SvalPoint : A Multi-track Optical Pointing System

The Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) is researching the middle- and upper atmosphere with optical instruments. It is located in a remote region, 15 km away from Longyearbyen in Svalbard, Norway. During the auroral season it is accessible only by special transportation, snowmobile or band wagon and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Albert, Kinga
Format: Bachelor Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-59429
Description
Summary:The Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) is researching the middle- and upper atmosphere with optical instruments. It is located in a remote region, 15 km away from Longyearbyen in Svalbard, Norway. During the auroral season it is accessible only by special transportation, snowmobile or band wagon and during its approach protection against polar bears is also necessary. Due to these inconveniences a pointing system for the remote control of the instruments was desired.The purpose of this thesis has been to develop a system optimising operations at KHO, with room for further extensions. SvalPoint offers a solution for multiple instrument pointing through the internet. The system has been defined during the time of the thesis work, incorporating new and previously developed applications into a software package. The different programs interact to define a target and point a number of instruments at it.In the presentation of SvalPoint the key elements are the design of the software system, the algorithms used for the control and in order to ensure the correct operations the hardware calibration. To create a complete image of the system, in addition both the hardware and the projects incorporated are presented. As to finalise the software development its testing is described along with the assessment of the system's accuracy. Aspects regarding the work process are also presented: definition of goals, task analysis, conclusions and suggestions for further work. Validerat; 20140907 (global_studentproject_submitter)