PLATO control and robotics

Daniel M. Luong-Van; Michael C B Ashley; Jon R. Everett; Jon S. Lawrence; John W V Storey

doi:10.1117/12.788557

PLATO control and robotics

Daniel M. Luong-Van, Michael C B Ashley, Jon R. Everett, Jon S. Lawrence, John W V Storey

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PLATO, the 'PLATeau Observatory', is a robotic Antarctic observatory developed by UNSW for deployment to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau. PLATO is designed to run autonomously for up to a year, providing power, communications and thermal management for a suite of scientific and site-testing instruments. To achieve this degree of autonomy, multiple-redundant Linux-based 'supervisor' computers, each with their own watchdog-timer and Iridium satellite-modem, communicate with each other and with the outside world. The active supervisor computer monitors and controls the PLATO power distribution, thermal and engine management subsystems via a CAN (Control Area Network) bus. High-bandwidth communication between the instruments and the supervisor computers is via a 100 Mbps Local Area Network. Data is stored in cold-verified flash memory. The PLATO computers monitor up to 140 analog channels and distribute electrical power and heating to 96 current-monitored channels via an intelligent loadshedding algorithm.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advanced Software and Control for Astronomy II
Place of Publication	Bellingham, WA
Publisher	SPIE
Pages	1-10
Number of pages	10
Volume	7019
ISBN (Print)	9780819472298
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788557
Publication status	Published - 2008
Externally published	Yes
Event	Advanced Software and Control for Astronomy II - Marseille Duration: 26 Jun 2008 → 28 Jun 2008

Conference

Conference	Advanced Software and Control for Astronomy II
City	Marseille
Period	26/06/08 → 28/06/08

Keywords

Astronomical observatory
Astronomy
Automation
Control
Robotics
Site testing

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10.1117/12.788557

Cite this

@inproceedings{018443493e2448439a28b0585935bd63,

title = "PLATO control and robotics",

abstract = "PLATO, the 'PLATeau Observatory', is a robotic Antarctic observatory developed by UNSW for deployment to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau. PLATO is designed to run autonomously for up to a year, providing power, communications and thermal management for a suite of scientific and site-testing instruments. To achieve this degree of autonomy, multiple-redundant Linux-based 'supervisor' computers, each with their own watchdog-timer and Iridium satellite-modem, communicate with each other and with the outside world. The active supervisor computer monitors and controls the PLATO power distribution, thermal and engine management subsystems via a CAN (Control Area Network) bus. High-bandwidth communication between the instruments and the supervisor computers is via a 100 Mbps Local Area Network. Data is stored in cold-verified flash memory. The PLATO computers monitor up to 140 analog channels and distribute electrical power and heating to 96 current-monitored channels via an intelligent loadshedding algorithm.",

keywords = "Astronomical observatory, Astronomy, Automation, Control, Robotics, Site testing",

author = "Luong-Van, {Daniel M.} and Ashley, {Michael C B} and Everett, {Jon R.} and Lawrence, {Jon S.} and Storey, {John W V}",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1117/12.788557",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780819472298",

volume = "7019",

pages = "1--10",

booktitle = "Advanced Software and Control for Astronomy II",

publisher = "SPIE",

address = "United States",

note = "Advanced Software and Control for Astronomy II ; Conference date: 26-06-2008 Through 28-06-2008",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - PLATO control and robotics

AU - Luong-Van, Daniel M.

AU - Ashley, Michael C B

AU - Everett, Jon R.

AU - Lawrence, Jon S.

AU - Storey, John W V

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - PLATO, the 'PLATeau Observatory', is a robotic Antarctic observatory developed by UNSW for deployment to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau. PLATO is designed to run autonomously for up to a year, providing power, communications and thermal management for a suite of scientific and site-testing instruments. To achieve this degree of autonomy, multiple-redundant Linux-based 'supervisor' computers, each with their own watchdog-timer and Iridium satellite-modem, communicate with each other and with the outside world. The active supervisor computer monitors and controls the PLATO power distribution, thermal and engine management subsystems via a CAN (Control Area Network) bus. High-bandwidth communication between the instruments and the supervisor computers is via a 100 Mbps Local Area Network. Data is stored in cold-verified flash memory. The PLATO computers monitor up to 140 analog channels and distribute electrical power and heating to 96 current-monitored channels via an intelligent loadshedding algorithm.

AB - PLATO, the 'PLATeau Observatory', is a robotic Antarctic observatory developed by UNSW for deployment to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau. PLATO is designed to run autonomously for up to a year, providing power, communications and thermal management for a suite of scientific and site-testing instruments. To achieve this degree of autonomy, multiple-redundant Linux-based 'supervisor' computers, each with their own watchdog-timer and Iridium satellite-modem, communicate with each other and with the outside world. The active supervisor computer monitors and controls the PLATO power distribution, thermal and engine management subsystems via a CAN (Control Area Network) bus. High-bandwidth communication between the instruments and the supervisor computers is via a 100 Mbps Local Area Network. Data is stored in cold-verified flash memory. The PLATO computers monitor up to 140 analog channels and distribute electrical power and heating to 96 current-monitored channels via an intelligent loadshedding algorithm.

KW - Astronomical observatory

KW - Astronomy

KW - Automation

KW - Control

KW - Robotics

KW - Site testing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67049134361&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1117/12.788557

DO - 10.1117/12.788557

M3 - Conference proceeding contribution

AN - SCOPUS:67049134361

SN - 9780819472298

VL - 7019

SP - 1

EP - 10

BT - Advanced Software and Control for Astronomy II

PB - SPIE

CY - Bellingham, WA

T2 - Advanced Software and Control for Astronomy II

Y2 - 26 June 2008 through 28 June 2008

ER -

PLATO control and robotics

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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