KEYWORDS: Systems engineering, Interfaces, Computer aided design, Observatories, Systems modeling, Standards development, Safety, Reliability, Databases, Control systems
The objective of the systems engineering effort is to ensure the successful development and operability of the TMT system, by defining clear policies and procedures for architecture definition, requirements management, interface management, integration management, and verification. This paper shows the tailored implementation of the systems engineering approach which is intended to ensure that the system meets all requirements while being affordable, producible, and maintainable over the observatory’s life, while maintaining acceptable risk. This paper also describes the evolution of this approach in the last decade at TMT and the reasoning behind that evolution.
KEYWORDS: Systems engineering, Process engineering, Observatories, Mirrors, Astronomy, Thirty Meter Telescope, Large telescopes, Telescopes, Databases, Optical instrument design
The new class of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) has implemented more rigorous systems engineering processes and tools for requirements management than has been used in past observatory projects. The similarities and differences between these activities at the ESO-ELT, GMT, TMT, and NOIRLab US-ELTP projects are summarized. We show that, while the key steps of the requirements management process are common among the ELTs, each project has implemented its own variation of the processes and tools tailored to its needs.
The maintenance concept provides the basis for overall dependability design requirements for Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs), such as the European Southern Observatory’s ELT, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). The maintenance concept contains the planning of the maintenance and support policy for the complete operational system of the ELTs. The way in which the maintenance concept was developed in the ELTs is shown, and the similarities and differences in the way the operational objectives will be achieved is identified. The methodology is based on explaining seven common points (maintenance philosophy/levels; maintenance types and strategies; designing for dependability: reliability, availability, and maintainability; organizational structure and responsibilities for maintenance operations; maintenance and configuration management; key performance indicators for operations; and challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned) and condensing the knowledge during the process of generation and application of the maintenance concept.
KEYWORDS: Gemini Observatory, Systems engineering, Observatories, Ferroelectric materials, Telescopes, Control systems, Process engineering, Astronomy, Systems modeling, Astronomical telescopes
Gemini Observatory is an astronomical observatory operating two premier 8m-class telescopes, one in each hemisphere. As an operational facility, a majority of Gemini’s resources are spent on operations however the observatory undertakes major development projects as well. Current projects include new facility science instruments, an operational paradigm shift to full remote operations, and new operations tools for planning, configuration and change control. Three years ago, Gemini determined that a specialized requirements management tool was needed. Over the next year, the Gemini Systems Engineering Group investigated several tools, selected one for a trial period and configured it for use. Configuration activities including definition of systems engineering processes, development of a requirements framework, and assignment of project roles to tool roles. Test projects were implemented in the tool. At the conclusion of the trial, the group determined that the Gemini could meet its requirements management needs without use of a specialized requirements management tool, and the group identified a number of lessons learned which are described in the last major section of this paper. These lessons learned include how to conduct an organizational needs analysis prior to pursuing a tool; caveats concerning tool criteria and the selection process; the prerequisites and sequence of activities necessary to achieve an optimum configuration of the tool; the need for adequate staff resources and staff training; and a special note regarding organizations in transition and archiving of requirements.
The Gemini Planet Imager is an extreme AO instrument with an integral field spectrograph (IFS) operating in Y, J, H, and K bands. Both the Gemini telescope and the GPI instrument are very complex systems. Our goal is that the combined telescope and instrument system may be run by one observer operating the instrument, and one operator controlling the telescope and the acquisition of light to the instrument. This requires a smooth integration between the two systems and easily operated control interfaces. We discuss the definition of the software and hardware interfaces, their implementation and testing, and the integration of the instrument with the telescope environment.
An Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC) uses a double-prism arrangement to nullify the vertical chromatic
dispersion introduced by the atmosphere at non-zero zenith distances.
The ADC installed in the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) was first tested in August 2012 while the instrument was
in the laboratory. GPI was installed at the Gemini South telescope in August 2013 and first light occurred later
that year on November 11th.
In this paper, we give an overview of the characterizations and performance of this ADC unit obtained in the
laboratory and on sky, as well as the structure of its control software.
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