Advanced Imaging Conference
November 11-13, 2005
RCOS – Worldwide Installations
Practical to Tactical
• TACSAT Launch of 20
inch RCOS RC Telescope
• First RCOS Telescope in
Space
• 34 inch “Ruggedized”
Military Missile tracker
– 20 inch “Ruggedized”
Military RC piggybacked
Mobile Missile (Satellite) Tracking Mount
• “Ruggedized” Military
Specifications
• High Speed Slewing
– 17 degrees per second in
azimuth
– 20 degrees per second in
altitude
• Acceleration
– 10 degrees per second
squared
Economy Mobile Tracking Mount
Control and Automation
• 3 Axis (Alt-Az-Field Rotation) Electronics
– Dual loop servo control on all three axis
– Sensor based (temp, humidity, pressure) real time refraction
correction in both pointing and tracking
– Ethernet based communications
– Military spec guiding
• Dual Port OAG Electronics
• Telescope Command Center (TCC)
– Wireless (2.4 GHz ZigBee)
– Micro-step stepper motor drivers for accessory control (PIR,
OAG, etc)
– 4 independent AUX outputs
– Remote power on/off
Large Aperture Telescopes
• Three 24 inch RCs shipped in
2005, one in production
• Two 32 inch RCs in
production
Ion Milled Optics
• Now Stocking Ion Milled Optics
• 14.5, 16 and 20 inch
Professional Instrumentation
• Professional Series Equatorial Fork Mounts
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Software Bisque TCS controller
1,000 pound payload
Polar axis construction
Fork construction
• Medium Format
Precision Instrument
Rotator
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75 pound payload
4.75 inch clear aperture
Spring loaded worm
Instrument rotator or
field de-rotator for
corrected Alt-Az tracking
Future
• Large Format Precision Instrument Rotator (PIR)
– 150 pound payload
– 8 inch clear aperture
– Spring loaded worm
– Instrument rotator or field de-rotator for corrected Alt-Az
tracking
• Increased Automation for Robotic Telescopes
• Mobile (trailer mounted) 24 inch RC Telescope and
Mount
• Ruggedized 34 inch RC Military Telescope
• Fork Mount for 32-36 inch RC Telescope
• New 30,000 Square Foot Facility