A new modular guidance system for the Southern African Large Telescope

Janus D. Brink, Ockert J. Strydom, Stephen N. Hulme, Anthony R. Koeslag, Deneys S. Maartens, Martin Wilkinson, Wouter Lochner, Keith Browne, Eben P. Wiid, Raoul Van Den Berg

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Following successful commissioning of the SALT Fiber Instrument Feed guidance system, the concept was developed further to re-design the guidance probe currently supporting observations with the Robert Stobie Spectrograph. Major advances of the new system include a compact, modular and line-replaceable design, high optical efficiency, a doubleprobe positioning system allowing both translation and rotation guidance corrections as well as closed-loop focus feedback. The mechanical and optical designs, the control system architecture and performance aspects of the system are presented. The probe's integration with the greater telescope software control system is also discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II
EditorsRamon Navarro, James H. Burge
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510602038
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes
EventAdvances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Duration: 26 Jun 20161 Jul 2016

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9912
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceAdvances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityEdinburgh
Period26/06/161/07/16

Keywords

  • Control systems
  • DDS
  • Design processes
  • Guidance system
  • Optical design
  • Real-time embedded control
  • SALT
  • Wavefront sensing

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