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| Paper: |
Autonomous Observing and Control Systems for PAIRITEL, a 1.3m Infrared Imaging Telescope |
| Volume: |
351, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems XV |
| Page: |
751 |
| Authors: |
Bloom, J.S.; Starr, D.L.; Blake, C.H.; Skrutskie, M.F.; Falco, E.E. |
| Abstract: |
The Peters Automated Infrared Imaging Telescope (PAIRITEL) is the first meter-class telescope operating as a fully robotic IR imaging system. Dedicated in October 2004, PAIRITEL began regular observations in mid-December 2004 as part of a 1.5 year commissioning period. The system was designed to respond without human intervention to new gamma-ray burst transients: this milestone was finally reached on November 9, 2005 but the telescope had a number of semi-automated sub-10 minute responses throughout early commissioning. When not operating in Target of Opportunity mode, PAIRITEL performs a number of queue scheduled transient monitoring campaigns. To achieve this level of automation, we have developed communicating tools to connect the various sub-systems: an intelligent queue scheduling database, run-time configurable observation sequence software, a data reduction pipeline, and a master state machine which monitors and controls all functions within and affecting the observatory. |
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