AROM (Autonomous robotic observatory manager) is set of open-source software for control and management robotic observatories. Whole software is built upon system for controlling robots - ROS (Robotic operation system).
AROM software is designed for use with small (amateur) telescope and fully autonomous observatories. It is going to work on simple single-board computers souch as Odroid. Software should be able to monitor all telescope states which may affect observing quality. This conditions are weather, air-quality, observatory status, mount position and many other conditions.
There are few systems for controlling robotics telescopes. Some of them are commercial and so expensive. They are usually made bespoke for one assembly. There are few open-source (or free) systems which are not well working. Mostly there are unable to control observatory in full autonomous mode.
The goals of this project are taken from the gained experience with observing and testing other systems.
- Minimal maintenance requirements
- Independent on control computer
- Service-lees observing (robotic observing)
- Self-calibration, self-diagnostic
- Price affordability
- Simple and intuitive operation
- Multiple telescope observing
- Open-source software, easily expandable