Focus2  (CCDSoft)


  • DSLRs
  •    - DSLR Focus (stand alone)
  •    - DSLR Max (requires Maxim DL 4.0)
  •    - Images Plus
23
Roofs and Shutters
  •  Usually are serial or direct connections
  • - Low speed, requires very little bandwidth.
  • - Simple control mechanisms
    - Safety, people and equipment
  •  Relays and Motor(s)
  • - Microcontrollers, can be used to allow computer control of relays. Another option is to use the parallel port lines to control the relays.
  • - A simplified approach is to just use a remote switch
      when operated from a short distance.
24
Roofs and Shutters (cont.)
  •  Weather considerations
  • - Rain and snow detection is a must for
      unattended and long distance remote
      operation. Cloud detection is also nice to
      have, (why bother opening the
      observatory if it is cloudy).
  • - Feedback of roof or shutter position is
      also recommended for long distance
      remote operation.
25
Automated Dome Rotation
  • Must be linked to scope position.
     IR or direct connect (RS-232 is common)
  • IR systems typically use bump method to position the dome.


  •      Pros:
  •      - Simple
  •      - Can be done without a PC (microcontroller only)


  •      Cons:
  •      - Telescope slew speed may limited by dome’s rotation speed (high speed positional slew may be a problem)
  •      - Possible IR interference during imaging
  •      - IR sensors need to be attached to scope
  •      - May not allow independent computer control of dome rotation (repositioning).
26
Automated Dome Rotation (cont.)
  • Direct connect uses telescope’s actual Alt/AZ, Dec/RA to position dome aperture.
  •      Pros:
  •     -  No IR interference,
  •      - Only requires a low speed, low bandwidth connection (RS-232 works well)
  •      - Scope can slew at maximum speed (dome will catch up)
  •      - No IR sensors attached to telescope’s OTA
  •      - Allows independent control of dome.
  •      Cons: 
    - Multiple control ports  (or port splitter or hub needed)
  •      - Can be complicated to setup.
  •      - Requires a micro-controller or processor  to calculate the correct dome position (usually PC based).
  •      - Defining the dome geometry is not a trivial task for GEM or wedge mounted scope.
  •      - Dome’s startup position must be indexed and position of dome during rotation must be tracked.
27
Controllers


  • MaxDome II
  •   - Windows Based System
  •   - 12 Volt DC operation
  •   - ASCOM Compatible
  •   - Supports add wireless interface to 2nd board (shutters)
  •   - Slave dome rotation to your telescope.
  •   - Directly drives 12VDC motors up to 5A. Can operate other motor types through external relays.
  • www.cyanogen.com
28
Controllers (cont.)
  • Basic Stamp 2
  •   - Development System
  •   - Microcontroller
  •   - Input / output lines
  •   - Relays
  •   - 7.5 to 24 volt operation
  •   - Uses Simplified Basic interface (easy)
  •   - Basic Stamp2 (Homework board includes everything you need to get started)
  •   - Can add wireless components
  •   - Lesson Plan
  • www.parallax.com  www.radioshack.com
29
Controllers (cont.)
  • PICKit2
  • Development PIC Programmer
  •    - Microcontroller
    - Uses Simple interface (easy)
    - Kit provides tools needed to program, evaluate and develop applications using Flash memory microcontrollers.  
     - Can add components
  •    - Lesson Plan
  • http://www.microchip.com/
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Controllers (cont.)
  • Relay Boards
  •     - Wireless or Wired option
    - 4 relays
    - Momentary or Latching
    - NO or NC
    - RS-232 controllable
    - 5 volt DC
  •  http://www.rentron.com/


  • Also sells Basic Stamp kits
31
Wireless Shutter Controller Example
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Wireless Shutter Controller (cont.)
Remote Side (DIY)
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Wireless Shutter Controller (cont.)
Observatory Side (DIY)
34
Wireless Shutter Controller (cont.)
Observatory Side (DIY)
35
TCP/IP Serial Port Server
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Cloud Sensor Data
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Weather Station
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Video Monitoring
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Slew Movie
40
Minor Planet Vesta Animation
(8 hour time lapse)
41
All Sky & Meteor Camera 
 (8 hour time lapse)
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That’s All Folks!!!