...

...

The

...

The "Automated Functions" are designed to perform a series of actions that mimic the idea of a script. These actions will run automatically without any or very little interaction from the user. It is important to remember that these are NOT tcl scripts running within LOIS. It is more like a LOUI macro.

We currently support only one such automated function that allows slewing and/or dithering based on a pattern file. There is also a deprecated function that only allowed dithering.

• Slew/-Dither Pattern
• Dither Function (Deprecated)

Anchor
SlewDitherPattern SlewDitherPattern

Slew

...

-Dither Pattern

Introduction

This function is a generic implementation of a slew and/or dither pattern. The format of the input file will determine the command issued to the TCS. 

Image Modified

Each input row, whether it is a slew or dither, is generally composed of three independent actions; TCS move (slew or offset) command, filter move, and an exposure. The input is a pattern file:

...

The filter moves are synchronous and the secondary filter wheel will always be homed.

On rare occasions, a filter move fails and the system gets into an unknown state. The code has no way to recover or even acknowledge this failure. It is imperative to monitor the progress and use the Abort button if necessary.

After a pattern file has run, the execute button will not be re-enabled. If for some reason the user needs to run the same pattern file, it will have to be loaded again.

 The code does not check whether the filter is at the desired location so if a filter move fails in a way that it goes to the wrong filter but the detent is good, the pattern will continue with the exposure. If the detent is bad, there will be an automatic abort and a dialog box will pop up explaining what happened.

Target rejection by TCS is NOT caught and the pattern will continue with the execution of the commands assuming that TCS is at the right coordinates after TCS gets in position

There is no way to pause in the middle of a series so a pause command will take effect at the end of the series. One should also remember that we cannot resume at an arbitrary row. The code will resume at the point that it had pausedAfter a pattern file has run, the execute button will not be re-enabled. If for some reason the user needs to run the same pattern file, it will have to be loaded again.

Special Cases

Color Sequence

...

#title=true ra=true dec=true exposureTime=true numExposures=true filter=true muRA=false muDec=false epoch=false dRA=false dDec=false rotatorPA=false rotatorFrame=false xi=false eta=false comment=false commandOption=false
#
"Field5 " 00:15:00.00 +45:30:00.0   2 1 V
"Field6 " 00:26:00.00 +46:30:00.0  15 2 V
"Field7 " 00:37:00.00 +47:30:00.0   5 3 V

Slewing & Dithering

...

This is the latest enhancement to the function allowing the user to issue slews and dithers using the same input file. This is accomplished by the commandOption parameter. An example pattern file is shown below. When the command option is Slew, there should be valid values for ξ and η even though these values will be ignored. The reverse is also true so when the command option is Dither, RA and DEC have to be present and valid even though they will be ignored.

...