Software design for the control system for Small-Size Telescopes with single-mirror of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

TL;DR

This paper describes the software design and control system architecture for the SST-1M telescope, a key component of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, emphasizing simplicity, compatibility, and industrial standards.

Contribution

It introduces a software system for SST-1M telescope control that ensures compatibility with CTA standards and facilitates integration with the array's central control system.

Findings

Successful implementation of device control software for SST-1M

Compatibility with CTA central control system demonstrated

Prototype operations show effective data transmission and control

Abstract

The Small-Size Telescope with single-mirror (SST-1M) is a 4 m Davies-Cotton telescope and is among the proposed telescope designs for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). It is conceived to provide the high-energy ($>$ few TeV) coverage. The SST-1M contains proven technology for the telescope structure and innovative electronics and photosensors for the camera. Its design is meant to be simple, low-budget and easy-to-build industrially. Each device subsystem of an SST-1M telescope is made visible to CTA through a dedicated industrial standard server. The software is being developed in collaboration with the CTA Medium-Size Telescopes to ensure compatibility and uniformity of the array control. Early operations of the SST-1M prototype will be performed with a subset of the CTA central array control system based on the Alma Common Software (ACS). The triggered event data are time stamped, formatted and finally transmitted to the CTA data acquisition. The software system developed to control the devices of an SST-1M telescope is described, as well as the interface between the telescope abstraction to the CTA central control and the data acquisition system.