This is a project to eventually fully "robotocize" the Perkins Telescope at Lowell Observatory so that remote observations can be conducted with a minimum of on-site intervention required.

• PerkinsAutomationNotes -- notes on automation
• ​http://gauss.bu.edu/svn/perkins-telescope/

Reference

• ​Perkins Documentation page at Lowell
• ​Perkins_Manual.pdf - control system manual (scanned)
• ​Pc48mand.pdf - PC-48E motor control board in "MOVE" computer

Summary from May 2018 visit

Telescope motion

Axis	Motor steps	arc-sec	Encoder step	arc-sec
Rt. Asc.	720	28.444	720	5.555
Decl.	360	22.7555	360	2.777

Controlled by DOS program "MOVE" (MS-Fortran / x86 assembly)

• Primary interface is PC48 Multi-Axis Motion Controller
• ​http://www.omsinmotion.com/pc48
• This is an ISA bus controller which is pretty fancy
• Manual in SVN or ​http://control1m.apo.nmsu.edu/1m/docs/Pc48mand.pdf
• Uses ASCII commands over ISA bus
• Interface box (homemade, with many green circuit boards in vector box) "Compatible with IO38 Breakout board" (can't find manual for this) but schematics are at end of Perkins manual
• Motor controller is no longer Compumotor but at least the RA is Parker Hann AR-13SE control box.

Dome Shutter

• Raised by winch with 3hp motor (230V 15.8A 1725 RPM) plus electric brake (230V 1.4A)
• Momentary on-off-on lever control with limit switches
• Contactor in box on dome wired via limit switches

Windscreen

• Raised / lowered by switch on console
• Need to investigate - maybe not suitable for automation

Mirror shutter

• Toggle switch on telescope, auto-stop when in position

Patch panels

• T - Telescope F - Observing floor W - Warm room
• All feed to central panel in computer room