Commensal observing with the Allen Telescope array: software command and control

Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill; Garrett K. Keating; David MacMahon; Peter K. G. Williams; Gerald Harp; Robert Ackermann; Tom Kilsdonk; Jon Richards; William C. Barott

doi:10.1117/12.857860

19 July 2010 Commensal observing with the Allen Telescope array: software command and control

Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill, Garrett K. Keating, David MacMahon, Peter K. G. Williams, Gerald Harp, Robert Ackermann, Tom Kilsdonk, Jon Richards, William C. Barott

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7740, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy; 77400Z (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857860
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is a Large-Number-Small-Diameter radio telescope array currently with 42 individual antennas and 5 independent back-end science systems (2 imaging FX correlators and 3 time domain beam formers) located at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory (HCRO). The goal of the ATA is to run multiple back-ends simultaneously, supporting multiple science projects commensally. The primary software control systems are based on a combination of Java, JRuby and Ruby on Rails. The primary control API is simplified to provide easy integration with new back-end systems while the lower layers of the software stack are handled by a master observing system. Scheduling observations for the ATA is based on finding a union between the science needs of multiple projects and automatically determining an efficient path to operating the various sub-components to meet those needs. When completed, the ATA is expected to be a world-class radio telescope, combining dedicated SETI projects with numerous radio astronomy science projects.

Citation Download Citation

Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill, Garrett K. Keating, David MacMahon, Peter K. G. Williams, Gerald Harp, Robert Ackermann, Tom Kilsdonk, Jon Richards, and William C. Barott "Commensal observing with the Allen Telescope array: software command and control", Proc. SPIE 7740, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy, 77400Z (19 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857860

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