Revamping of VLT-FORS control electronics with PLC systems: the final design

V. Baldini; A. Sulich; I. Coretti; G. Calderone; R. Cirami; P. Di Marcantonio; S. Bertocco; M. Nonino; F. Derie; A. Manescau; D. Del Valle; P. Gutierrez

doi:10.1117/12.2627704

29 August 2022 Revamping of VLT-FORS control electronics with PLC systems: the final design

V. Baldini, A. Sulich, I. Coretti, G. Calderone, R. Cirami, P. Di Marcantonio, S. Bertocco, M. Nonino, F. Derie, A. Manescau, D. Del Valle, P. Gutierrez

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12184, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IX; 121845G (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2627704
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Conference Poster

Abstract

FORS2 is a multi-mode (imaging, polarimetry, long slit and multi-object spectroscopy) optical instrument mounted on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) UT1 Cassegrain focus. It operates in the wavelength range of 330-1100 nm and, with the dismissed FORS1, is one of the most demanded instruments of the VLT in the astronomical community. After many years of operations (FORS1 was one of the first instruments installed at the VLT), an upgrade of the control system is absolutely required. Carried out by ESO and the Astronomical Observatory of Trieste, the upgrade will be applied to the decommissioned FORS1 instrument, that, when fully integrated, will replace FORS2 on the telescope. The upgrade will comprise the replacement of all the motors, the development of a new calibration unit, the adoption of a new ESO detector controller, and the design of a new control electronics based on Beckhoff PLC. Care will be given to the management of the motorized stages, about 50, avoiding MOS (Multi-Object Spectroscopy) slits and focal plane collision problems. The upgraded FORS will also be the first instrument to test the brand new ESO ELT instrument control framework, even if within the VLT environment. This paper will resume the design of FORS control electronics presented at the instrument Final Design Review. The new electronics layout, based on PLCs, and the motor’s control software management will be also described.

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V. Baldini, A. Sulich, I. Coretti, G. Calderone, R. Cirami, P. Di Marcantonio, S. Bertocco, M. Nonino, F. Derie, A. Manescau, D. Del Valle, and P. Gutierrez "Revamping of VLT-FORS control electronics with PLC systems: the final design", Proc. SPIE 12184, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IX, 121845G (29 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2627704

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