Toward the remotization and robotization of the OARPAF telescope

TL;DR

This paper introduces a layered Python framework and web interface for remote and automated control of the OARPAF astronomical observatory's equipment, enhancing its remote operation capabilities.

Contribution

It presents a novel layered software architecture and web API for controlling observatory devices, enabling remote and robotic operation of the telescope.

Findings

Successful implementation of a three-layer control system

Enabling remote operation via a web interface

Facilitating automation of observation procedures

Abstract

OARPAF (Osservatorio Astronomico Regionale Parco Antola Comune di Fascia, Italy) hosts an 80cm Astelco telescope with a Gambato Dome, SBIG-STX camera, Davis weather station, and SBIG AllSky camera. We present a layer-structured python3 framework to control these devices. Layer 1 provides straightforward getter/setter interface for "atomic" operations on devices. Layer 2 wraps the above mentioned atomic operations into "ESO-style" Templates, to perform sequences of common pointing, observation, and calibration operations called "Observation Blocks" (OBs) that are run by a sequencer. Layer 3 is a REST API based on HTTP verbs to expose methods that control Layer 1 devices and Layer 2. We also present a web interface built on top of this layer. The work is part of the frame for remoting and robotizing the observatory.