Towards Robotic Operation with the First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development and implementation of software for the FACT telescope to enable fully robotic operation, reducing human intervention during observations.

Contribution

It introduces open-source software that automates telescope monitoring and alerts, pioneering fully robotic operation for an Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescope.

Findings

FACT operates remotely since 2011

Software enables all shifters to be asleep during observations

First IACT with fully automated, robotic operation

Abstract

The First G-APD Cherenkov Telecope is an Imaging Air Cherenkov Tele- scope operating since 2011 at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos. One of the major goals of the FACT collaboration is to achieve robotic operation of the telescope. Since 2011 FACT is operated remotely. To reduce the necessity of human interven- tion, several programs were developed, most notably the shifthelper together with the pycustos library. This software monitors the telescope system and environmental conditions and calls the shifters in case human intervention is required. This will lead to FACT being the first IACT with all shifters asleep during regular observations. The software presented here is open source and under MIT License.