# A Condition Monitoring Concept Studied at the MST Prototype for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

## TL;DR

This paper presents a condition monitoring system for the MST prototype of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, aiming to detect early signs of degradation in mechanical and drive systems to ensure reliable long-term operation.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel approach for automatic condition monitoring of telescope structures and drive systems, tested on the MST prototype for CTA.

## Key findings

- Sensor and data acquisition system developed and implemented.
- Analysis methods like OMA and EMA applied with promising initial results.
- System capable of early degradation detection to reduce maintenance efforts.

## Abstract

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a future ground-based gamma-ray observatory that will provide unprecedented sensitivity and angular resolution for the detection of gamma rays with energies above a few tens of GeV. In comparison to existing instruments (like H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS) the sensitivity will be improved by installing two extended arrays of telescopes in the northern and southern hemisphere, respectively. A large number of planned telescopes (>100 in total) motivates the application of predictive maintenance techniques to the individual telescopes. A constant and automatic condition monitoring of the mechanical telescope structure and of the drive system (motors, gears) is considered for this purpose. The condition monitoring system aims at detecting degradations well before critical errors occur; it should help to ensure long-term operation and to reduce the maintenance efforts of the observatory. We present approaches for the condition monitoring of the structure and the drive system of Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs), respectively. The overall concept has been developed and tested at the MST prototype for CTA in Berlin. The sensors used, the joint data acquisition system, possible analysis methods (like Operational Modal Analysis, OMA, and Experimental Modal Analysis, EMA) and first performance results are discussed.