We installed the next-generation automated laser adaptive optics system, Robo-AO-2, on the University of Hawaii 2.2-m telescope on Maunakea in 2023. We engineered Robo-AO-2 to deliver robotic, diffraction-limited observations at visible and near-infrared wavelengths in unprecedented numbers. This new instrument takes advantage of upgraded components, manufacturing techniques and control; and includes a parallel reconfigurable natural guide star wavefront sensor with which to explore hybrid wavefront sensing techniques. We present the results of commissioning in 2023 and 2024.
Robo-AO was the first fully automated astronomical adaptive optics (AO) system, and was able to complete surveys of stellar objects in a fraction of the time of other AO systems. Two new robotic AO systems build on the heritage of Robo-AO. Robo-AO 2 is a site optimized system for the U. Hawai'i 2.2-m telescope on Maunakea, with an improved design and better sensitivity it will be able to continue the high cadence, high resolution observations that Robo-AO pioneered. SIGHT will be installed on the Palomar 200-inch telescope, and is designed to improve the delivered image quality to instruments at the Cassegrain focus (initially it will feed the Next Generation Palomar Spectrograph); the goal is to decrease the seeing by half. The two instruments have different science goals and performance requirements, but they share a common software architecture that allows the flexibility to do fully autonomous observations in these far different regimes. This presentation will discuss the development of the Robo-AO architecture and the evolution of that software into a more flexible system that can underpin the operation of different AO systems while still delivering fully autonomous capability.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.