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Paper: Software Simulation of Instrumental Hardware at AAO
Volume: 522, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems XXVII
Page: 571
Authors: Shortridge, K.; Farrell, T.
Abstract: Traditionally, the development and testing of control software had to wait for the hardware to be delivered, placing software firmly at the end of the critical path, ideally placed to take the blame for any delay and yet with insufficient time to get it working properly. AAO has moved towards a model where a very detailed software simulator is written as soon as the hardware design solidifies. This allows early development and testing of the control software, well before the delivery of the hardware. This paper reviews the history of extremely detailed instrument simulators at AAO, from the new AAT control system to later CANBus-based instruments such as HERMES and GHOST, and discusses what has made this approach so successful.
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