Fick Observatory - Boone, IA

Observatory Automationongo02e

March 26, 2002

• Faculty advisor:Dr. John P.

Basart• Client:

Joe Eitter

ISU Physics Department

• Team members:Justin Doyle (2nd sem)

Derek Halverson (2nd

sem)

Rob Walstrom (2nd sem)

Tai Ward (2nd sem)

Shahril Abdullah (1st

sem)

Jeff Rastrelli (1st sem)

Nick Williams (1st sem)

Fook-Keong Yap (1st

sem)

Presentation Outline

• Problem Statement• Design Objectives• End Product Description• Assumptions and Limitations• Project Risks and Concerns• Technical Approach• Evaluation of Project Success• Recommendation of Future Work• Human and Financial Budget• Lessons Learned• Summary

Problem Statement

• Automation of the Fick Observatory– Phase 1: Remote

Control– Phase 2: Automated

System

Design Objectives

• Functionality– Control the telescope– Collect telescope data– Operate the roof– Gather weather conditions– Provide visual feedback– Provide remote control via the Internet– Automate the system

Control the Telescope

• Control via serial port• Filter wheel• Slides/covers• Focus• Raw code vs.

commercial– The Sky– Orchestrate

Collect Telescope Data

•Combine filtered images

•Clean images

•CCD video capture

•MaxIm DL/CCD

Operate the Roof

Operate the Roof

• Telescope room has movable walls and roof• Existing system built in 60’s• Current system uses manual levers • New system run by actuators • Old system had no safety stops• Redundant magnetic and optical safety stops • Computer software controlled

• Actuators• Magnetic switches• Extensive safety

measures • Visual feedback from

cameras

Operate the Roof

Provide Visual Feedback

•Surveillance camera system

• Streaming live video over the Internet

Provide Remote Control

• Main computer accessible via remote access software

•PCAnywhere

•GoToMyPC

•WindowsXP

•Radmin

• Allow systems to be turned on remotely

Gather Weather Conditions

• SkyCam– Protective housing

• Weather station• Temperature

sensors• Online resources

Design Constraints

• Location of observatory• Limited space for adding equipment• Budget• External weather conditions• Overheating of equipment in summer• Interfacing with old equipment• High-speed Internet connection

Intended Users and Uses

• Intended users– Physics faculty– Astronomers

• Intended uses– Fully automated control (like a VCR timer)– Remote control from campus

End-Product Description

• Remote control of all equipment within the observatory

• Programmable system to gather data while not being user-controlled

Assumptions and Limitations

• Assumptions– Single user access at one time– High-speed Internet connection– Must be secure from Internet attacks– All components powered up prior to use

• Limitations– Limited site access for team members– Speed of Internet connection– Hydraulics of existing roof control system– Two speeds at which roof may open or close– Telescope may not be compatible with commercial software– Existing hardware

Project Risks and Concerns

• Knowledge of telescope operation

• Damaging the telescope

• Existing hardware failure

• Loss of client

Technical Approach

Division of project into sub-projects– Telescope operation– Video – Roof control– Weather station– Remote control

Technical Approach

• Split processing to two computers

• Roof sensors: magnetic vs. optical

• Telescope software: commercial vs. raw code

Evaluation of Project Success

• Research (90%)• Documentation (100%) - ongoing• Network (25%) – in progress• Roof control (10%) – in progress• Telescope control (10%) – in progress• Video (20%) – in progress• Weather monitoring (90%) – future semester• Temperature monitoring (0%) – future semester• Remote operation (0%) – future semester

Future Work

• Prototype roof control board• Complete roof control implementation• Install surveillance video cameras• Setup server for video streaming• Install remote access software• Remote climate control• Installation of weather station• Fully network all computers in observatory

Human BudgetTeam Member Estimated Hours Actual Hours

Shahril Abdullah 105 87.5

Justin Doyle 100 84

Derek Halverson 110 88.5

Jeff Rastrelli 105 79

Rob Walstrom 120 116

Tai Ward 100 81

Nick Williams 95 83.5

Fook-Keong Yap 95 85

Totals 860 789.5

Financial BudgetComponents Estimated Cost Revised Cost Actual Cost

Computer (Windows) $500 $1000 $0

Computer (Linux) $1000 $1000 $0

Watchdog Timer $100 $100 $0

I/O Boards $80 $100 $0

A/D PCI card $400 $400 $0

CCD Software $400 $400 $0

Printed circuit board $300 $300 $0

16 port network switch $200 $80 $0

WOL Ethernet card(2) $36 $36 $0

Video Multiplexer $1200 $200 $0

Video Capture cards(2) $320 $320 $0

Video server software $200 $200 $0

Misc. Parts $75 $100 $0

Weather Station $400 $400 $0

Printing $50 $40 $38

Total $5061 $4476 $38

Lessons Learned

• Communication with client

• Clearly defined requirements

• Interfacing with old technology can be difficult

• Gained knowledge on video frame grabbers, control software, data acquisition cards, etc.

Summary

• Firm foundation of research and design

• Finished project will greatly increase usability of the observatory

Questions

Questions?