Re: Mark IV control software and actions

[aah@nofs.navy.mil]

Michael Richmond put in his $0.02 -- thanks!
  While I agree in general with what he says, I think that he is missing
the point.
  (1) It takes time to come up with a set of control words
  (2) It takes even longer to make sure they work correctly, that you
        have defined all fields properly, and that they handle every
        possible case
  (3) Documentation never gets written
  (4) Others then have to write a translation program from their favorite
        language to the TASS version of reality
  (5) Standards only occur if others adopt (as Alain said), but someone
        has to make that adoption step
So what I am saying is, look at ATIS or any other known control language,
as a first guess.  If it doesn't do the trick, is it easy to modify to
work the way you want?  If not, _then_ write your own.
  I'm including Don Epand's response below this email, since it is pertinent
and doesn't seem to have been copied to the list.  I hope he doesn't mind!
Arne
-------------------------
Hello Arnie
Yes I am listening. The reference you gave for the ATIS information
is quite dated. The ATIS93 information canbe found in the summer 1993
issue of the IAPPP communications number 52. This issue has the CCD,
GOALS and ENVIRONMENT extensions included. Also the additions to make
ATIS work with the NASA AI scheduler are included. We are presently
working on extensions for spectroscopy and the GNAT (Global Network
of Automatic Telescopes) networking commands. If you have any comments
or additions you would like to see added for TASS now would be a good
time as we are starting to look at ATIS2000. ATIS was originally developed
for use with Automatic Photoelectric Telescopes, but has extended
quite well to cover many other disiplines. You can find out more
about ATIS and some of the telescopes using ATIS at our web site at
http://24.1.225.36/fairborn.html. We presently have 8 telescopes running
under ATIS with 5 more coming on board in the next year. ATIS is used
on telescopes around the world but by far the Fairborn site has the 
largest concentration. 
A while back Chris and I communicated about ATIS as I was interested
in what he was doing with RT-Linux. Since then I decided not to use 
RT-Linux to control the CCD camera.
If there is anything I can do to help let me know.
Don


-- 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
Don Epand    --Fairborn Observatory--    Phone: (602)-991-6646
4825 E.Cheryl Drive                      Fax  : (602)-443-8388
Paradise Valley, Az 85253                Email: depand1@home.com