Research Article

Robotic and Non-Robotic Control of Astrophysical Instruments

Table 1

Commands and functions of the telescope control system.

pigoffTurn off guiding, release motor
pigxr?Query for actual x position [1/10 arcsec]
pigyr?Query for actual y position [1/10 arcsec]
pigx=%dSelect x position (set point) [1/10 arcsec]
pigy=%dSelect y position (set point) [1/10 arcsec]
pigactuLet actual position be set position
pigenc=%dSet guiding mode (0 = sensor, 1 = encoder guiding)
pigenc?Query for guiding mode (0 = sensor, 1 = encoder guiding)
pigxs?Query for selected x position
pigys?Query for selected y position
piggoGuide to selected position
piggfGuide to selected position and follow solar rotation
pigrunxyGo to selected position but do not guide
pigabortAbort going to selected position (Stop guiding mode)
pigmco=$m$nnManual control commands [m = speed, nn = direction]

piggmode?Query for motor status (possible answer 0–6)
0 = motor is free
1 = manual control active
2 = guiding without following solar rotation
3 = guiding and following solar rotation
4 = flatfield mode active
5 = go to sun active
6 = go to home position active

pigi?Query for intensity
pigthimin=%dSet threshold for minimum intensity
pigimin?Query for minimum intensity
pigthdelta=%dSet threshold for guiding accuracy [1/10 arcsec]
pigthdelta?Query for threshold of guiding accuracy [1/10 arcsec]
pigloops=%dSet number of averagings for position sensor (default is 500)
pigloops?Query for number of averagings of position sensor
pigffmx=%dX-length of flatfield area [1/10 arcsec]
pigffmy=%dY-length of flatfield area [1/10 arcsec]
pigffms=%dFlatfield motor speed (1 = slow, 2 = medium)
pigffm?Query for all flatfield parameters (e.g., 3000,4000,2)
pigstartffmStart flat field mode
piggosunTelescope go to sun
piggohomeTelescope go to home position
pigsb?Query for status

The prefix “pig” may be omitted. Formats of replies (examples):
Command: pigoff
Reply: pigoff:done
Command: pigxr?
Reply: pigxr = 2342.